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Psalm 78

1Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.

1Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

3Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Commentary · verses 1-3

The psalmist prepared the reader to hear his words. He was about to declare much of the history of the Israelites. Also, Jesus referenced verse 2 in Matthew 13:35.

4We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.

4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Commentary · verse 4

The history of the Jews would be used to build the faith of coming generations.

5For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; 6That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children,

5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

Commentary · verses 5-6

The Israelites were commanded to teach the Law to their children, their children's children, even to the ones that were not yet born.

7That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments, 8And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

8And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Commentary · verses 7-8

The generations were taught so their faith would be in God and so they would not be as their fathers were.

9The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.

9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Commentary · verse 9

The birthright given to Joseph was passed to his sons, one of which was Ephraim. This verse and a few others in the Bible (Hosea 5:3-14, 11:3-12) used Ephraim's name as representation for all of Israel.

10They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law; 11And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.

10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

11And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

Commentary · verses 10-11

The psalmist reminded the people of how their fathers did not walk in God's Law even after all the works He did for them.

12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.

12Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

13He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

Commentary · verses 12-13

The parting of the Red Sea was mentioned.

14In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.

15He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.

16He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.

14In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

15He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.

16He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Commentary · verses 14-16

God gave the Israelites direction in the wilderness and gave them all the provisions they needed.

17Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

18And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.

17And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.

18And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

Commentary · verses 17-18

The people still sinned against God and tempted Him: Numbers 11.

19Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

20Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?

21Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel; 22Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.

19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

20Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

21Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

22Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

Commentary · verses 19-22

God's anger was an effect of Israel not believing in Him or trusting in His deliverance of them.

23Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven; 24And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.

25Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.

23Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

24And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

25Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.

Commentary · verses 23-25

God gave His people bread of the mighty ("manna"). The KJV translated this as "Man did eat angel's food."

26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.

27He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas: 28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.

29So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire.

26He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

27He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

28And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.

29So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

Commentary · verses 26-29

The people wanted flesh, so God gave them flesh, until it came out of their nostrils: Numbers 11.

30They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths, 31When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.

32For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.

30They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

31The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

32For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

Commentary · verses 30-32

Still, the people did not believe God.

33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in terror.

34When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.

33Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

34When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

Commentary · verses 33-34

Israelites returned to God after a loss. There are two reasons people grow:

  1. Achieve gain, or

  2. Fear of loss.

The Israelites chose fear of loss.

35And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.

36But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.

35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

Commentary · verses 35-36

The people said they would do something but did not DO it.

37For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.

37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

Commentary · verse 37

The Covenant these people had with God was violated by the people. It was never God's fault.

38But he, being merciful, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.

38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Commentary · verse 38

God was merciful on them. He did not immediately equal out Justice.

39And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

40How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!

41And they turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.

39For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

40How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

41Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Commentary · verses 39-41

Again, the people tempted God and provoked Him. The KJV translated "provoked" as "limited". The Hebrew word meant "to cause pain."

42They remembered not his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary; 43How he set his signs in Egypt, And his wonders in the field of Zoan,

42They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

43How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

Commentary · verses 42-43

The psalmist reminded the people of how God brought plagues to Egypt in order to facilitate the exodus…

44And turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.

45He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.

46He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost.

48He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.

50He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence, 51And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

44And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

45He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

46He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

47He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.

48He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

49He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

50He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Commentary · verses 44-51

The Passover

52But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53And he led them safely, so that they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

52But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Commentary · verses 52-53

Again, the Red Sea miracle was referenced.

54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.

55He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

54And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

55He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

Commentary · verses 54-55

God came through with His end of the Covenant: He gave the Israelites the land He promised to them.

56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies; 57But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

56Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

Commentary · verses 56-58

The people continued to turn away from God no matter how awesome He was to them.

59When God heard this, he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel; 60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men; 61And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary’s hand.

59When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

61And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.

Commentary · verses 59-61

The captivity was a result of Israel's disobedience. Notice, Israel was called God's "strength" and God's "glory."

62He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance.

63Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.

64Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.

65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.

63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

Commentary · verses 62-65

God delivered His people again.

66And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.

67Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim, 68But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which he loved.

69And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.

70He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:

66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

Commentary · verses 66-70

David and Judah were chosen by God.

71From following the ewes that have their young he brought him, To be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

72So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Commentary · verses 71-72

David was a shepherd unto the Israelites. David's hands were called skillful. "Skilfulness" meant "understanding; intelligence."

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