When forgetfulness erases past hurtful
experiences, the results are terrible.
Such forgetfulness produces needless sorrows and endless
tragedy. The admonition
to “put it behind you” does not mean “erase all memory of the
experience.” Wisdom also
remembers!
The psalmist said because the people forgot the
Lord’s ability, they rebelled, grumbled, and refused His guidance.
The results were tragic!
The generation of adults that left Egypt would die in the
wilderness, and eventually their descendants would be scattered in
the lands of distant nations.
He gave two examples.
At Peor they worshipped Baal and sacrificed to the dead.
Had it not been for the faith-filled courage of Phinehas even
more Israelites would have died.
At Meribah, Israelite adults who left Egypt
were faithlessly foolish.
They angered both God and Moses.
Unfortunately, Moses' anger resulted in sin.
When the second generation entered Canaan, they
repeated their parents’ lack of faith.
Instead of destroying the idolatrous people, they adopted
those peoples’ offensive practices.
The result: They mingled with idolaters, worshipped idols,
sacrificed children to demons, shed innocent blood through
idolatrous practices, murdered, and defiled themselves through evil
deeds.
They caused the God who loved them to abhor
them. God abandoned
these people’s descendants to pagan nations who hated them, crushed
them, and treated them cruelly.
Despite God’s repeated rescues, Israel rebelled against God.
Even in deserved captivity, God pitied them and caused the
captors to show them kind treatment.
The psalmist asked for Israel’s deliverance and
praised God. He urged
the Israelites to praise God!
Too often when tragedy strikes, we blame rather
than reflect.
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell