August 4, 2009

the good shepherd, the rotten sheep, and the redemption

Psalm 78:54-72

Scott DeBow
Tuesday's Devo

August 4, 2009

Tuesday's Devo

August 4, 2009

Central Truth

Personal appearances, miracles, and stunning visual effects from God are simply not enough to convince the human heart to trust in and remain faithful to the Lord. There is something wrong with our hearts!

Key Verse | Psalm 78:56–57

Yet they challenged and defied the sovereign God,
and did not obey his commands.
They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors;
they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
(Psalm 78: 56-57)

Psalm 78:54-72

54  And he brought them to his holy land,
    to the mountain which his right hand had won.
55  He drove out nations before them;
    he apportioned them for a possession
    and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

56  Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
    and did not keep his testimonies,
57  but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
    they twisted like a deceitful bow.
58  For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
    they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
59  When God heard, he was full of wrath,
    and he utterly rejected Israel.
60  He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh,
    the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
61  and delivered his power to captivity,
    his glory to the hand of the foe.
62  He gave his people over to the sword
    and vented his wrath on his heritage.
63  Fire devoured their young men,
    and their young women had no marriage song.
64  Their priests fell by the sword,
    and their widows made no lamentation.
65  Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
    like a strong man shouting because of wine.
66  And he put his adversaries to rout;
    he put them to everlasting shame.

67  He rejected the tent of Joseph;
    he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68  but he chose the tribe of Judah,
    Mount Zion, which he loves.
69  He built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
    like the earth, which he has founded forever.
70  He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
71  from following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his inheritance.
72  With upright heart he shepherded them
    and guided them with his skillful hand.

Dive Deeper | Psalm 78:54-72

Have you ever said to yourself, "If only God would __________, I could believe more/better/again," etc.? I would say most of us have as we go through the wrestling match of life.

In Psalm 78 the Israelites are in the unique position of being able to say they have witnessed the tangible presence of God. They were rescued from slavery by incredible miracles. Through all five of their senses the Israelites experienced God's power in ways that people today often find themselves longing for. 

"Yet they challenged and defied the sovereign God, and did not obey his commands." (Psalm 78:56) This is the part of the passage where I begin to shake my head in righteous indignation, throwing in a disapproving sigh as if my disappointment with the Israelites' behavior might somehow please God and earn a shiny jewel in my crown.

My heart is no different than the Israelites'.

What is so amazing throughout God's Word is that we not only see the Good Shepherd rescuing the sheep, but as the Israelites choose their own ways rather than the Lord's, we get a powerful insight into the limitations of the human heart to know what it truly needs. There is no difference between the hearts of the Israelites during the days of Psalm 78 and our hearts today. The heart is deceitful above all things . . . ." (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV)

Also know this: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6, NIV)

Redemption and reconciliation of His people to Himself is what God is seeks. "[I]n Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:19) 

Our hearts really are broken (though we often tell ourselves differently).  God dealt with this through Christ for all who would surrender their heart and receive the greatest gift ever. 

Knowing these truths is a great place to start the day.

Discussion Questions

1. Making informed decisions is important, but when in our lives are we guilty of demanding a backstage pass/autograph session with God before we make a faith decision?

2. Over the course of your life, what has informed your thought processes about how God has chosen to communicate to His creation?  What is informing you today?

3. What does God's Word say about how He has chosen to communicate to us today about our deepest/eternal needs? (Check out Hebrews 1:1-3.)