November 23
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PSALM 78 IDOLS & REBELLION PROVOKE GOD’S WRATH
55 He drove out nations before them;
he apportioned them for a possession
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
and did not keep his testimonies,
57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
they twisted like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.
60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
61 and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe.
62 He gave his people over to the sword and vented his wrath on his heritage.
– Psalm 78:55-62
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do you examine your life to see if you serve and follow the Lord?
Are you surrounded by distractions and corrupted by the systems of this world?
Do you test the Lord your Most High by not keeping his commands?
What things are so ingrained in you that leads you to constantly demand?
When the Israelites rebelled against the Lord and created idols
They moved the Lord to jealousy and provoked his anger.
They were constantly protected by him initially but now got his wrath
When God’s fury is stirred, no one can stand his judgment.
Will you learn from the lawlessness and idolatry of your ancestors?
Are you aware that idols and rebellion surrounds you?
Let go of all pride, idolatry and all unrighteousness
Serve the Lord your God alone and he’ll grant you steadfastness.
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REFLECTION
• 1 Samuel 15:23 says “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” -Does this verse relate to the sins of the Israelites in this psalm? How can we detect idols that we don’t see and rebellion in our hearts?