Psalms 78-80

As I read through Psalms 78 to 80 this week, I was reminded of how quickly we forget God’s goodness. In times of trouble, the people of Israel cried out to be saved and restored. They made promises to stay faithful from that point forward. But those promises faded as soon as life became easier. How often have we done the same? We cry out to God in desperation, but as soon as things settle down, we drift. Psalm 78:34-42 and 80:4 reveal this pattern. And if we’re honest, it’s still true in the church today. We’re quick to ask for God’s help but slow to remain faithful when life feels comfortable.

Psalm 80:3-5 offers a heartfelt prayer: “Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” The psalmist cries out, “How long, O Lord?” He asks how much longer they must suffer the consequences of their sin. What stands out is that he doesn’t say they shouldn’t suffer. He knows they’ve earned it. Yet, he pleads for mercy. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:6 that God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. The psalmist acknowledges their failure and asks God to turn their hearts back to Him, knowing real change only happens when God moves. It brings to mind 2 Chronicles 7:14, where we are called to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways.

The Lord is merciful, but repentance must come first. The psalmist seems to understand this: even though they had suffered, it might take even more for them to truly repent. They were still living in sin and provoking God’s anger.

It’s easy to look at them and wonder, “Why didn’t they just turn back to God?” From a distance, it seems simple. But when we look at our own lives, we often find we’re not much different. We, too, wander. We let sin creep in. And even when we know better, repentance doesn’t always come easily.

Friends, these passages aren’t just about Israel. They are about us today. They call us to reflect, repent, and return to the Lord. He is merciful, but He calls us to turn back to Him and live faithfully. Acts 26:20 reminds us that we should prove our repentance by the way we live.

Let’s take these words to heart and encourage each other to stay faithful—not only when life is hard but in every season.