Psalms 78 teaches present and future generations to learn from the past, and it stresses the grace of God. It recounted their history. In the wilderness, God’s people were judged when they put the Lord to the test. Even though later generations forgot His miracles and were disloyal to His covenant, God was merciful to them. Despite the love displayed in the Exodus and Conquest, Israel continued to rebel against the Lord, and was justly punished. Despite Israel’s faults, God chose David to shepherd His people. The lesson of the psalm is clear. In David, Israel was granted a fresh start. God’s people had to learn from their past, and follow David’s example of faithfulness to the Lord if they hoped to avoid future disaster.
What story of God’s past dealings with you can you remember in times of temptation, forgetfulness and doubt you still face?
I still face doubt of whether God is present and his power is enough. I have been tempted by seeking a easy way out of the hard work of making disciples. I confess that I forget about all the goodness and mercy that God has blessed me. In terms of story of God’s past dealings, I remember the following:
- When I was feeling hopeless about the future when I was an university student, God used a brother with a passion for evangelism to invite me to accept the good news of Jesus Christ during fellowship.
- When I was facing temptation from my career crisis a few years ago, God opened the door to experience Him through opportunities to serve Him in various mission opportunities. When I fled away from the temptation, I was blessed with edifying fellowship with brothers and sisters who were passionate for Christ. Through seeing the lives of brothers and sisters who surrendered themselves to God, I am able to see that God has a different plan than the one I envision for myself. Through all the years, I was never lacking by any means.
- When I was facing temptation from relational brokenness a few years ago, God sent His servants to minister to my wounded heart. I was tempted to be unforgiving and turn to lustful pursuits to bury my heartache. The unconditional love and encouragement from the brothers I serve showed me the love of God.
- Today, when I am facing temptation from abandoning God’s calling, I recalled what God did for me for the last decade since I received the gift of salvation. I was blessed with the opportunities to connect with some brothers and sisters whom made significant impact to my faith in Christ. I was able to serve as a leader in the Teens Conference for the 5th year. Through witnessing the power of God’s Word changing the heart of the teens, God gave me renewed passion to serve Him.