God’s Guiding Word: Promise
June 12
Introduction
Psalm 78:1–20: Over the next four days we will be reading Psalm 78. This lengthy psalm recounts Israel’s history from Moses and the escape from Egypt to the establishment of David’s kingdom in Jerusalem. Today’s reading begins in the wisdom tradition of recounting stories of God’s deeds and teaching them to the next generation. We begin by remembering how God guided the people out of Egypt and provided for them in the desert.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 78:4b
We will tell the next generation about the LORD’s power and his great deeds and the wonderful things he has done.
Reading
78 Listen, my people, to my teaching,
and pay attention to what I say.
2 I am going to use wise sayings
and explain mysteries from the past,
3 things we have heard and known,
things that our ancestors told us.
4 We will not keep them from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s power and his great deeds
and the wonderful things he has done.
5 He gave laws to the people of Israel
and commandments to the descendants of Jacob.
He instructed our ancestors
to teach his laws to their children,
6 so that the next generation might learn them
and in turn should tell their children.
7 In this way they also will put their trust in God
and not forget what he has done,
but always obey his commandments.
8 They will not be like their ancestors,
a rebellious and disobedient people,
whose trust in God was never firm
and who did not remain faithful to him.
9 The Ephraimites, armed with bows and arrows,
ran away on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep their covenant with God;
they refused to obey his law.
11 They forgot what he had done,
the miracles they had seen him perform.
12 While their ancestors watched, God performed miracles
in the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt.
13 He divided the sea and took them through it;
he made the waters stand like walls.
14 By day he led them with a cloud
and all night long with the light of a fire.
15 He split rocks open in the desert
and gave them water from the depths.
16 He caused a stream to come out of the rock
and made water flow like a river.
17 But they continued to sin against God,
and in the desert they rebelled against the Most High.
18 They deliberately put God to the test
by demanding the food they wanted.
19 They spoke against God and said,
“Can God supply food in the desert?
20 It is true that he struck the rock,
and water flowed out in a torrent;
but can he also provide us with bread
and give his people meat?”
Reflect
Reread verses 5–7. What instruction is given here? In what ways are God’s stories told to succeeding generations within your community of faith? What does God give them? What miracles are recounted in today’s reading? How did the people react to God’s provision? In what ways did they put God to the test (verses 18–20)?
Pray
Sovereign God, your power is great. I thank and praise you for your rescue and provision. Teach me your ways so that I continue to obey your commandments and never forget the great things you have done. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 78:21–37: The people fail to trust God.
