Introduction
Psalm 78:40–72: Today’s reading continues to catalog the people’s rebellious ways and the consequences of their disobedience, along with describing God’s mighty acts in rescuing them from Egypt. The psalm concludes with God choosing David to be king of Israel.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 78:52
Then he led his people out like a shepherd and guided them through the desert.
Read
40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert;
how many times they made him sad!
41 Again and again they put God to the test
and brought pain to the Holy God of Israel.
42 They forgot his great power
and the day when he saved them from their enemies
43 and performed his mighty acts and miracles
in the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt.
44 He turned the rivers into blood,
and the Egyptians had no water to drink.
45 He sent flies among them, that tormented them,
and frogs that ruined their land.
46 He sent locusts to eat their crops
and to destroy their fields.
47 He killed their grapevines with hail
and their fig trees with frost.
48 He killed their cattle with hail
and their flocks with lightning.[a]
49 He caused them great distress
by pouring out his anger and fierce rage,
which came as messengers of death.
50 He did not restrain his anger
or spare their lives,
but killed them with a plague.
51 He killed the first-born sons
of all the families of Egypt.
52 Then he led his people out like a shepherd
and guided them through the desert.
53 He led them safely, and they were not afraid;
but the sea came rolling over their enemies.
54 He brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains which he himself conquered.
55 He drove out the inhabitants as his people advanced;
he divided their land among the tribes of Israel
and gave their homes to his people.
56 But they rebelled against Almighty God
and put him to the test.
They did not obey his commandments,
57 but were rebellious and disloyal like their ancestors,
unreliable as a crooked arrow.
58 They angered him with their heathen places of worship,
and with their idols they made him furious.
59 God was angry when he saw it,
so he rejected his people completely.
60 He abandoned his tent in Shiloh,[b]
the home where he had lived among us.
61 He allowed our enemies to capture the Covenant Box,
the symbol of his power and glory.
62 He was angry with his own people
and let them be killed by their enemies.
63 Young men were killed in war,
and young women had no one to marry.
64 Priests died by violence,
and their widows were not allowed to mourn.
65 At last the Lord woke up as though from sleep;
he was like a strong man excited by wine.
66 He drove his enemies back
in lasting and shameful defeat.
67 But he rejected the descendants of Joseph;
he did not select the tribe of Ephraim.
68 Instead he chose the tribe of Judah
and Mount Zion, which he dearly loves.
69 There he built his Temple
like his home in heaven;
he made it firm like the earth itself,
secure for all time.
70 He chose his servant David;
he took him from the pastures,
71 where he looked after his flocks,
and he made him king of Israel,
the shepherd of the people of God.
72 David took care of them with unselfish devotion
and led them with skill.
Reflect
Verse 41 states that the people “put God to the test and brought pain to the Holy God of Israel.” What verses speak of the people’s unfaithfulness? What verses speak of God’s mercy and care? What does today’s reading teach you about God?
Pray
Almighty God, you are merciful and always ready to forgive when we turn to you. May I remember each day how you continue to love and watch over me and embrace me in your steadfast care. Amen.
And now, join us thanking God that the JESUS Film is bringing hope and comfort to people in a remote region of Guatemala. Lord God, poverty is common in the rural mountains of Guatemala. But thanks to the support from Bible-A-Month Partners, the Bible Society’s End-to-End program and the showing of the JESUS Film is impacting the lives of people who are accepting Jesus as their Savior. People are also receiving their first Bibles in their heart language. We praise you, Lord, God, that your Word is providing a lifeline to people longing for hope. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 80: A prayer for a nation’s restoration.
