If you wanted to summarize the books of Exodus and Numbers, you could do worse than to read through Psalm 78!
The psalmist Asaph recounts the highpoints of God's historic faithfulness to the people of Israel. From the events of the Exodus through the deliverance in the Red Sea to His providence during the nation's 40-year sojourn in the wilderness, God had revealed Himself time and again as Israel defender and protector.
And yet what has Israel's response to God's faithfulness been? Faithlessness! In spite of God's recurring grace, Israel has excelled in stubborn, rebellious ways. Rather than serving the Lord, they have chosen to serve their own lusts and evil desires.
The end result, the Psalmist says, has been for the Lord to reject and abandon the northern kingdom of Israel and focus His attention on the southern tribes of Judah (vs. 67-68). God's promises will be faithfully realizes there, not to faithless Israel at-large.
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