Psalms 78

Ps 78 This wisdom psalm exhorts the people to learn wisdom and faithfully pass it on.78:1-8 The prologue is an invitation to learn wisdom.

78:2 The psalmist recites Israel’s story (78:5-72) in a parable in order to teach wisdom and insight. • Jesus quoted this verse to explain why he taught in parables (Matt 13:35).

78:3-4 This story of what God has done should be told from generation to generation (see Deut 6:20-25; Prov 4:1-4).

78:5-6 The telling of the story should motivate God’s people to obey what he commanded (Deut 6:4-9).

78:7-8 God holds each generation responsible for its own response, which should be to maintain faith and hope (see 9:18; 27:14) and avoid being stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful (see Deut 9:6-7; 10:16; 30:6; 31:27).

78:9-11 Ephraim, the second son of Joseph, received a special blessing from Jacob (Gen 48:15-20; 49:22-26; Deut 33:13-17). The land that his descendants received included fertile valleys and strategic roads (Judg 8:2). However, the people of Ephraim did not live in obedience to God’s gracious covenant.

78:12-16 The focus shifts from Ephraim (78:9-11) to Israel as a whole as the psalmist reflects on God’s power in Egypt (see 81:4-7) and in the wilderness.78:12 The miracles are the ten plagues against Egypt that God performed during Israel’s captivity (Exod 7–12).

78:13 God divided the sea when Israel crossed through the Red Sea (see Exod 14–15).

78:14 God used a cloud and a pillar of fire to guide and protect Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21-22).

78:17-31 Israel rebelled in the wilderness despite God’s abundant provision.

78:23-25 Abundance comes through the doors of heaven (Gen 8:2; 2 Kgs 7:2; Mal 3:10). • Israel ate manna for forty years in the wilderness (Exod 16:31-36; John 6:31).

78:26-31 God powerfully satisfied the people’s desires, but they did not respond with gratitude or faith. Therefore, God exercised his justice.

78:32-39 Israel’s rebellion resulted in God’s judgment, but even their short-lived and insincere repentance motivated God to exercise forbearance.

78:33 An entire generation died in the wilderness (Num 14:22-23, 28-35).

78:34-39 Israel’s continued existence, in spite of the people’s rebellion and unbelief (78:7-8), was due to God’s compassion.78:34 They repented: This demonstration of zeal was not sincere.

78:35-39 The Israelites remembered the right doctrine (9:9; 91:1), but they did not allow God to change their hearts (Lev 26:41).

78:40-55 The Israelites rebelled even though the Lord had rescued them from powerful plagues.

78:56-64 Israel’s rebellion desecrated the Promised Land. The people built shrines to false gods and worshiped idols (78:58) during the period of the judges (e.g., Judg 2:11; 3:7, 17-18).

78:60 God abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh because of the people’s idol worship (1 Sam 4:11; Jer 7:12).

78:67 The tribe of Ephraim was not completely rejected, but God favored Judah (78:68).

78:68-69 In the choice of Mount Zion instead of Shiloh as God’s sanctuary on earth, God moved from the north to the south (see Ps 69).

78:70-72 The God who had turned against his own people (78:62) chose David, a shepherd (Gen 46:34; 1 Sam 16:10-11), to become their shepherd (Ps 78:52; cp. 23:1).