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DON’T TURN BACK! (Psalm 78)

Today’s psalm is one that I would like to spend a week on. At 72 verses long, we could never exhaust it even if we tried. It is so rich and full of truth

I encourage you to study Psalm 78 on your own. It shows the inner workings of a heart in turmoil, but it leads us to God. There is quite a bit of history here as well.

It begins with a section about passing on truth to the next generation, then closes with a description of God’s leader. David is the one specifically referenced, but there is a great lesson on how God selects His leaders and how He prepares them to be used.

Between the opening and closing of Psalm 78, there is a description of Israel during a time when its people had everything they needed but chose to leave the One who had blessed them. They got what they wanted. But like the prodigal son, they realized that they did not want what they got. Instead of their hearts’ desire bringing contentment, it made them miserable because it brought the judgment of God upon them.

There is a repetition of truth woven throughout this psalm that gives us a great message for today.

Verse 9: “The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.”

Verse 41: “Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.”

Verse 57: “But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.”

The great message of this psalm is simple: Don’t turn back. Psalm 78 uses a historical record to warn us not to let the next generation repeat these mistakes.

Someone reading this may be on the cusp of quitting. I want to tell you that this is no time to quit. Do not quit before God is finished with you. Do not give up on the Lord when you are on the verge of an answer to prayer.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” I am reminded of what Hudson Taylor used to say: “God is always advancing.”

God does not go back. He is always going forward. Praise the Lord, He never goes back to our sin or goes back on His word. He is always advancing, and He wants us to advance with Him. That means in the most difficult seasons we have to make up our minds that matter we are dealing with, we are not going to turn back. We must be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Turning back loses the battle.

We are in a spiritual warfare. It has always existed, but in recent years it has intensified. I believe that is because we are nearing the end of the battle, which usually becomes most intense just before it is won. I think the devil knows his time is short and the Lord Jesus is coming soon.

So here we are on the battlefield, and so many people are turning and going in the wrong direction. Jesus said about His church in Matthew 16:18, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” That statement supposes that we are charging the gates of Hell. We are to be on offense, not offense.

The children of Ephraim in this psalm were armed. They had everything they needed. The problem was in their hearts.

As a believer, you have all that pertains to a life of godliness. You have everything you need if you have the Lord, but you must decide for yourself that you are not going to turn back.

Turning back limits God.

This is clearly stated in verse 41, that the people “limited the Holy One of Israel.”

Theologically, we say that there is no limit to God. He is eternal and infinite, not limited by time or space. Simply put, He is not limited by anything except our unbelief and disobedience.

If you turn back today, you will limit what God can do in and through your life. If you want everything He has for you, this is no time to turn back.

Turning back leads others astray.

Verse 57 says those who turned back were acting “unfaithfully like their fathers” and “turned aside like a deceitful bow.” Instead of shooting straight, they took a turn and went off course. They learned it from their fathers.

When one generation turns back and fails the Lord, the next generation is prone to do the same thing. I want to finish well, but I also want to see my children following Jesus Christ and the next generation going on for God. If that is what you want as well, you must make the decision not to turn back.

How do you keep from turning back? It’s simple. Don’t even look back. According to Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The people of faith described in Hebrews 11 accomplished great things for God because they did not look back - they looked unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

If you start looking back at your old ways, your old companions, or your old thought patterns, you might very well go back. But if your eyes are on the Lord and the future, it will help you not to turn back on the day of battle.

Remember how Psalm 78 ends by talking about leadership. If we are going to be the right kind of leaders and keep the next generation moving forward for God, we must determine today that we are not going to turn back. Renew your commitment to the Lord today, and know that the God who is always advancing will help you to advance as well.