God is listening to what we say!

I am trembling inside right now.  On Monday, February 11, 2019, my 60th birthday, I sat down with my Bible in my hand to relax after my brothers left to go home.  My Bible opened to Psalm 78.  I was intrigued.  That Psalm started out saying, "O My people, listen to My instructions.  Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable.  I will teach you HIDDEN LESSONS from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.  We will not hide these TRUTHS from our children, we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about His power and His mighty wonders."  (vs. 1-4) 

In my mind I am thinking, this is going to be good.  There are HIDDEN LESSONS in this Psalm - truths that we need to pass on to the next generation, but what I read caused me to tremble.  According to Psalm 78, God is listening to everything we say, and I am hearing people all around me say the same things the Israelites said.  They spoke against God Himself, saying, "God can't give us food in the wilderness.  Yes, He can strike a rock so water gushes out, but He can't give His people bread and meat."  (vs. 19-20) . Guys, do we do this?  Do we doubt that God can provide for our needs?  Pay the rent?  Put food on our table?  Save our children?  Heal our bodies?  Do we trust God with the everyday details of our lives?  What are we saying?  We have to listen to what is coming out of our mouth because listen to how God reacted to what the Israelites were saying, "God can't give us bread and meat."  

When the LORD heard them, he was furious.  The fire of His wrath burned against Jacob.  Yes, His anger rose against Israel, for THEY DID NOT BELIEVE GOD OR TRUST HIM TO CARE FOR THEM.  (vs. 21-22) . Are we believing God.  Do we trust Him to care for us?  Do we trust Him to be our provider?  Our protector?  Our deliverer?  What are we saying, because out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks.  Whatever is in our heart WILL come out of our mouth, and by our words we will be justified and by our words, we will be condemned.  So God rained down meat as thick as dust, and the people ate their fill.  God gave them the food they craved, but while the meat was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them and He (God) killed their strongest men.  (vs. 23-31) . Oh my goodness!  "But in spite of this, the people kept sinning.  Despite His wonders, they refused to trust Him, so He ended their lives in failure, their years in terror."  (vs.  32-33) .

Did you know that to not trust God is our sin?  To think that He can't do what He says He can do is our wickedness?   When we fail to trust God, look at what happens.  We end our lives in failure and terror.  Can you see that happening?  What is going on in your heart?  Is it at rest and peace, or is there something else in there?  When will we begin to trust?  "When God began killing them, they finally sought Him.  They repented and took God seriously."  (vs.34) . Are you trembling?  I am.  Is God going to have to start killing us before we trust Him?

This has all been rolling around in my heart all week.  God is listening to what we are saying.  Malachi 3:13-14  "You have said terrible things about Me," says the LORD.  But you say, "What do you mean?  What have we said against you?"  "You have said, 'What's the use of serving God?  What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven's Armies that we are sorry for our sins?  From now on we will call the arrogant blessed.  For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm."  Are we doing that?  Are we calling the arrogant blessed?  Are we saying, "What's the use?"  God is listening to what we say.  He knows our heart, and He is not happy.

BUT those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said.  In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.  "They will be My people," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.  "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be My own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.  Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."  (Malachi 3:16-18)

God is about to act in judgment.  I believe with all my heart that we are about to see people die.  Listen to what people are saying.  You will know what is coming.  I don't know about you, but this makes me tremble.  God is God.  He is going to do what He says He is going to do.  He is merciful and kind, but unless we turn toward Him, we will not live.