Psalms 78:56 says, Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: Even though God had freed the people of Israel from Egypt and had provided for them in the wilderness, they tempted and provoked God by not keeping His commandments. As Christians, God has freed us from the power and penalty of sin and provides for our needs, so we should not be surprised if He is provoked if we fail to follow His commandments. Verse fifty-seven adds, But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. The people of Israel were just as unfaithful as their fathers, or ancestors, had been, in spite of God's goodness to them. We cannot be a true follower of Christ and be the same as those who came before us who did not believe in God. Verse fifty-eight continues, For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. Asaph said the people of Israel, God's chosen people, began to worship idols. We need to make sure that we don't allow anything in our life to become an idol, something more important to us than God. Verse fifty-nine states, When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: When God heard the people of Israel worshipping idols, He was upset and greatly abhorred Israel. We should expect no less today if those who call themselves Christians do not worship God alone and do not keep His commandments. Verse sixty adds, So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; Asaph said because of their idolatry that God forsook the people of Israel and His tabernacle at Shiloh. If we are to be a Christian nation today, we cannot forsake God and worship idols or other gods and still expect Him to bless us. Verse sixty-one continues, And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand. Because of their idolatry, God removed His protection from them and allow their enemies to have power over them. As followers of Christ, we have power over sin, but if we turn away from God, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves back under the power of sin. Verse sixty-two continues, He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. Just as God gave the people of Israel over to the power of the sword of other nations, He will likewise remove His protective hand from us today, as a nation or an individual, if we begin to once again chase after idols. If we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, I don't believe we lose our inheritance of everlasting life, but we may find ourselves defeated spiritually in daily situations and without the joy of our salvation. Verse sixty-three says, The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. Their young men died by fire and the young women had no one to marry, so their was no one to continue God's work in the future. If we lose one generation who fail to believe in Jesus Christ, then there will soon be no one to carry on His work and share the gospel with the world. Verse sixty-four adds, Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. Even the priests, the religious leaders, were killed because of their lack of obedience to God. We as Christians are a priesthood of believers, and we must live under the authority of God's word, even if we are killed for our faith, but we should never die because of our lack of faith in God and His promises. Verse sixty-five declares, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. Verse sixty-six adds, And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. God never really has to awake from sleep, but if we as those who are called a Christian nation turn away from God, we will awaken His wrath against us. Verse sixty-seven continues, Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: God turned away from those who did not follow Him but chased idols instead. He will do the same today with us as a nation if we start chasing after idols. Verse sixty-eight says, But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. God did not reject all of His people, but only those who had first rejected Him. God established a new place of worship. God establishes a new sanctuary, or place to worship, in the heart of every believer today, and we can never go back to any place or anything that we worshipped before and still be effective witnesses for Christ. Verse sixty-nine adds, And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. As God built His sanctuary in the high places then. His sanctuary is in the high places of heaven today, where it can never be corrupted. Verse seventy states, He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: The people had chosen Saul to be their leader, but God chose David. I believe that God expects those that He allows to come to power today to be guided by His principles, especially in a country that calls itself a Christian nation. Verse seventy-one adds, From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. David was called to power by God to take care of God's people, the sheep of His pasture. Verse seventy-two continues, So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. David ruled Israel according to the integrity of his heart. We need leaders today who lead according to the integrity of their heart, and I believe that this integrity can only come from God.
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