Psalm 78:56-58 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: But turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
After all that the Lord had miraculously done for His people delivering them in the Exodus and providing for them in the wilderness, yet they still broke the First Commandment of the Covenant over and over. They tempted Him by turning away from the only true God, provoking Him to anger and jealousy by forgetting God, and dealing unfaithfully with the covenant promise.
It is remarkable that saved children of God would act that way, even after rehearsing the Gospel of God’s love and salvation. But we are also incorrigible sinners with embedded unbelief and rebellion seated deep within. We are in desperate and constant need of the gospel of forgiveness and life. Therefore, we remind ourselves regularly of the gospel of grace and continual restoration to God’s favor.
We must admit and confess that we ever provoke God to anger and jealousy by our sin and unbelief. We confess Jesus as Lord and receive forgiveness and life.