Bible Commentaries
Psalms 78

Introduction

Psalms 78:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. This Psalm affirms the need to pass on the faith to the next generation (Psalms 78:1-4, Psalms 78:5-8).

1. God's acts

2. God's revelations

B. This Psalm documents the faithful acts of God and the faithless acts of Israel.

1. the exodus

2. the wilderness wandering

3. the conquest

C. Possibly the best way to see the parallels and allusions is a chart of verses related to other OT texts.

D. The best parallel of this overview of Israel's faithlessness and YHWH's faithfulness is Nehemiah 9:0 (also note Acts 7:0).

1. call of Abraham - Psalms 78:6-8

2. exodus - Psalms 78:9-14

3. wilderness wanderings - Psalms 78:15-21

4. conquest - Psalms 78:22-25

5. judges - Psalms 78:26-31

Also note Psalms 105-106 are also about God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness!

Verses 1-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:1-4 1Listen, O my people, to my instruction; 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. 4We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

Psalms 78:1-4 The psalmist implores the covenant people to hear and respond appropriately to God's revelation (cf. Psalms 78:4c). He also implores them to pass on the truths to their children and grandchildren and so on to each new generation (cf. Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 6:7, Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Deuteronomy 11:19; Deuteronomy 32:46).

Psalms 78:1 There are two imperatives.

1. listen (lit. “hear”) - BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil imperative

2. incline your ears (lit. “turn”) - BDB 639, KB 692, Hiphil imperative

▣ “instruction” This is literally “teaching” (BDB 435). This is parallel to “the words of my mouth.” There are several different Hebrew words used in this Psalm for YHWH's revelation.

1. instruction/teaching, Psalms 78:1 - BDB 435

2. testimony, Psalms 78:5 - BDB 730

3. law, Psalms 78:5, Psalms 78:10 - BDB 435

4. commandment, Psalms 78:51 - BDB 846

5. testimonies, Psalms 78:56 - BDB 729 I

See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION.

This Psalm is written to the covenant people (usually the Psalms are addressed to God). It seems this historical survey was used (read) in an annual feast or ceremony at the temple to encourage God's people to learn from the past and live appropriately as God's people.

Psalms 78:2 “parable. . .dark sayings”

1. parable - BDB 605

2. dark saying - BDB 295

The verb and noun forms of both these words are found in Ezekiel 17:2. I have included my notes from there below.

Ezekiel 17:2 This verse has two parallel imperatives.

1.”propound a riddle,” BDB 295, KB 295, Qal imperative, cf. Judges 14:12-19

2.”speak a parable,” BDB 605 II, KB 647, Qal imperative, cf. 12:23; 16:44; Psalms 17:2; Psalms 18:2; 20:49; Psalms 24:3

The term “riddle” (BDB 295, note the relation of the verb, BDB 295, and noun, BDB 295) means a statement that needs to have some information hinted at or supplied to be understood (cf. Proverbs 1:6).

The term “parable” (BDB 605 II, note the relation of the verb, BDB 605 II, and noun, BDB 605 II) implies a brief poetic structure, possibly a proverb which uses comparison as a way to illustrate truth.

Ezekiel has been using highly figurative language to convince the exiles of the just and sure judgment of Jerusalem.

YHWH is not trying to hide truth but assert that the key to understanding comes from His speakers/prophets. The past acts of God need to be interpreted fresh for every generation.

Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 13:35. He uses it to explain why the crowds did not understand His teachings. He, too, reinterpreted Israel's past. He asserted that the ultimate focus of Israel's history was Himself! However, this amazing truth was not immediately self evident but had to be revealed! He was the true, ultimate revealer (cf. Matthew 5:17-19, Matthew 5:21-48)! As Israel refused to see YHWH's will and purpose in her history, so too, Jesus' generation lived out the prophecies of Isaiah 6:9-10; Isaiah 29:13. They were like the Israelites of Psalms 78:8!

Psalms 78:4 Each generation must teach their children about God. This is a recurrent emphasis in Deuteronomy. I have included my notes from Deuteronomy 4:9 and Psalms 6:7.

Deuteronomy 4:9 “teach their children” This is a recurrent theme in Deuteronomy (cf. Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:7, Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Deuteronomy 11:19; Deuteronomy 31:13; Deuteronomy 32:46; and note Exodus 10:2; Exodus 12:26; Exodus 13:8, Exodus 13:14). If believers do not teach their children about God, they are failures as parents (biblically speaking)! Faith runs through families (cf. Deuteronomy 5:10; Deuteronomy 7:9)!

Deuteronomy 6:7 “you shall teach them diligently to your sons” The verb (BDB 1041, KB 1606, Piel perfect) means “to sharpen” and in Piel this is the only usage. The term in Ugaritic means “to repeat.” That seems to be the basic emphasis of this verse. The rabbis use this verse to assert that the Shema should be “repeated” morning and evening. We are to talk about God's will for our lives during the entire scope of daily activities. It is the responsibility of parents to pass on lifestyle faith (cf. Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Deuteronomy 11:19; Deuteronomy 32:46, see full note at Deuteronomy 4:9). It is interesting that the flow of these different times for teaching falls into the same literary pattern as Psalms 139:2-6 and Proverbs 6:20-22. This emphasis on parental responsibility is repeated in Proverbs 22:6. Our modern day church school cannot take the place of parental training but it surely can supplement it!

▣ “His strength and His wondrous works” This Psalm has several different terms to describe YHWH's acts of revelation and deliverance.

1. Psalms 78:4

a. the glorious deeds (lit. “praises”) - BDB 239, #4, cf. Psalms 9:14; Psalms 35:28; Psalms 79:13; Psalms 102:21; Psalms 106:2, Psalms 106:47; Isaiah 43:21; Isaiah 60:6; Isaiah 63:7

b. His strength - BDB 739, cf. Psalms 145:6

c. His wondrous works - BDB 810, KB 927, Niphal participle, cf. Micah 7:15, see Special Topic: Wonderful Things

Psalms 78:2. Psalms 78:7 - the works of God - BDB 760, cf. Psalms 77:11, Psalms 77:12; Micah 2:7

3. Psalms 78:11

a. His deeds - BDB 760, same as #2, and verse Psalms 78:32

b. His miracles - BDB 810, same as #1, c

Psalms 78:4. Psalms 78:12 - His wonders - BDB 810, same as #1, c

Psalms 78:5. Psalms 78:32 - His wonderful works - BDB 810, same as #1, c and Psalms 78:11

6. Psalms 78:42 - His power (lit. “hand”) - BDB 388, cf. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

7. Psalms 78:43

a. His signs - BDB 16, #4, cf. Exodus 10:2; Psalms 65:8

b. His marvels - BDB 68, #1, cf. Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 6:22; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 26:8; Deuteronomy 29:2; Deuteronomy 34:11; Nehemiah 9:10; Psalms 105:27; Psalms 135:9; Jeremiah 32:20-21

8. Psalms 78:54 - His right hand had gained - BDB 411, see SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

Verses 5-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:5-8 5For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, 8And not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Psalms 78:5-8 This strophe emphasizes the need for each generation of faithful followers to pass on their faith and understanding of God's will to their families (see notes at Psalms 78:4).

Faithful followers are characterized as

1. putting their confidence (lit. “hope,” BDB 492) in God

2. not forgetting His works, cf. Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 31:6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11, Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 8:19 (twice); Psalms 9:7; Psalms 25:19

3. keeping His commandments, cf. Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 4:6, Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 5:1, Deuteronomy 5:10, Deuteronomy 5:29, Deuteronomy 5:32; Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 6:3, Deuteronomy 6:17, Deuteronomy 6:25; Deuteronomy 7:9, Deuteronomy 7:11, Deuteronomy 7:12; Deuteronomy 27:1; Joshua 22:5

Psalms 78:7 is the positive theme of the entire Psalm and Psalms 78:8 is a powerful warning of what not to do!

Psalms 78:8 Even with all YHWH had done for the descendants of Abraham, they still were faithless (i.e., 2 Chronicles 30:7; Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:18). Psalms 78:8 contrasts the faithless with the faithful.

1. stubborn - BDB 710, KB 770, Qal participle, cf. Deuteronomy 9:6, Deuteronomy 9:13; Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 31:27

2. rebellious - BDB 598, KB 632, Qal participle, cf. Deut. 9:34; Deuteronomy 31:27

3. did not prepare their hearts - BDB 465, KB 464, Hiphil perfect, cf. Psalms 78:37

4. whose spirit was not faithful to God - BDB 52, KB 63, Niphal perfect

Verses 9-16

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:9-16 9The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. 10They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law; 11They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them. 12He wrought wonders before 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 stand up like a heap. 14Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. 15He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. 16He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers.

Psalms 78:9-16 This strophe alludes to the exodus. Some of the allusions are unclear (i.e., Psalms 78:9), but many are (Contextual Insights, C) very clear.

Ephraim may be a way of referring to the Northern Tribes. Joseph and Joshua were both from the tribe of Ephraim, which numerically was the largest tribe. Ephraim and Manasseh were both sons of Joseph by an Egyptian mother. Jacob blessed Ephraim above the firstborn Manasseh (cf. Genesis 48:14-20).

Psalms 78:10 Note the verbs “keep” (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal perfect, negated) and “walk” (BDB 229, KB 246) are parallel and describe covenant life. Obedience to the Mosaic covenant was crucial (cf. Leviticus 26:0; Deuteronomy 27-30).

Psalms 78:11 The current generation of the Israelites forgot all that YHWH had done for them during the exodus (cf. Deuteronomy 8:11-20). So in the verses that follow many of YHWH's mighty acts of deliverance are enumerated.

Psalms 78:12 “Zoan” This term (BDB 858) is from an Egyptian root for “stronghold.” This stronghold/fort was located in the Delta region of Egypt, also known as Goshen (eastern Nile Delta), where the Israelites settled in Joseph's day. The city was known by different names in different periods.

1. Zoan (cf. Numbers 13:22)

2. Tannis

3. Avaris

4. Rameses (named after Rameses II, cf. Exodus 1:11; Exodus 12:37; Numbers 33:3)

Verses 17-20

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:17-20 17Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire. 19Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?”

Psalms 78:17-20 This strophe continues to describe the acts of the ungrateful, disobedient Israelites of the exodus and wilderness wandering period.

Psalms 78:18 “they put God to the test” The verb (BDB 650, KB 702, Piel imperfect with waw) is used several times of Israel testing God (cf. Exodus 17:2; Numbers 14:22; Deuteronomy 6:16; Psalms 78:18, Psalms 78:41, Psalms 78:56; Psalms 95:9; Psalms 106:14).

Verses 21-33

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:21-33 21Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, 22Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. 23Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; 24He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. 25Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind. 27When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas, 28Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. 29So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. 30Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths, 31The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel. 32In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 33So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror.

Psalms 78:21-33 Israel's continued disobedience causes YHWH to judge them. One example used is YHWH's supernatural provisions of meat (quail). He told them how to receive His blessing but again they disobeyed (cf. Numbers 11:0). Their actions showed their attitude toward YHWH.

1. they did not believe, Psalms 78:22

2. they did not trust, Psalms 78:22

3. in spite of all this they still sinned, Psalms 78:32

Psalms 78:22 “believe. . .trust” See Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT.

Psalms 78:23 “opened the doors of heaven” The “heavens” (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN and SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN and the Third Heaven) were thought of as a dome covered with skin, like a drum. This dome separated the waters above from falling to earth. They were imagined to have windows that could be opened or shut, depending on God's will and mankind's actions (cf. Genesis 7:11; Malachi 3:10). God could provide

1. rain (Genesis)

2. food (Psalm)

3. blessings (Malachi)

Psalms 78:24-25 “food from heaven. . .the bread of angels” This is referring to manna (cf. Exodus 16:0). YHWH was gracious (cf. Psalms 78:38), but they were rebellious.

Manna (BDB 577 I) was a white substance that appeared as dew. The name may come from Exodus 16:4, “What is it?” It was a miraculous provision of food during the wilderness wandering period. It could be gathered for only one day at a time (God's daily provision) or it went bad (cf. Exodus 16:16-21), except for the day before the Sabbath when enough for two days was gathered and did not turn bad (cf. Exodus 16:22-29). It was cooked like flour. It stopped when the Israelites crossed the Jordan (cf. Joshua 5:12).

Psalms 78:27 “dust. . .sand” These are two of three terms (dust, sand, stars) used to describe something numerous. They are regularly connected to the numerous descendants of the Patriarchs (i.e., God's promise to Abraham, cf. Genesis 12:2).

1. dust - Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14; Numbers 23:10

2. sand - Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; 2 Samuel 17:11; 1 Kings 4:20

3. stars - Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4; Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 1:10; Deuteronomy 10:22; Deuteronomy 28:62

Psalms 78:29-31 God provided quail but the people again did not trust God's provision and tried to gather a large quantity of birds for future consumption. This displeased God and His judgment fell on them (cf. Numbers 11:31-35).

Again and again in the OT, God told His people what to do but they refused and did it their way. Every time this resulted in judgment! The issue was “trust”! And it still is!

Psalms 78:33

NASB, NKJV“end in futility” NASB margin“vanity, a mere breath” NRSV“vanish like a breath” NJB“vanish in midst”

This term (BDB 210 I) is a key term in Ecclesiastes. See my note below from Ecclesiastes 1:0.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 “vanity of vanities” This is a Hebrew superlative (cf. Psalms 78:2 and 12:8). The word means “vapor,” “breath,” or “mist” (BDB 210 I, cf. James 4:14). Its emphasis is either (1) nothingness or (2) the transitoriness of human life. The context supports the latter (cf. H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Ecclesiastes, p. 41).

This is a key term and recurrent phrase in this book (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 2:1, Ecclesiastes 2:11, Ecclesiastes 2:15, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Ecclesiastes 2:19, Ecclesiastes 2:21, Ecclesiastes 2:23, Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 3:19; Ecclesiastes 4:4, Ecclesiastes 4:7, Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 4:16; Ecclesiastes 5:7, Ecclesiastes 5:10; Ecclesiastes 6:2, Ecclesiastes 6:4, Ecclesiastes 6:9, Ecclesiastes 6:11, Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 7:6, Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 8:10, Ecclesiastes 8:14; Ecclesiastes 9:9; Ecclesiastes 11:8, Ecclesiastes 11:10; Ecclesiastes 12:8). The term is used sparingly in other wisdom books: Job, 5 times; Psalms, 9 times; and Proverbs, 3 times.

For different theories about how it views the strong statements in this book, see Introduction, Authorship, H. I prefer option #1. This theological presupposition will be the grid through which I interpret the book.

▣ “all is vanity” Notice the root, “vanity” (BDB 210 I), is used five times in this one verse! The Handbook on Ecclesiastes by UBS, says the term should be understood as

1.incomprehensible

2.enigmatic

3.mysterious

4.impossible to understand

Therefore, it communicates the reality that life is full of unanswerable questions (p. 4). The person knowledgeable in wisdom will know this, but will continue to trust God and keep His commandments.

This refers to the uncertain and unpredictable activities of life. These are a result of fallen humanity trying to live life in their own strength, independent from God. This is the condition left by the Fall (cf. Genesis 3:0)!

The Hebrew term “all” (BDB 481), often translated “everything,” is a common word, but is used often in Ecclesiastes (i.e., 9 times in chapter 1; 17 times in chapter 2; 13 times in chapter 3, etc.). Qoheleth uses this inclusive language to express his theological emphasis on

1. God's control and sovereignty

2. human ineffectiveness and transitoriness

Verses 34-39

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:34-39 34When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God; 35And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. 36But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue. 37For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath. 39Thus He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return.

Psalms 78:34-39 This strophe describes the false repentance of the surviving Israelites and YHWH's reaction to it.

1. the seeming repentance, Psalms 78:34-35

a. they sought Him

b. they returned to Him

c. they searched diligently for Him

d. they remembered God was their rock/redeemer

2. their true thoughts/actions (Psalms 78:36-37)

a. they deceived Him by lying (Psalms 78:36 a and b, cf. Isaiah 29:13)

b. their hearts were not steadfast toward Him

c. they were not faithful to His covenant

3. YHWH's reactions (Psalms 78:38-39)

a. He is compassionate (cf. Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8, see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD)

b. He forgave (lit. “covered over,” BDB 497, KB 493, Piel imperfect)

c. He did not destroy them

d. He restrained (lit. “turned away”) His anger

e. He did not arouse all His wrath

f. He remembered that they were but flesh (cf. Psalms 103:14) which is here today and gone tomorrow

Psalms 78:38-39 does not mean that they were not judged (cf. Psalms 78:34a), but that YHWH did not completely destroy them.

Psalms 78:38-39 is used in many rabbinical writings. It is a summary of the character of God (cf. Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8-14).

Psalms 78:35 Notice the different names and titles for Deity.

1. Elohim (BDB 43, KB 52)

2. their rock (cf. Psalms 18:2; Psalms 19:14)

3. El (BDB 42, KB 48)

4. Elyon (BDB 751, KB 832)

5. their redeemer (cf. Psalms 19:14)

Verses 40-53

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:40-53 40How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness And grieved Him in the desert! 41Again and again they tempted God, And pained the Holy One of Israel. 42They did not remember His power, The day when He redeemed them from the adversary, 43When He performed His signs in Egypt And His marvels in the field of Zoan, 44And turned their rivers to blood, And their streams, they could not drink. 45He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, And frogs which destroyed them. 46He gave also their crops to the grasshopper And the product of their labor to the locust. 47He destroyed their vines with hailstones And their sycamore trees with frost. 48He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones And their herds to bolts of lightning. 49He sent upon them His burning anger, Fury and indignation and trouble, A band of destroying angels. 50He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave over their life to the plague, 51And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, The first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham. 52But He led forth His own people like sheep And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53He led them safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea engulfed their enemies.

Psalms 78:40-53 There seems to be a confusion in this strophe between YHWH's judgment on the Israelites (cf. Psalms 78:40-42) and His judgment on Egypt during the exodus. The plagues alluded to in Psalms 78:43-51 were directed at the recalcitrant Egyptian leadership.

Instead of YHWH judging faithless Israel (i.e., wilderness wandering period, cf. Psalms 78:40-43), He was a shepherd to them (cf. Psalms 78:52-53).

Notice how Israel's faithlessness is characterized.

1. they rebelled against Him, Psalms 78:40

2. they grieved Him, Psalms 78:40

3. they tempted Him, Psalms 78:41

4. they pained Him, Psalms 78:41

5. they did not remember His power/signs/marvels, Psalms 78:42

Psalms 78:44-51 These verses describe the plagues on Egypt.

1. water/river to blood - Exodus 7:17-19

2. flies - Exodus 8:16-18

3. frogs - Exodus 8:2-6

4. grasshopper/locusts - Exodus 8:21; Exodus 10:4-6

5. hailstones - Exodus 9:18

6. plague/sickness - Exodus 9:8-10

7. death of firstborn - Exodus 11:0

The order and number are not exact but obviously the ten plagues of Exodus 7-11 are what is being referred to, unless they became idioms of YHWH's judgment.

Psalms 78:49 This verse uses a litany of terms to describe God's wrath (Psalms 78:38).

1. burning anger - BDB 354 construct BDB 60 I

2. fury - BDB 720

3. indignation - BDB 276

4. trouble - BDB 865

5. a band of destroying angels

Number 5 is an idiom which personifies God's elements of wrath. In the Exodus account of the death of the firstborn in the unmarked homes, it is God who Himself causes the event (cf. Exodus 11:4; Exodus 12:12). This later became Judaism's understanding of “the Death Angel” (i.e., Samael or Azrael), but the Bible does not specifically mention him, although 2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Isaiah 37:36, do imply one. The rabbis also assert that Psalms 89:48 refers to him (i.e., Targum, “seeing the angel of death”). The theological point is that God, not Satan or an angel, controls death!

Psalms 78:50 This is an idiom for the preparation for an action. The next two lines show that in this case it was YHWH's judgment.

Psalms 78:52 God as shepherd is a recurrent theme in the Psalms of Asaph. See note at Psalms 77:20.

Psalms 78:53 This verse has two historical allusions.

1. “led them” refers to the Shekinah cloud of glory that guided the Israelites (cf. Exodus 13:21; Exodus 14:19, Exodus 14:24; Exodus 33:9, Exodus 33:10)

2. “the sea engulfed their enemies” refers to the splitting of the Red Sea and then its returning water drowning Egypt's elite soldiers and chariots (cf. Exodus 14-15)

Verses 54-64

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:54-64 54So He brought them to His holy land, To this hill country which His right hand had gained. 55He also drove out the nations before them And apportioned them for an inheritance by measurement, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God And did not keep His testimonies, 57But turned back and acted treacherously like their fathers; They turned aside like a treacherous bow. 58For they provoked Him with their high places And aroused His jealousy with their graven images. 59When God heard, He was filled with wrath And greatly abhorred Israel; 60So that He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh, The tent which He had pitched among men, 61And gave up His strength to captivity And His glory into the hand of the adversary. 62He also delivered His people to the sword, And was filled with wrath at His inheritance. 63Fire devoured His young men, And His virgins had no wedding songs. 64His priests fell by the sword, And His widows could not weep.

Psalms 78:54-64 This strophe recounts the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land (cf. Genesis 15:12-21). The Canaanite tribes (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE) were defeated and removed by God because of their sin. Tragically the same thing happens to the Israelite tribes.

Psalms 78:55b The book of Joshua, chapters 12-19, describes the divine allotment of the land to Jacob's children.

Psalms 78:56-58 These lines of poetry describe Israel's sin and rebellion, which is all the more terrible because of all that God had done for them (cf. Luke 12:48).

1. they tempted God, Psalms 78:56a

2. they rebelled against God, Psalms 78:56a

3. they did not keep His covenant, Psalms 78:56; Psalms 78:56b

4. they turned their backs to Him, Psalms 78:57a

5. they acted treacherously as their fathers did, Psalms 78:57a

6. they turned aside like a treacherous bow, Psalms 78:57b

7. they provoked Him with Canaanite idolatry, Psalms 78:58a

8. they aroused His jealousy with graven images, Psalms 78:58b

Psalms 78:59-64 These verses describe what God did to Israel in light of their actions (Psalms 78:56-58).

1. He was filled with wrath

2. He greatly abhorred Israel

3. He abandoned the dwelling place at Shiloh (cf. 1 Samuel 4:11)

4. He allowed Israel to be defeated

5. He delivered Israel to the sword

6. He was filled with wrath at His inheritance

a. fire devoured the young men

b. the virgins had no wedding

c. the priests were killed

d. the widows wept

Human choices have consequences, both temporal and eternal!

Psalms 78:62 “His inheritance” This is a parallel to “His people” (cf. Psalms 106:40). The origin of this imagery is Deuteronomy 9:29. It, like so many other images, is family oriented.

Psalms 78:63 “fire” See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE.

Verses 65-72

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 78:65-72 65Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine. 66He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting reproach. 67He also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has founded forever. 70He also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds; 71From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. 72So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.

Psalms 78:65-72 This concluding strophe describes how God turned from wrath to continue His redemptive purposes (see Special Topic: YHWH's Eternal Redemptive Plan).

1. God is described as a person who comes to his senses (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (ANTHROPOMORPHISM))

2. He defeats the adversaries of His people

3. He gives them an everlasting reproach

4. He reorients the order of the tribes as to places of leadership

a. rejects Joseph and Ephraim

b. chooses the tribe of Judah (cf. Genesis 49:8-12; Deuteronomy 33:7)

5. He chooses to locate the temple in Judah on Mt. Moriah (called Zion)

6. He chooses David as His special leader (and his descendants, cf. 2 Samuel 7:0)

a. described as a shepherd

b. has a heart of integrity

c. has skillful hands

With the allusion to God's rejection of the Northern Tribes and choice of Judah, it seems this Psalm's final form was written after the fall of Israel/Ephraim/Samaria in 722 B.C. to Assyria.

This strophe is a good example of how God asserts His sovereignty. The cultural expectation is altered to show God's control.

1. Judah not Ephraim

2. Zion not Shiloh

3. David not other sons of Jesse

This is similar theologically to the Patriarchs all marrying barren women. Their children were supernatural-natural gifts from God. He is in control of time, space, history, election, and salvation!