Psalm 78:32
“For all this, they still sinned!”
The history of the Israelites in the wilderness should not be considered as the history of that people only, but of human nature in general. In this view, it is pre-eminently instructive; because it serves as a mirror, to reflect our own selves, and to show us what is actually passing in our own hearts. In illustration of this remark, I will set before you,
I. The state of Israel in the wilderness.
It is plainly depicted in the Psalm before us. It was one continued contest between God and them: God endeavoring, by mercies and judgments, to reclaim them from their evil ways; and they determinately persisting in their rebellion against him.
1. They had begun their wickedness early.
While they were yet in Egypt, where, as might be supposed, they were led to commit idolatry—God had endeavored to withdraw them from it. He had revealed himself to them as the God of their fathers; and had urged them to cast away their abominations and their idols. But they would not hearken unto him; on the contrary, so obstinately did they adhere to their idol worship, that, had it not been for his own great Name’s sake, which would have been dishonored among the heathen—God would have cut them off from being a nation, and have utterly destroyed them from the face of the earth! Ezekiel 20:5-9.
When Moses had clearly proved to them his divine mission to deliver them, they murmured at the delay which Pharaoh’s obstinacy had created, and made their augmented trials an occasion of utter despondency, Exodus 5:20-21.
After all the wonders that had been wrought in Egypt before their eyes, and they were brought out with a high hand, no sooner did they see fresh perils arise, than they renewed their murmurings with augmented vehemence, and complained that they had been betrayed to their utter ruin, Exodus 14:11-12.
Nor did even the passage of the Red Sea, and the sight of all their enemies dead upon the sea-shore, cure them of this propensity; for they were a rebellious and stiff-necked people even to the end! Deuteronomy 9:7.
2. They continued in their wickedness with scarcely any intermission.
For a little moment “they believed the words of God, and sang his praise, Psalm 106:12;” but “they soon forgot his works, Psalm 106:13,” and provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea, Psalm 106:7.”
Read their history, of which a summary is given in the Psalm before us, and you will find it to be one continued series of murmurings and rebellions. Dissatisfied with the provision which God gave them in the wilderness, they invidiously contrasted with it the delicacies which they had enjoyed in Egypt, their flesh and fish, their leeks and onions, and expressed their doubt whether God could furnish them with such provisions as those, verse 19, 20; and, when God had done it in such profusion that it was not possible for them to consume it all, and at the same time had testified his abhorrence of their inordinate desires, they, instead of humbling themselves before him, continued impenitent, and, as my text expresses it, “for all this, they still sinned, verse 27-32.”
They had not been three months in the wilderness before they even made a golden calf, and worshiped that as their deliverer. On some occasions, indeed, after signal judgments had been inflicted on them, they pretended to repent, and to turn unto God; but “their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant, verses 34-37.” In truth, “they despised the pleasant land, Psalm 106:24.” which God had promised to them for an inheritance; and, in the outcome, they provoked “him to swear in his wrath that they would never enter into his rest, Psalm 95:11.”
3. They were utterly irreclaimable by any dispensations, whether of mercy or of judgment.
The mercies which God had given to them were innumerable; yet, “for all this, they still sinned.” The judgments also which he inflicted were most awful; but, “for all this, they still sinned.” In a word, they kept up the contest, until they all, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, were utterly consumed!
And can any parallel to this be found? Yes, indeed, it will be found in,
II. The state of the Christian Church at this day.
1. Our guilt resembles theirs.
The sins of Israel may be comprehended under these two: ingratitude and unbelief.
Let me ask: Are not these sins as prevalent among ourselves, as ever they were in the days of Israel? Are not we loaded with benefits, even as they were? What conveniences did they have, which are not showered down on us? It matters not whether our food be rained down from the clouds, or raised up from the earth; here it is, and we gather it, and have the calls of nature satisfied. The providence of God, if less visibly displayed towards us, is not a whit less careful of us; nor is his goodness towards us less manifest to the eye of faith.
But where do we find hearts duly sensible of his tender mercy?
Where do we find people rendering to him the honor due unto his name?
Where do we find people, under circumstances of trial, able to repose their confidence in God, and with peaceful resignation expecting his gracious and seasonable interposition?
Where do we find that his Word forms such a ground of trust, as to supersede all doubts and fears respecting the final outcome of events?
In a word, who among us is in the daily habit of acknowledging God in everything, and of committing everything to his disposal, and of living only to his glory? If our murmurings and discontent are less visible, they are not less real, when we cast the blame of our trials on second causes, instead of tracing them to that divine hand from whence they all proceed. And if, instead of living with Heaven in our view, and proceeding towards that as our desired rest, we are occupied mainly with the things of time and sense—we are really in the state which we have before contemplated, and may see in the Israelites of old, our own hateful deformity.
2. The gradations of our guilt, too, are the same.
They sinned. They still sinned, notwithstanding all that God could do to reclaim them. And what have we done from our youth up? In our earliest years, we no sooner began to act, than we began to violate the laws of God. As our reason became matured, it might be hoped that we should act in a way more suited to our profession, and more pleasing to God. But neither days nor years have made any difference in this respect; on the contrary, we have gone on adding iniquity to iniquity, in one continued series, even to the present hour. Nor have any dispensations of God, whether in a way of mercy or of judgment, produced any permanent effect upon our minds.
Now and then, perhaps, we may have felt a transient gleam of thankfulness on our minds, or some faint resolve to amend our ways; but both the one and the other have passed away without lasting benefit; and notwithstanding all God’s efforts to reclaim us, we are still the same.
3. The aggravations of our guilt are greater far.
We have sinned against greater light than they. What did they know of the mind of God, in comparison with us? The poorest person in the midst of us, is better informed than they; and, consequently, our violations of duty are proportionably heinous in the sight of God.
We have sinned, too, against richer mercies than they. What is their redemption from Egypt, in comparison with that which has been given to us from sin and damnation? Theirs was by power only; but who can estimate the price that has been paid for us, even “the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot! 1 Peter 1:19.”
They ate indeed of manna, and drank of water from the rock; but we have Christ himself, who is the true bread from Heaven; and we have the Holy Spirit, whom Christ pours out abundantly upon us, for the refreshing of our thirsty souls.
They had the guidance of the pillar and the cloud; but we have the Word of God, which is both “a light to our feet in general, and a lantern to our paths,” for our direction and preservation, every step we take.
We have sinned, also, against stronger inducements than they. To them was promised the enjoyment of the land of Canaan, as a land flowing with milk and honey; and the loss of it was threatened as the punishment of disobedience. But Heaven and Hell are set before us; even Heaven with all its glory—and Hell with all its inconceivable terrors; the one, as the reward of our fidelity; the other, as the recompense of impenitence and unbelief.
Say, then, whether the guilt of Israel can be compared with ours? And whether, while we are ready to cast reflections on the Jews of old as a race of unparalleled impiety, we have not reason to acknowledge ourselves their equals, or rather their superiors, in iniquity!
But it is time that we descend from general views of this subject, to a personal application of it. Permit me, then, to ask of you individually,
1. What is your state at this time?
You have seen what the state of Israel was; and you know, by the state of Caleb and Joshua, what it ought to have been.
Now, has your state resembled theirs?
Are you “following the Lord fully?”
Have you searched out the Promised Land, and brought from thence the grapes of Eschol?
Are you bearing your testimony before all, that it is the duty of every man to go up and possess the land?
Are you exercising faith in God, as able to put down your enemies, and as pledged to bring you into possession of your promised inheritance?
Is there a wide difference between the unbelieving world and you, so that to the whole camp of Israel, you are patterns of courage and fidelity? Numbers 32:12.
Be assured, your conduct must resemble theirs; your faith, your hope, your love, your zeal, must operate to the production of a life like theirs—if you would attain the same testimony from God, and the same happy outcome of your labors.
2. What will your state very shortly be?
Death is spreading its desolations far and wide; and, whether by sweeping judgments or a more silent process—is terminating the career of thousands; so that in the space of forty years a whole generation, as it were, passes away from the face of the earth!
But do all go to one place? O! could we but follow the spirits of departed men into the presence of their God, as we follow their bodies to the grave—then what scenes should we behold? In some happy cases, we should behold them seated on thrones of glory, and crowned with immortal bliss; but in how many cases would we see them hurled from the tribunal of their God into the bottomless abyss of Hell, and cast forever into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone—sad monuments of human folly, and objects of God’s everlasting wrath and indignation!
Indeed, my brethren, this is no vain conceit; it is a reality; it is an event that is taking place every moment; and in the space of another day may be realized in you!
Is it not time for you to inquire, whether you have turned sincerely to God, as reconciled to you in the Son of his love; or whether you are “sinning still!”
Here the particular dispensation, whether of war, famine, pestilence, sudden death, or any other calamity—may be urged as a call from God to personal self-examination, and preparation for death!
Remember, that “the goodness and patience of God, which have been so long exercised towards you, are intended to bring you to repentance! Romans 2:4.” I beg you, do not despise these mercies, as the Israelites did in the wilderness, and as thousands around us do; but “today, while it is yet called today,” bear in mind the doom that befell them—lest “you also, having the same promise of entering into God’s rest, should at last come short of it! Hebrews 4:1.”
Charles Simeon