'Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread!'

"... which we have heard and known, which our ancestors have told us.

We will not keep them hidden from our children; we will announce them to the coming generation: the glorious deeds of YAHWEH, HIS might and the wonders HE has done.

HE issued decrees for Jacob, and set up a law in Israel, which HE commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

so the next generation would learn, and teach their own children.

They would then, put their trust in GOD, and not forget HIS deeds and HIS commands.

And not be like their ancestors, stubborn and rebellious people, a people of inconstant heart, whose spirit was fickle."

- Psalm 78:3-8

(The lesson of past history beats the rhythm of Israel's history.  Divine generosity, human ingratitude, correction, renewed generosity, is an enlarged picture of the individual experience.  GOD rarely showed HIS hands in such a way that people are forced to recognize it, in the events of history.  This needs a thoughtful and grateful heart.  And even then, we easily forget.  In the past, GOD's people have found themselves threatened first by the sea, then by the desert.  Flood and drought, too much and too little, luxury and penury, have always been the enemies of the people of GOD: 'Give me neither poverty nor riches: give me only the food I need' is the sober prayer of the Book of Proverbs.  But when GOD rescues from the two extremes, there are still the dangers of mediocrity.  We can soon forget the urgent prayers in past crisis and the way GOD heard them.  But every day must be seen as a crisis in which GOD intervenes: 'Give us this day our daily bread!'

Sin is not the end of history; grace is!  For a Christian, rereading of the psalm, 1 Corinthians 10-11 can help us.  Our history is a school of life and prayer.  It is enough to remember what we have done and what GOD does.  This psalm can help us.)

On-Site
On-Track