How does Psalm 78:35 remind us of God's role as our Redeemer today? The Verse in Focus “Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.” (Psalm 78:35) The Setting Behind the Line • Psalm 78 reviews Israel’s history of rebellion and divine rescue. • Each failure is matched by God’s mercy, underscoring that redemption is His consistent response to human need. • Verse 35 is the turning point: when Israel finally “remembered,” they acknowledged God’s unchanging identity—Rock and Redeemer. What “Redeemer” Meant in the Old Testament • Hebrew go’el—kinsman-redeemer who bought back a relative from slavery or debt (Leviticus 25:47-49). • God applied the same word to Himself when He freed Israel from Egypt (Exodus 6:6). • The title stressed three truths: 1. Nearness—He is family to His people. 2. Ownership—He pays the full price. 3. Finality—once redeemed, the debt is settled. How Psalm 78:35 Points Forward to Christ • Jesus fulfills the go’el role on a larger scale: —“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). —“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). • The cross is the ultimate “outstretched arm” foreshadowed in Exodus. • Just as Israel’s slavery was broken, sin’s bondage is broken for everyone who trusts in Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). Timeless Truths for Today • God’s character never shifts from Rock (stable) to Redeemer (saving); He is always both. • Remembering is more than mental recall—it is returning to confidence in His finished work. • Every believer can trace God’s redeeming hand in personal history, just as Israel traced it through the Exodus and wilderness. Living in the Light of Our Redeemer 1. Rest in security—our standing depends on His purchase, not our performance. 2. Walk in freedom—redeemed people don’t stay in chains of habitual sin (Romans 6:6-7). 3. Worship with gratitude—“Bless the LORD… who redeems your life from the pit” (Psalm 103:2-4). 4. Extend grace—those bought back by Christ gladly echo His redeeming love to others (Colossians 3:13). Closing Reflection Psalm 78:35 invites us to keep God’s redemptive identity front-and-center. Yesterday He freed Israel; today He frees us through Christ; tomorrow He will complete that redemption in glory (Romans 8:23). Remembering this transforms the way we think, live, and hope. |
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