psalm 78: Israel tested Elohim

In Psalm 78, we read verses where Israel tested Elohim three times:

1) Israel wanted meat in the desert:

18 They deliberately tested Elohim by demanding the food they craved.

19 They spoke against Elohim by saying,

    “Can El prepare a banquet in the desert?

20 True, he did strike a rock,

    and water did gush out,

        and the streams did overflow.

    But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?”

21 When Yahweh heard this, he became furious.

    His fire burned against Jacob

        and his anger flared up at Israel

22 because they did not believe Elohim

    or trust him to save them.

2) Israel forgot the power of the Lord.

41 Again and again they tested Elohim,

    and they pushed Qedosh Yisrael to the limit.

42 They did not remember his power—

    the day he freed them from their oppressor,

43 when he performed his miraculous signs in Egypt,

    his wonders in the fields of Zoan.

3) Israel rebelled against the Lord.

56 They tested Elohim Elyon and rebelled against him.

    They did not obey his written instructions.

57 They were disloyal and treacherous like their ancestors.

    They were like arrows shot from a defective bow.

58 They made him angry because of their illegal worship sites.

    They made him furious because they worshiped idols.

Israel tested the Lord by not trusting in Him. We could think: "Israel didn´t trust in the Lord and the Lord let Israel abandoned to his own fate". However, the Lord became furious (v21, v41, v58). The principle is: "The more is given to Israel, the more is expected (more trust) from him.". 

It's good to always meditate on what the Lord has done for me and how I am responding to his love.

Psalm77: The Lord is far away from me

 We are tempted to think that we are on our own saying, Psalms 77:10/MSG:

“Just my luck,” I said. “The High God retires

    just the moment I need him.”

because, it seems that the Lord doesn't listen to my prayers as nothing different happens.

The psalmist decides in Psalm 77:11-12/MSG:

Once again I’ll go over what God has done,

    lay out on the table the ancient wonders;

I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished,

    and give a long, loving look at your acts.

Even though he didn't see with his own eyes ancient wonders such as the exodus, he believes and exclaims in Psalm 77:13-14/MSG:

O God! Your way is holy!

    No god is great like God!

You’re the God who makes things happen;

    you showed everyone what you can do

In a similar way, when it seems to me that the Lord is far away from me, I have to look at the cross and resurrection of Jesus to praise the Lord for his salvation.

Psalm 76: Praise the Lord for his wrath

Batman is an example of someone fierce to criminals. In general, the public thinks of Batman as a brave enforcer of justice and has a positive view of him.

Something similar happens with the Lord.

In Psalm 76:7-10/MSG:

Fierce you are, and fearsome!

    Who can stand up to your rising anger?

From heaven you thunder judgment;

    earth falls to her knees and holds her breath.

God stands tall and makes things right,

    he saves all the wretched on earth.

Instead of smoldering rage—God-praise!

    All that sputtering rage—now a garland for God!

The human reaction to his anger can be a latent anger, and indeed, some people hold a rage against the Lord. The psalmist enjoins praising the Lord rather than harboring anger against him, and indeed the anger of the Lord is another characteristic of the Lord to be praised.

psalm75 - smart aleck

In Psalm75:4/MSG, the Lord says:

I say to the smart alecks, ‘That’s enough,’

    to the bullies, ‘Not so fast.’”

Since childhood, I expected to gain the respect of others being the best student, with the best grades. Now I am retired as a professor from a university. One day, the Lord approached me and said: "That's enough". 

Since then, I don't need to gain the respect of others by being a "smart aleck". I began to say (Psalm75:1/NOG):

I give thanks to you, O Elohim; I give thanks.

    You are present, and your miracles confirm that.

Psalm 74: Lord, defend yourself!

In Psalm 74, the first temple of Jerusalem was already destroyed. The people of the Lord was mistreated. How can the Creator of the Universe let his people in this condition! There is not so much to them to do but to pray to the Lord and ask:

22 Arise, O Elohim!

    Fight for your own cause!

    Remember how godless fools insult you all day long.

23 Do not forget the shouting of your opponents.

    Do not forget the uproar made by those who attack you.

There are times when I forget that the Lord is a live God. He is the one who defends me, but there were moments when I wanted to defend the Lord.

Psalm73: Is Elohim good?

I read the Bible and I understand what pleases the Lord. I do my best to please Him but what do I get in return? 

In Psalm 73:

13 I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure

    and washing my hands of any blame.

14 I’m plagued with problems all day long,

    and every morning my punishment begins again.

However, I see wicked people doing great in life.

In Psalm 73:

11 Then wicked people ask, “What does Elohim know?”

    “Does Elyon know anything?”

They understand that Elohim has nothing to do with our lives, so they live theirs lives as they wish. It is really unfair that the wicked are "blessed" even though despising the Lord. Is Elohim good? It doesn't seem so.

In Psalm 73:

15 If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”

    I would have betrayed Elohim’s people.

16 But when I tried to understand this,

    it was too difficult for me.

17 Only when I came into Elohim’s holy place

    did I finally understand what would happen to them.

My Aha! moment was in the holy place. I understood the fate of the wicked people.

19 They (wicked people)  are suddenly destroyed.

    They are completely swept away by terror!

Although wicked people seem to be doing great they will be suddenly destroyed.

But this will no happens to me. 

The psalmist prays:

23 Yet, I am always with you.

    You hold on to my right hand.

24 With your advice you guide me,

    and in the end you will take me to glory.

25 As long as I have you,

    I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.

26 My body and mind may waste away,

    but Elohim remains the foundation of my life

        and my inheritance forever.

I will be resurrected. The Lord will make me win over Death. 

So, let me return to the question: "Is Elohim good?"

1 Elohim is truly good to Israel,

    to those whose lives are pure.

The Lord is truly good to those whose lives are pure. May my life be pure before the Lord.

 

Psalm72: A prayer for the king

Psalm 72 is a prayer to Elohim for the king. It was written by Solomon. In this prayer he asks:

4: May he grant justice to the people who are oppressed.

    May he save the children of needy people

    and crush their oppressor.

He makes some statements about the king:

12 He will rescue the needy person who cries for help

    and the oppressed person who has no one’s help.

13 He will have pity on the poor and needy

    and will save the lives of the needy.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence.

    Their blood will be precious in his sight.

The king has power and he must use his power to defend the oppressed ones. Solomon prays that he becomes an instrument of the Lord. Our Lord is a good lord. He wants to rescue the poor and needy.