Psalm 78

A while ago a friend encouraged me with this verse from Psalm 78 -

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

The whole Psalm is this beautiful remembrance of some of the history of Israel set in the context of the importance of passing this story on from generation to generation. Those of you who are parents will understand the depth of meaning there is in family tradition, family storytelling, family gatherings and this would be so much more important in a culture where storytelling is really the main way of passing history along.

O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old- what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

This Psalm traces the story of men of God who were faithful, those who were unfaithful, those who kept their covenant with God and those who did not.

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.

The reminders of God’s miracles, the incredible things He has done for His people, tell us of God’s might and His power, His authority and sovereignty. They also serve to remind us that even those who walk in the very presence of God, seeing Him do what only He can do – even they turn their backs, forgetting God’s faithfulness and His promises.

He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.

The pattern of this Psalm is really the pattern of Israel – God makes a covenant with His people and shows His faithfulness, God delivers them from their enemies or from wandering or from sin and the people praise Him. Soon they forget His goodness and turn away, making way for God’s judgment to come. When it does come, the people return quickly to their love for Him.

Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again.

But soon, their faithfulness disappears and they are again found in their sin. God, in His mercy, forgives and moves toward reconciling and renewing His covenant with His people.

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.

And on and on it goes. The cycle continues – covenant, deliverance, obedience, disobedience, mercy, covenant.

The Psalm ends with the man who may typify this cycle more than any other – David. The pattern of covenant, deliverance, obedience, disobedience, mercy, covenant just repeats itself over and over in his life and as worship leaders we are the better because of it. David’s life, his own successes and failure, God’s faithfulness to him – all of that combined with David’s artistic temperament and ability results in this incredible library of songs and poems written to the Lord. Written from a heart of faithfulness, sometimes very full of questions, even anger, but all of it included as part of the great “book of praises” that we have as the Psalms.

The last line of this Psalm, verse 72, states so much in very few words.

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.

This verse has helped shaped a new way of thinking for me when it comes to my role as a worship leader for my church. I have some thoughts I want to share with you but I’ll save them for the next post.