Third Millennium Study Bible
Notes on Psalms 78:1-72

God's Grace to Israel - Psalm 78:1-72

Psalm 78, one of the longest, recounts God's great acts in Israel's past. It emphasizes God's grace to Israel as that nation continued to sin against him. His judgments renewed their repentance. The historical retrospect extends back to the Red Sea, the desert wanderings and the early monarchy, under Saul. It concludes on a positive note: God's choice of David as king and Jerusalem as the site of the Temple.

"Parables" (Psa 78:2) in this context does not imply that the events are not historical. Rather it emphasizes the theme of the preamble; past events were recounted as examples from which present instruction was drawn. Most instruction during the Old Testament period was disseminated through oral teaching (Psa 78:3). Writing materials were scarce, and literacy was not high. Parents would teach their children about God's relationship with his people (see also Psa 78:6). See Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 32:7.

In Psalm 78:4 we see mention of the "praiseworthy deeds of the LORD." God entered human history to save his people and to judge his foes. This psalm recounts a few of the significant acts of God in the history of Israel, his chosen people.

God established a relationship with his people based on grace alone (Psa 78:5-7). In the context of grace, he gave them laws by which they should live and demonstrate their gratefulness to him (Josh 24:1-15; 51:12-13; 119:146). These laws were summarized in the Ten Commandments (Exod 20; Deut 5) and specifically applied to Israel in the Book of the Covenant (Exod 21-23), as well as in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. WLC 156. The object of the history lesson was not the study of antiquities, but a deepening of the faith and obedience of God's people. They were to "keep his commands" (Psa 78:7).

In Psalm 78:8 we observe that time and again the Israelites rebelled against the Lord. The earliest and most likely date for the composition of this psalm is during David's reign when they could look back over generations of relationship with God, a relationship frequently marred by Israels stubbornness. The psalmist would recount some of these instances in the verses to follow.

Psalm 78:9 should be compared to Psalm 78:67-68, where the choice of David of Judah is coupled with the rejection of Ephraim. There is also a connection with the rejection of Saul, whom David replaced. Saul was best associated with the northern tribes even though he descended from the southern tribe of Benjamin, and Ephraim was the most powerful tribe of the north.

In Psalm 78:10 there is mention of "God's covenant." God had pledged to destroy his people if they were disobedient (Deut 27:9-28:68). See "Covenant Curse Types and Restorative Blessings" below.

In Psalm 78:13 chief among the remarkable acts of God was the deliverance from Egypt by which God rescued his people from bondage and brought them into their own land. The Red Sea crossing constituted the greatest demonstration of God's power in the past and, accordingly, was often called to memory by psalmists and prophets. God had guided his people through the desert by means of a pillar of cloud and of fire (Psa 78:14; cf. Exod 40:36-38). He had also provided for their physical needs in the desert through miraculous means (Psa 78:15; cf. Num 20:1-13).

Israel constantly put "god to the test" (Psa 78:18). They frequently grumbled about the food and water in the desert, and God repeatedly provided for their needs (Psa 95:8; Exod 16:2; 17:2). God's provision of water in the desert (Psa 78:20; cf. Exod 17:6; Num 20:8-11) should have led to faith and trust. Instead the Israelites tested the Lord with regard to food. Compare John 6:25-58.

Rebellion against the Lord had led to judgment (Psa 78:21; cf. Num 11:1-3); he had afterward returned with his grace (Psa 78:23-39), to which the Israelites had responded with further rebellion (Psa 78:30-31).

For Psalm 78:26-31 see "Grumbling About Hardships - Numbers 11:1-3" and "Murmuring About Manna - Numbers 11:4-35" below.

Psalm 78:32 makes reference to "all this." That is all God's wonderful acts of salvation and judgment. This pattern was repeated throughout the Old Testament, perhaps best represented by the book of Judges. See WLC 150; WSC 83. So, though God did great works in Israel's midst they continued in infidelity toward his covenant. So the Lord "ended their days in futility and their years in terror" (Psa 78:33). The meaning is identical to that favorite adjective of the Teacher in the book of Ecclesiastes, "meaningless" (see Psa 62:9; Ecc 1:2). The term describes the world apart from God, under the curse of the fall. Apart from God, the human race has nothing to which to cling; their lives lack purpose and significance; people live in fear of death.

When the Israelites sinned, God judged them (Psa 78:34). Their habitual pattern was then to return to him. Proverbs 3:12; 13:25 teach that God always disciplines those whom he loves. This applies not only on an individual basis, but also on a corporate level. By afflicting his covenant people in the desert, he strongly prompted them to obey him. WLC 151. Despite their repentance, the Israelites soon fell into sin again (Psa 78:36). The cycle repeated itself throughout the desert journey (e.g., Num 11; 14; 16); and continued the Promised Land (See Judges 2:6-23).

God initiated a relationship with Israel through his grace, and he expressed his will to his people through his law, which was backed by the curses and blessings of the covenant (Psa 78:37, 10). The Israelites, however, through their disobedience called down God's judgment upon themselves. See "Covenant Curse Types and Restorative Blessings" below.

Israel rebelled often (Psa 78:40). See See Numbers 11, 14 and 16 for examples. In Psalm 78:42-51 the psalmist listed six of the plagues on Egypt. The plagues had graphically displayed God's power to judge; yet Israel, as well as Pharaoh, had remained hard of heart.

God had blessed his people by making them at home in the Promised Land, but they had once again quickly forgotten him (Psa 78:54-64). They were just "like their fathers." Israel had fought, but the faithful knew that it was God, the Divine-Warrior, who had won the victories against their enemies (Psa 78:55). The defeat of Jericho demonstrated that reliance on God would be necessary in all the battles of the conquest (Josh 5:13-6:27).

In Psalm 78:56 we observe that the Israelites had failed to comply with God's law in the desert, neither had they kept it in the Promised Land. See Judges 2:10-15. See WLC 150; WSC 83. The height of their rebellion was their idolatry (Psa 78:58).

A reference to "the tabernacle of Shiloh" is made in Psalm 78:60. In the Promised Land the Tabernacle was set up at Shiloh (Josh 18:1), where it housed the ark during Eli's judgeship. Shiloh was approximately 20 miles northeast of Jerusalem, in the tribal territory of Ephraim. During Samuel's youth, God judged Israel and its leaders, particularly Eli's sons, by abandoning Israel in battle and allowing the Philistines to capture the ark (Psa 78:61; cf. 1 Sam 4:1-5:12). God had abandoned the Israelites in judgment and refused to listen to their cries for justice (Psa 78:65). It was as though he were in a deep sleep, from which he could not be aroused. At last, like a warrior awakening, he came to their rescue. See Psalm 44:23.

The phrase "he rejected . . . Ephraim" (Psa 78:67) refers to God's abandonment of the Shiloh sanctuary and perhaps also to the rejection of Saul's monarchy.

In Psalm 78:68 we observe that Jerusalem succeeded Shiloh as the location of God's special presence. See "The Presence of God: Where are You, God?" below. Though not belonging to the tribe of Judah, it became David's capital; since it bordered Judah, it came to be considered a part of it. When the north and the south broke apart under Rehoboam, Jerusalem, as the seat of the monarchy, remained in the control of David's dynasty. For "Mount Zion" see Psalm 2:6.

In Psalm 78:70 there is mention of "sheep pens." This is an image recalling David's humble origins (1 Sam 16:11-13).

The psalm ends on a positive note: A faithful king was established in Jerusalem, the place of God's special presence.

Related Resources

• Covenant Curse Types and Restorative Blessings
• Grumbling About Hardships - Numbers 11:1-3
• Murmuring About Manna - Numbers 11:4-35
• The Presence of God: Where are You, God?
• Overview of the Book of Psalms