Psalm 78 vs 32-51 - Again and again

Read: Psalm 78 vs 32-51

If someone was to ask you today ‘How’s things with your heart?’ I wonder what you would say? That’s a question that could be answered at a medical level (perhaps following a test at your GP’s surgery) or it could be answered at an emotional level (commenting on how you’re feeling in a particular situation). However when the Bible thinks about the condition of our ‘heart’ it has in mind how we are doing with God and whether we are ‘whole-hearted’ or ‘half-hearted’ for Him.

There’s a line in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah and it says this:

‘The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.’

According to the Bible each one of us has a heart problem, and that problem is that our hearts easily deceive us and lead us away from the truth and lead us away from the path to life and freedom. Today we come to Psalm 78 verses 32-51. This section of the Psalm picks up the story of God’s people in the wilderness. God had provided for them in so many ways (we saw that in vs 17-31), but 

‘In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders, they did not believe.’ (vs 32)

The story of Israel through the Old Testament becomes a story of ‘futility’ (vs 33), false starts and stops as people tried, and failed, to live lives focused on pleasing and honouring God. The story of the Old Testament is a story of hearts that ‘were not loyal’ God. Yet in spit of this God was merciful and forgiving ‘time after time’ (vs 38). 

The Bible’s diagnosis of humanity is that we all have a heart problem. We have all rebelled against God. None of us are right, or can make ourselves right, with Him (Romans 3 vs 10). God restrains His anger (Psalm 78:38) in so many ways, time after time. These are days of His patience (2 Peter 3:15), when He longs to set up home in our hearts, making us new and bringing us into a new and secure relationship with Him (Galatians 4:6). 

Prayer: Father thank you that by Your Spirit You come to set up home in the hearts of those who look to You. Please be at home in my heart today. Free me from my sin and help me to live a life that pleases You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.