Sep-12-0511-Resting in God’s salvation
511_Resting in God’s salvation Psalm 78 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3 things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6 that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8 and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. Vs.67-72 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. The waves were gentle at first. The man paddling in the sea did not know how to swim, but he told himself it was harmless to wade just a little further. He enjoyed the cool splash of the water against his knees. But in a moment, the mood shifted. A strong current pulled him off balance. He stumbled, tried to regain control, and before he realized what was happening, he was being dragged out into deeper waters. The fun turned to fear. He thrashed wildly, gasping for air as the waves crashed over his head. On the shore, a watching lifeguard sprang into action. Experienced, strong, and calm, he dove into the surf, and swam with steady, powerful strokes. Relief swept over the victim as he felt himself secured in the powerful grip of the rescuer. He was no longer alone and helpless. But as the lifeguard began the long swim back to shore, the rescued man began to panic again. Struggling to swim, he screamed, “What if we sink again? What if you can’t hold me?” The lifeguard replied: “ Relax and trust me. I know what I’m doing.” This picture is not far from what Psalm 78 describes. God had delivered His people Israel time and time again. He had rescued them from Egypt with mighty acts, parted the Red Sea, fed them with manna in the wilderness, given them water from the rock, and protected them by the pillar of cloud and fire. Yet, like the man in the sea, Israel