Lesson from History of Salvation
July 26, 2023 - Wednesday,
Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28
Psalm 78, the second-longest psalm in the Psalter, is a profound poetic sermon that delves into the history of Israel from the time of Moses to David. At its core are the remarkable acts of the Lord. The psalmist and the audience gleaned knowledge of these acts from their forefathers. Now, it is their responsibility to pass this knowledge on to the next generation, ensuring that the rich history is not forgotten.
Cicero, the renowned Roman philosopher, once stated that "history is the teacher of life." The psalmist shares this sentiment, believing that by remembering and reflecting on the history of our salvation, valuable life lessons can be drawn. The author of Psalm 78 imparts a crucial lesson: rather than imitating our ancestors who rebelled against God despite witnessing His glorious deeds, we should trust in God and obey His commands.
The portion of Psalm 78 we encounter today focuses on the gift of Manna—a direct response from God to the challenge posed by His people: "Can God spread a table in the desert?" (Psalm 78:19). Similar to the author of the book of Exodus, the psalmist perceives this question as an act of rebellion and a test of God's power. It is noteworthy that in the Exodus narrative, the complaint about the lack of food arises immediately after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, a demonstration of God's immense power over the enemies of Israel. The people witnessed this remarkable event and jubilantly sang praises to God, acknowledging His triumph over Pharaoh's army (see Exodus 14-15). Why then did they struggle to trust that the One who defeated their enemies would also provide water and sustenance in the wilderness?
The miracle of Manna is revisited in the Gospel of John, where Jesus feeds five thousand families with just five loaves of bread and two fish—generously offered by a young boy (see John 6:1-14). The following day, Jesus delivers a sermon on "the Bread of Life" in the synagogue of Capernaum, which astonishes the listeners and causes many of His disciples to turn away (see John 6:22-66). In His sermon, Jesus contrasts the gift of Manna with Himself. Just as God rained down manna from the heavens, God sent His beloved Son from heaven. However, manna merely satisfied physical hunger, whereas Jesus came to satisfy our spiritual hunger. Moreover, manna could not grant immortality, while Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The ancient Israelites questioned, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" (Psalm 78:19). Similarly, the listeners of Jesus' sermon in Capernaum wondered, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (John 6:62). Both questions exposed their lack of faith. Now, what about us? Do we also challenge God and test Him with our disbelief?
The psalmist admonishes us not to forget the works of the Lord. Forgetting, according to biblical tradition, leads to sin. When Israel forgot the Lord, they turned to idol worship and transgressed His commandments. Jeremiah 18:15 states, "Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths." Let us, therefore, internalize the lesson of Psalm 78. Instead of following in the footsteps of our rebellious ancestors, let us place our trust in God, obey His commands, and remember His mighty acts throughout history.