Stiffnecked
Psalms 78:32–39
“In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. So He ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek Him; they eagerly turned to Him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter Him with their mouths, lying to Him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to Him, they were not faithful to His covenant. Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.”
Stiffnecked, that’s how God and His prophets described Israel many a time for they were unwilling to obey and keep God’s commandments, unwilling to love Him for who He is and so this rebellion had consequences just as the privation of good results in evil, if we so choose against love, we get apathy, sin results in suffering and futility. Jason shared a CS Lewis quote from Ps Wee Long’s preaching, “pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.“ The Living Life writer notes that “underlying every sin was the failure to remember God’s steadfast faithfulness. Despite the many miracles, they persisted in their rebellion against Him until He disciplined them.” God longs to save Israel from her faithfulness that ebb and flow with the moon and nothing short of affliction was in order. Stiffnecked they were. However, “just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for humans, their days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so they flourish. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children (Psa 103:13–17).” Agape suffers long. “His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation (Luke 1:50).” The LORD Himself lamented at His chosen city, but its people, just like all of us, are free to rebel against love, peace, goodness and life, truth, and go our own way, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing (Matt 23:37). As in today’s Letter to God may we pray in our heart of hearts: Lord, have mercy on me for my continued waywardness and sin. Forgive me for my lip service and for being far from You. Thank you for Your loving discipline that leads me back to You. May I never take Your grace for granted. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. So He ended their days in futility and their years in terror. Whenever God slew them, they would seek Him; they eagerly turned to Him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter Him with their mouths, lying to Him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to Him, they were not faithful to His covenant. Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.”
Stiffnecked, that’s how God and His prophets described Israel many a time for they were unwilling to obey and keep God’s commandments, unwilling to love Him for who He is and so this rebellion had consequences just as the privation of good results in evil, if we so choose against love, we get apathy, sin results in suffering and futility. Jason shared a CS Lewis quote from Ps Wee Long’s preaching, “pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.“ The Living Life writer notes that “underlying every sin was the failure to remember God’s steadfast faithfulness. Despite the many miracles, they persisted in their rebellion against Him until He disciplined them.” God longs to save Israel from her faithfulness that ebb and flow with the moon and nothing short of affliction was in order. Stiffnecked they were. However, “just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. As for humans, their days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so they flourish. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children (Psa 103:13–17).” Agape suffers long. “His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation (Luke 1:50).” The LORD Himself lamented at His chosen city, but its people, just like all of us, are free to rebel against love, peace, goodness and life, truth, and go our own way, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing (Matt 23:37). As in today’s Letter to God may we pray in our heart of hearts: Lord, have mercy on me for my continued waywardness and sin. Forgive me for my lip service and for being far from You. Thank you for Your loving discipline that leads me back to You. May I never take Your grace for granted. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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