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I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

I love the Psalms

Category Archives: Psalms

God’s Mysterious Choice   

01 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalms, Psalm 78

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jesus, Psalms, the LORD, compassion, the cross, Egypt, God's choice, Asaph, God's will, saving grace, children of Israel

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ps-7850-55-mix-2final.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:50-55 (NIV)*

He prepared a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death
    but gave them over to the plague.
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,
    the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
But he brought his people out like a flock;
    he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
    but the sea engulfed their enemies.
And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
    to the hill country his right hand had taken.
He drove out nations before them
    and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance;
    he settled the tribes of Israel in their home.

Reflection

Understanding God’s choice is not a simple matter. Today’s reading from Psalm 78 draws our attention to the choices God makes. Why did God choose the people of Israel? Why did He decide to get behind this rebellious people? Why did the LORD throw His active support behind a slave revolt? Why did He show mercy to Israel, but pour out His wrath on Egypt?

Of course, we can ask the same questions on a personal level. Why did God choose to save me from my personal pile of sin and destructive habits? Why did He show me the incredible love of Jesus through his death on the cross? Why did the message of the gospel touch me so deeply and transform me so radically, while it bounced off others around me like a babble of meaningless words?

We may never know the answers to these questions. What I do know is God did not choose the best and the greatest when He chose Israel. Furthermore, at this present time, God overlooked the best and the greatest and instead He chose you and me. St. Paul writes, “My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn’t think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, CEV).

St. Paul writes, “The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Why does the gospel light go on for some, but not for others? We could spend an eternity pondering these questions and not arrive at a satisfactory answer. Ultimately, we must allow God to be God. We did not choose Him, but rather He chose us and for that we can be eternally grateful.

Response

LORD God, I am thankful your Spirit sought me out and drew me to the cross of Jesus. I bow before you in praise and gratitude. I pray you will show the same mercy to many others. Give me a heart of compassion for those who have not experienced your saving grace. Amen.

Your Turn

Do you understand God’s sovereign choice? How do you respond?

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian followers!


Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

The Parable of the Two Sons

30 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by Victor Uduh in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Authority Of Jesus, Confidence In Christ, Faith And Truth, Faith In Action, faith in God, Follow Jesus, Following Christ, God's Authority, gospel, gospel reading, Jesus, Jesus Teaches, Knowing The Truth, Obedience To God, Psalms, repentance, Reverence For God, Righteousness, Spiritual Discernment, spiritual growth, trust in God

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer
”


Today’s
Reading:
Psalm 78:40-49 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7840-49-mix-2final.mp3

LORD God,
I believe in your wrath
because you are grieved
at the hate and harm
we generate in this world.
Jesus, I want to hear you calling
and follow you to the place
of deep personal change.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Parable of the Two Sons

“What do you think?
There was a man who had two sons.
He went to the first and said,
‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

“‘I will not,’ he answered,
but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.
He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them,
“Truly I tell you,
the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him,
but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.
And even after you saw this,
you did not repent and believe him.
(Matthew 21:28-32).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God

and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.

(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

God’s Wrath is Real

30 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Asaph, children of Israel, comfortable, comfortable gospel, God's anger, Jesus, personal change, Psalms, the LORD

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7840-9-mix-2final.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:40-49(NIV)*

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
    and grieved him in the wasteland!
Again and again they put God to the test;
    they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
 They did not remember his power—
    the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
the day he displayed his signs in Egypt,
    his wonders in the region of Zoan.
He turned their river into blood;
    they could not drink from their streams.
He sent swarms of flies that devoured them,
    and frogs that devastated them.
He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
    their produce to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail
    and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
He gave over their cattle to the hail,
    their livestock to bolts of lightning.
He unleashed against them his hot anger,
    his wrath, indignation and hostility—
    a band of destroying angels.

Reflection

There are several things I would like to believe. I would like to believe God never gets angry, His patience is everlasting, and that there is no such thing as the wrath of God. I would like to believe Jesus never raised his voice in anger—that he winks at my sins, as though they were no big deal, and then moves on. I would like to believe there is no hell, no burning lake of fire, and no Satan to deceive me.

I would like to believe these things, but I would be wrong. I would be putting myself above the authority of the word of God, which says such things are so. Today’s reading from Psalm 78 reminds us God’s wrath is real, and I don’t want to find myself on the receiving end of it, as was the case with the Egyptians. He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility—a band of destroying angels.

I confess I am tempted to believe in a comfortable gospel, because a comfortable gospel doesn’t call me to account and demand that I change. The Jesus of the comfortable gospel doesn’t demand I sell all and follow him. The Jesus of the comfortable gospel promises me prosperity and self-actualization. I can become what I want, rather than what he wants. The comfortable gospel leaves me as I am—like a pig in a mud wallow. But somehow, Lord, I believe you want more from me. You want my life—my changed life.

Response

LORD God, I believe in your wrath because you are grieved at the hate and harm we generate in this world. Jesus, I want to hear you calling and follow you to the place of deep personal change. Amen.

Your Turn

What kind of gospel do you believe in? Does it require personal change?


Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

29 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by Victor Uduh in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Authority Of Jesus, Confidence In Christ, Faith And Truth, faith in God, Follow Jesus, God's Authority, gospel, gospel reading, Jesus, Knowing The Truth, Psalms, Reverence For God, Son of Man, Spiritual Discernment, trust in God

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer
”


Today’s
Reading:
Psalm 78:32-39 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7832-39-mix-2final.mp3

LORD God,
I cannot boast because of my righteousness.
You know all my shortcomings.
I have an impressive pile of personal sin.
Forgive me through the mercy
of your son, Jesus.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Jesus entered the temple courts,
and, while he was teaching,
the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him.
“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked.
“And who gave you this authority?”

Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question.
If you answer me,
I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John’s baptism—where did it come from?
Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask,
‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people,
for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said,
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
(Matthew 21:23-27).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God

and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.

(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

A Fig Leaf of Self-Righteousness

29 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Asaph, children of Israel, forgiveness, God's grace, God's mercy, judging others, mercy, Psalms, Sermon on the Mount, the LORD, unfaithfulness of God's people

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7832-39-mix-2final-1.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:32-39 (NIV)*

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.

Reflection

Psalm 78 is a lengthy indictment against the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Sometimes it’s easy to forget these were the people of God—His chosen people—yet they responded with lies, unbelief, and disloyalty. If this is how the people of God conduct themselves, what are we to expect from those who do not know the LORD?

Unfortunately, the people of God today are not so different from the people of Israel 3,000 years ago. When we look about the church world, we see a plenty of division, backbiting and sin. All too often hate rules instead of love. We cover ourselves with a fig leaf of self-righteousness and then proceed to attack those who fail to meet our standard. We do all this while we are trapped in our own secret web of sin. We are determined to clean up the world while ignoring our personal pile of filth.

The words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Mount still ring true today, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).

The sermon on the mount by Harold Copping (1863-1932) from Wikimedia

But given this deplorable situation, what does the LORD do? The psalmist states, “Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them” (v. 38). Like the people of ancient Israel, we are saved not because of our righteousness, but solely because of God’s mercy and grace.

Response

LORD God, I cannot boast because of my righteousness. You know all my shortcomings. I have an impressive pile of personal sin. Forgive me through the mercy of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn

Have you been guilty of pointing out the faults of others while ignoring your own? If so, repent before God.


Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

Good Listening

27 Saturday Jun 2026

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ancestors, children, listening for God's voice, next generation, praise, praise the LORD, Prayer, Psalms, sing praise, trust in God

Listen to Psalm 78:1-8 read by Jonathan Dent

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-781-8-mix-3final.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:1-8 (NIV)*

My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
 I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the L
ORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.
They would not be like their ancestors—
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Response

LORD God, today give me ears to hear what your Spirit is saying to me. I want a listening heart. Help me to really hear the others in my family and workplace. Thanks for listening to me. Amen.

 

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

The photo of Jerusalem on the cover of Psalm 365, Volume II


Take a journey to the cross.


To view further details or purchase click here.


* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

26 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Victor Uduh in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

answered prayer, Confidence In Christ, faith in God, Follow Jesus, Following Christ, gospel, gospel reading, Growing In Faith, Jesus, Jesus Curses The Fig Tree, Psalms, Reverence For God, Son of Man, The Power Of Believing, The Presence Of God, trust in God, Walking By Faith

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer
”


Today’s
Reading:
Psalm 78:23-31 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7823-31-mix-2final.mp3

LORD God,
help me to find my contentment in you
and not in the abundance of my possessions.
If your blessings come,
help me to be a wise and generous manager
who seeks first the Kingdom of God.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

Early in the morning,
as Jesus was on his way back to the city,
he was hungry.
Seeing a fig tree by the road,
he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.
Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!”
Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.
“How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied,
“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,
not only can you do what was done to the fig tree,
but also you can say to this mountain,
‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
(Matthew 21:18-22).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God

and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.

(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Eating the Bread of Angels

26 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalms, Psalm 78

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

answered prayer, Asaph, children of Israel, manna, perspective, Poverty, Prayer, Psalms, the LORD, wealth, wilderness

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7823-31-mix-2final.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:23–31 (NIV)*

Yet he gave a command to the skies above
    and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat,
    he gave them the grain of heaven.
Human beings ate the bread of angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens
    and by his power made the south wind blow.
He rained meat down on them like dust,
    birds like sand on the seashore.
He made them come down inside their camp,
    all around their tents.
They ate till they were gorged—
    he had given them what they craved.
But before they turned from what they craved,
    even while the food was still in their mouths,
God’s anger rose against them;
    he put to death the sturdiest among them,
    cutting down the young men of Israel.

Reflection

Several years ago, I received some wise counsel from a pastor. He said, “Be careful what you pray for. You may get what you want. And that’s not always a good thing.”

What happens when we get exactly what we want? For the answer to that question, we should consult with million-dollar lottery winners. Obviously, they got what they wanted when they bought their lottery ticket. Sociologists who do long-term studies on lottery winners will tell you in some cases winning the “big one” ends in disaster. Some people have managed to fritter away millions in a perpetual party lifestyle that leaves them physically broken and bankrupt in less than five years. Others have maintained their wealth and their health, but they have become socially isolated with family relationships in ruins. Getting what we want and more than we need doesn’t always end well.

In today’s reading from Psalm 78, we learn that despite Israel’s rebellious ways, God gave the people exactly what they wanted and more than they needed. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat (v. 25).

The greatest temptation we face may not be denying God in the face of poverty, but rather neglecting Him in the midst of wealth. When God gives us the wealth we want, the end result may be the impoverishment of our spirit. Be careful what you pray.

Response

LORD God, help me to find my contentment in you and not in the abundance of my possessions. If your blessings come, help me to be a wise and generous manager who seeks first the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Your Turn

Have your answered prayers led to regrets later on? Have you prayed short-sighted prayers while God has the full perspective? He has the long view.


Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look, click here.

Jesus at the Temple

25 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by Victor Uduh in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Follow Jesus, Following Christ, God's will, gospel, gospel reading, holiness, Honor God, house of prayer, Jesus, Jesus The Messiah, Kingdom of God, Psalms, Reverence For God, Son of Man, The Presence Of God, The Temple Of God

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer
”


Today’s
Reading:
Psalm 78:17-22 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7817-22-mix-2final.mp3

LORD God,
I humbly ask you for the gift of faith—
faith to sustain me through the tough times ahead.
You are my help, my salvation, and my deliverer.
I praise you for your faithfulness.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus at the Temple

Jesus entered the temple courts
and drove out all who were buying and selling there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the benches of those selling doves.
“It is written,”
he said to them,
“‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’
but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple,
and he healed them.
But when the chief priests
and the teachers of the law
saw the wonderful things he did
and the children shouting in the temple courts,
“Hosanna to the Son of David,”
they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?”
they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,
where he spent the night.

(Matthew 21:12-17).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God

and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.

(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Rebelling in the Wilderness

25 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by Tim K in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Asaph, childlike faith, children of Israel, faith, gift of faith, lack of faith, Psalms, rebellion, testing, the LORD, wilderness

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

https://davidkitz.blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ps-7817-22-mix-2final1.mp3

Reading: Psalm 78:17-22 (NIV)*

But they continued to sin against him,
    rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
They willfully put God to the test
    by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God;
    they said, “Can God really
    spread a table in the wilderness?
True, he struck the rock,
    and water gushed out,
    streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
    Can he supply meat for his people?”
 When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
    his fire broke out against Jacob,
    and his wrath rose against Israel,
for they did not believe in God
    or trust in his deliverance.

Reflection

Psalm 78 is largely an indictment against the people of Israel for their lack of faith and their rebellious ways. As the psalmist says, “They willfully put God to the test” (v.18).

As a child I recall reading the entire book of Exodus and thinking to myself, “Wow, these people sure are dumb. How could they see God’s amazing miracles and then a few days later grumble, complain and doubt that the LORD would help them? These people are real losers!”

Then I grew up and had a family of my own. At times I saw amazing miracles and God’s supernatural provision. But guess what? When the next big difficulty arose, I found myself doubting God would come through. I complained about the difficulty I was in and acted just like the people of Israel in the wilderness.

Oops! I thought I was different. I thought I was smarter than those spiritual dullards in the Old Testament. In reality, my grownup faith was much weaker than my childhood faith. When real testing and temptation came, I was and still am, as susceptible to unbelief as any of the wandering Israelites in the wilderness. Faith is a gift from God—a wonder-filled gift that carries us through the hard times.

The indictment against Israel is that “they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.” Do I truly believe in God and trust in his deliverance? Is my faith more than a creedal statement? Does it have legs and wings to carry me through the toughest situation? Often, I am more like the rebellious children of Israel than I would like to admit. How about you?

Response

LORD God, I humbly ask you for the gift of faith—faith to sustain me through the tough times ahead. You are my help, my salvation, and my deliverer. I praise you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Your Turn

 Do you have grown-up faith or childlike faith? Which is better? Why?


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