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Day 153

Psalm 78:56a "Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God..."

Day 153 – Psalm 78

“Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God…” Psalm 78:56a

A PERENNIAL PROBLEM

Asaph had taken much time and trouble to walk through with his readers God’s leading of Israel from Egypt to Canaan. Despite all that God had done for His people, one sore problem emerged.

“Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God,
And did not keep His testimonies.”
Psalm 78:56

1. “Yet”

a) This was incomprehensible to Asaph.
b) This was certainly an unacceptable response.

2. “They tested”

a) God had proven Himself faithful to His people again and again.
b) Nevertheless the children of Israel continued to test God.
i) In Moses’ generation.
ii) In Asaph’s generation too.

3. “And provoked the Most High God”

a) To provoke is to anger.
b) To provoke One who is The Most High God was incoherent insanity.
c) How could any nation defy “The Most High God”?

4. “And did not keep His testimonies”

a) This was the third problem.
b) “Testimonies”
i) A reference to the laws of God.
ii) Painstakingly Moses taught the children of Israel the laws of God.
iii) The Lord had also personally spoken to Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20).
c) God’s word was not revered nor were they kept.