Psalm 78 tells a very familiar story; God does might works then His people forget and rebel. We see that all around us every day. Over and over again the Lord rescued His people, provided, guided, and showed amazing mercy. Yet, again and again His people resisted. 
This Psalm takes a very familiar historical story and drives it home into the human heart.  

We see here the possibility of being rescued from bondage and still struggling to trust the Rescuer. It’s possible to physically leave Egypt but still carry its appetites, fears, and habits of soul with us. This is something people in recovery know well;  geographical relocation alone won’t cure the problem. Israel had seen the wonders of God, they’d walked through the sea on dry ground, ate bread and quail from heaven, yet still turned away in unbelief.
We should be careful that we not judge them too quickly, though!

Our own hearts often want freedom without the price of surrender. We want God to remove the pain, but resist His work of formation. We cry out for deliverance, but we still cling to what feels familiar. Everyone likes the benefits of rescue, it’s the deeper transformation of trust that gives us trouble.
 
In their minds, the people could remember God as their Rock and Provider, their Redeemer, but their hearts were not steadfast towards Him. Their prayers rose in crisis, but their desires wandered when the pressure lifted.

This story is only uncomfortable because it is so familiar. It’s our story, too.
But the Psalm not only exposes Israel’s failure, it also reveals God’s compassion and love for them. He atoned for their sin. He remembered they were flesh and restrained His judgement again and again. His faithfulness was far deeper than their inconsistency. That fact brings me more hope than I can possibly communicate.

Our hearts can be simultaneously convicted and comforted over our sin. Convicted because we can’t treat God’s rescue flippantly. Comforted because our weakness isn’t a shock to Him. In fact, His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He knows who we are. He knows how easily fear returns and grips our souls. He knows our gratitude fade .. and yet … and YET, He keeps shepherding us towards home.

This Psalm invites us not only to ask “what has God rescued us from?” but also to ask “What is God restoring us to?” He isn’t content to break chains for the sake of breaking chains only to leave our hearts unchanged and unhinged. He rescues to make us whole and complete.

Where do you see a temptation in yourself to want freedom without deeper surrender? How can you strive today to remember God with sincerity, not only with words?

Father, you see all things, even the hidden places of my heart. Make those hidden places soft and sincere as they once were. Thank you for having compassion on me when I’m weak. Teach me to trust you with every work of transformation that comes my way. Amen.