Psalm 78:9–11 (ESV) — 9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God’s covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.
11 They forgot his works
and the wonders that he had shown them.
NOTE: This is a
story familiar to the author of the Psalm but not recorded in scripture.
Ephraim was one of the larger tribes; it was also a name for the northern
kingdom after the split because of Rehoboam's stubbornness. Whoever the author
is referring, the point is still understandable. They knew what God had done
for them in the past, but did not believe he would be there for them in the
future. In some ways that can be understandable, because the northern kingdom
had disobeyed God on a number of issues. Therefore, it was hard for them to
believe God would do anything for them since they were living in disobedience.
That is one of the dangers of a Christian living in the world, they lose their
hope of God's intervention and protection, knowing they are unworthy (although
we are all unworthy). But they also fear discipline, and so they don't want to
involve God in their life. The simple answer is to repent and to turn back to
the Lord, and put your trust in him. We are never worthy of his love, and his
discipline is only intended to bring us back to him. If we return, we need not
fear discipline.
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