Aren’t you glad that our God is a God of “however”s, and “but”s, and “also”s? For example, look at Romans 5:7-8- “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Thank God for his great love for us! Let’s take a look at a ‘nevertheless’ today.
Here are some things Psalm 78:35-72 teach us about this great love of God:
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Psalm 78:35-36
It’s possible to remember God, but just talk the talk.
Your can pray, give Him thanks, and even seek forgiveness. But if it doesn’t come from a sincere heart, it is simply flattery and lies to appease our conscience, or make us look better. Ouch. This means we are simply going through the motions, or practicing some religious habit out of routine, not from a right heart motivation. (The very next verse, 37, says “For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant”.) Do a heart checkup!
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalm 78:39
Thank God for his understanding and longsuffering/patience with us.
He remembers that we are flesh, and will fail. And he still is merciful. He still loves us. This is not a trait to take advantage of, however. God has a limit to how much he will allow us to continue to sin after we are His child, before he judges us for that.
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Psalm 78:42
We often forget our past.
All too quickly we will forget previous times God had to come to our rescue. We forget when he blessed us beyond what we deserved. Or perhaps we allow the joy we once had over our salvation experience to be robbed from us. God help us not to forget just who we are, and where you brought us from!
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Psalm 78:72
He treats us better than we deserve.
Even though we fail, and may even try to walk away from God, his desire is to see us live an abundant life. Thank God for his guidance, feeding, and blessings in our lives in spite of us!
