But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. (Ps. 78:56)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 78:40–72
Can you remember a time, parents, when one of your children was disobedient? “One time?” you say. “There isn’t a book that can contain all the times!” After reading this psalm, I wonder if that was how God felt as well.
As you were reading today’s passage, could you get a sense of the number of times the Israelites disobeyed God? While God was often justifiably angry with them, he never abandoned them. He stayed with them. Yes, he disciplined them along the way, but he loved his children so much that he continued with his plan to redeem them. The psalm ends with David reigning over God’s people, but out of the line of David came a better king—the ultimate, eternal King—who will not only reign over a small region in the Middle East, but will reign in the new heavens and the new earth. This is the King who will make all things new and establish his throne forever.
Parents, raising children can be a challenge, but I am glad that my heavenly Father never gave up on me. That same grace that was shown to you and me through Jesus is the same grace that is available for all our relationships.
God, help me to have grace and compassion for the relationships in my life today.
Ask God for grace and compassion within all relationships.
Branden Petersen is the cofounder/pastor of Resurrection Life NYC in Manhattan with his wife, Jenn. He is also the founder and director of the urban church planting network, Global Cities Network.
