Daily Devotions

Psalms

Psalms 
Day 
Day 131

Psalm 78:34a "When He slew them, then they sought Him..."

Day 131 – Psalm 78

“When He slew them, then they sought Him…” Psalm 78:34a

SEEKING GOD

This should be the most natural thing for Israel to do. To have experienced the wonder of God’s miracles in Egypt and enroute to Canaan should have caused a natural desire in the heart to seek God. There would be so much to discover about this great and mighty God. Sadly, that was not the case for the children of Israel. They did not seek God. Instead they proved themselves to be self-seeking. They thought only of themselves. Basic feelings of gratitude were hard to come by.

ONLY AFTER SEVERE AFFLICTION

When would the children of Israel seek God? Sadly, it took great affliction to drive them to seek God.

“When He slew them, then they sought Him;
And they returned and sought earnestly for God.”
Psalm 78:34

1. “When He slew them”

a) In righteous judgment.
b) In holy anger.
c) The slaying of the guilty was done judiciously and not wantonly.

2. “Then they sought Him”

a) This was out of fear and not out of faith.
b) This was done because of fear of graver consequences, not out of wisdom or love.

3. “And they returned”

a) Returned to consider what God was saying to the nation.
b) Returned to consider the folly of their ways.
c) Returned to their senses.

4. “And sought earnestly for God”

a) For His mercy.
b) For pardon.
c) For relief from present distress.
d) For a stay of further execution of God’s wrath.