Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

Psalms 78

God’s Prodigal Nation, Israel

This psalm contains a parable of Israel, as God’s prodigal nation. It was written by Asaph, upon the transfer of the sanctuary of the Lord from Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim, to Zion, in the land of Judah. Thus was transferred the glory of the tribe of Ephraim to the tribe of Judah, as related 1 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 4:10-22.

Scripture v. 1-28:

Verses 1-3 are an introductory call to Israel, the people of God, to incline their ears (listen intently), to the law from the words of Asaph’s mouth, David’s chief musician. He purposed to relate a summary of the Law of Moses, the Torah, to them, as they had received it from the Lord, v. 1-72; Exodus 19:5; Psalms 106:1-46; Genesis 12:2-3; Romans 11:26. He stated that he would "open my mouth" in a parable, uttering dark sayings (near forgotten sayings) of old or from ancient times, Psalms 49:4; Matthew 13:35. He adds that what he would say had been told to them by their fathers, things they had heard and known, from generation to generation, 1 Corinthians 10:6; Galatians 4:24; Psalms 77:5-11. Testimony of fathers, parents to their children, are commended in the scriptures, tho not to be valued on as high a level as the Word of God, Exodus 10:2; Psalms 44:1; 2 Samuel 7:22; Deuteronomy 32:7; 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-15.

Verse 4 resolves "We (the pious) will not hide (withhold) from their children," the word and law of God, thus sin against their children by neglect, James 4:17; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:7; Joel 1:3. They determined instead, to show praises to them, of the strength and wonderful works that the Lord had graciously worked in their interest, Exodus 12:26; Exodus 13:8; Joshua 4:6-7. As the redeemed of the Lord, they resolved to say so, give Him praise and glory, Psalms 107:2.

Verse 5 relates that God had by covenant: 1) established testimony in Jacob, and "appointed a law in Israel," 2) directing their fathers to make them known, teach them to share them with the walk in His laws before their children, Exodus 13:14; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Deuteronomy 11:19; Psalms 147:19.

Verse 6 adds that this testimony was "that the generations (each new generation born) to come might know them," and might also "arise" or stand up to their responsibilities, and "declare them to their children," Psalms 102:18; Ephesians 6:1-4; Mark 5:1-9.

Verses 7, 8 explain that this teaching and living the law of the Lord, in the home and daily business life, is to be done by fathers, that their children "might set (put, place, or fix) their hope in God," not forgetting but keeping his commandments, Deuteronomy 4:40; Deuteronomy 31:11; Deuteronomy 33:9. Asaph desired that future generations should not be as their fathers had come to be, a "stubborn and rebellious generation that set not their heart right and whose spirit (disposition or attitude) was not steadfast with God, 2 Chronicles 12:14; 2 Chronicles 19:8; 2 Chronicles 20:33. For their stubbornness both Moses and Samuel reproved them, Deuteronomy 9:6-7; Deuteronomy 31:27; Deuteronomy 18:18; Job 11:13; 1 Samuel 7:3; 1 Samuel 15:22.

Verses 9-11 expose the former unfaithfulness of Ephraims tribe and with it, all Israel. Armed with bows and arrows, their chief instruments of warfare, they turned back, surrendered their ground for Satan to seize (camp on) in day of battle. They kept or guarded "not the cove­nant of God, and refused to walk in His law," 2 Kings 17:15; With ingrati­tude and in rebellion, they "forgot his works" and wonders (miraculous) things He had showed them, in coming out of Egypt, and caring for them in the desert of Sinai, Psalms 106:13; Psalms 106:21; Isaiah 17:10; Jeremiah 2:32.

Verses 12-14 tell of marvelous things He did for them, before their fathers in the field of Zoan, capitol of southern Egypt, Genesis 32:3; Numbers 13:22; Isaiah 19:11; Ezekiel 30:14; Ezekiel Verses13, 14 relate how He led them through the divided Red Sea, Exodus ch. 14, causing the waters to stand back and up in a congealed heap, as they passed through, led by a cloud-pillar by day and fire-pillar by night, Exodus 15:8.

Verses 15, 16 declare that "He clave (opened) the rocks in the wilderness and gave them (all Israel and their flocks and herds) drink out of the great depths," of his water reservoirs beneath the earth surface, as related Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20; Numbers 11; John 7:37-38; 1 Corinthians 10:4. It is added "He brought streams (great numbers) out of, (from beneath and through) the rocks," causing "waters to run down like (cascading) rivers," Deuteronomy 9:21; Psalms 18:15.

Verses 17, 18 relate Israel sinned yet the more against God," provoking (repeatedly) the most High (living God) in the wilderness," whining ungratefully for "meat for their lust," Exodus 17:2; Exodus 17:7; Deuteronomy 9:8; Psalms 95:9-10; Psalms 106; Psalms 13; Hebrews 3:16; James 1:2; Matthew 12:34-35. They covetously desired gluttonous thing.

Verses 19, 20 add that "they spake against God," like the Devil did in Eden, Genesis 3:4-5; Numbers 11:4; 2 Chronicles 32:19; Romans 9:20. They cynically and skeptically said before their children "can God furnish or order a table set in the wilderness?" Verse 20 relates "He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out," cascaded forth, like an artesian well, so that the "streams overflowed" their bands; They too questioned in cynical tones "can He give bread also? ... can he provide flesh for his people?" As recounted at’ length Exodus ch. 16: Numbers ch. 11; Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11.

Verses 21, 22 assert that God was wroth (infuriated) "so a fire was kindled against Jacob (the house of Jacob) and a fire was kindled against Israel; Because they believed not (trusted not, relied not) in God, and trusted not in His salvation," or His keeping, providing, and sustaining power and care for them, Hebrews 3:10; Judges 1:5. See also Numbers 11:10; Numbers 11:33-34; Psalms 18:8; Numbers 14:11.

Verse 23 verifies that they thus complained against God, "tho He had commanded the clouds from above and opened the doors of heaven," to show His power already, as related Genesis 7:11; Deuteronomy 28:12; 2 Kings 7:2; 2 Kings 7:19; Malachi 3:10.

Verses 24, 25 relate that He too had already, "rained down manna, corn from and of heaven," so that every man (person did "eat angel’s food" Exodus 16:6; as He sent them "meat (food) to the full," Deuteronomy 8:3; Nehemiah 9:15; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalms 68:9; Psalms 103; Psalms 20; Psalms 105; Psalms 40; John 6:31; 1 Corinthians 10:3; Exodus 16:3. They were fed the food (dainties) of heaven’s host.

Verses 26-28 describe how God sent the flesh meat for which they whined. He caused (as the Great cause one) an east wind to blow in the heaven, and by His power brought in the south wind, to rain flesh (quail) upon the whining Israelites, till they fell as feathered birds, like dust at their feet in their camp," everywhere they were camped," or round about their habitation, Numbers 11:31; Exodus 16:13. Thus he gave them their object of lust, Numbers 11:4.

Scripture v. 29-55:

Wanderings Continued

Verses 29-31 add that tho He gave them what they desired, they ate and were gluttonously gorged, they were not separated from their lust, "but while their meat was in their mouths," the wrath of God fell upon and slew the fattest of them, and "smote down the chosen men of Israel." They prepared a scourge for themselves by gluttonously gorging themselves, drinking and vomiting, dying apparently with a plague of ptomaine poison, crying aloud for the dying among them, even many of their appointed leaders, under the wrath of God, Numbers 11:20; Numbers 11:33-34; 1 Corinthians 10:6-7; See also Isaiah 10:16.

Verses 32, 33 assert that in spite of all this "they sinned still and believed not for His wondrous (miraculous) works;" As a result God did "consume their days (in the wilderness) in vanity and their years (there) in (continuous) trouble," as a chastening for them and example lesson for people of God thereafter, as related v. 22, Numbers 14:11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-11.

Verses 34, 35 explain that "when he slew them, then they (the remaining) sought him," and turned back to Him, inquiring early, earnestly for His favor, Numbers 14:39-40; Numbers 21:7. God sent His prophets and they, rising up early, "remembered that God was their rock," their mercy-support, even the High God was their redeemer, Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 10:10-14; Hosea 5:15.

Verses 36, 37 relate that still they did flatter him, lying with their mouth and tongue, with hearts not right with Him, neither did they keep or guard His covenant, as they had pledged, Exodus 19:8; Psalms 106:12-13; Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31; Psalms 51:10; Jeremiah 34:8; Jeremiah 34:11.

Verses 38, 39 declare that God in compassion, "forgave their iniquity" and "destroyed them not," Exodus 31:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; Jeremiah 32:17. tho "many a time he turned his anger away (restrained Himself) and did not stir up (or release) all His wrath," Isaiah 48:9; Ezekiel 23:10-11; Micah 7:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9. See also Genesis 6:3; John 3:6; James 4:11. He remembered that they were "but flesh, (as) a wind that passeth away and cometh not again," Job 7:7; Job 7:16.

Verses 40, 41 exclaim how often, repeatedly they did "provoke Him in the wilderness and grieve Him in the desert!" They even turned back (with contempt), turned their back on Him, and tempted or tested God," limiting the Holy One of Israel," Ephesians 4:30: Hebrews 3:18; Ezekiel 16:43; See too Numbers 14:22; Deuteronomy 6:16.

Verses 42-44 relate that they remembered or (recalled) not his hand of deliverance from their enemy, showed no gratitude for their being set free from the afflictions of Egypt; They respected or recalled not how He had wrought His signs of miraculous judgments in Egypt and His wonders in the field of Zoan; And that He once turned their rivers (flowing streams) into blood, and their floods (flooded areas), lakes into blood, so that they could not drink, they no longer remembered, or meditated on His great power and goodness to them, v. 12; Tho His former deeds in their behalf should have called them to strict obedience to Him, Exodus 10:1-2; Psalms 105:27; See also Exodus 7:18-20.

Verses 45-48 enumerate judgments He sent on Egypt for their rebellion, designed to teach Israel to avoid such by obeying Him, their deliverer. He had: 1) Sent flies and frogs to devour and destroy the Egyptians; 2) He had given their crops to caterpillars and their fruits of labor to locusts; 3) He had destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore trees with frost; 4) He too had slain their cattle with hailstones and their flocks of sheep and goats with lightning and or thunderbolts; yet they of Egypt stubbornly rebelled against Him, Exodus 8; Exodus 23; Exodus 9:23-25; Psalms 105:33.

Verses 49-51 describe how the Lord poured out His anger, wrath, and indignation on the Egyptians in sending evil angels (judgment angels) among them, destroying many with pestilence and He smote all the firstborn in Egypt, chief of their strength, future head of families by tradition, in the tabernacles or dwelling places of Ham, Exodus 9:13; Exodus 9:6; Exodus 9:15; For the Egyptians were Hamites, Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17; Psalms 105:36; Exodus 12:29; Genesis 9:22; Genesis 10:6; Psalms 106:22.

Verses 52-55 add that He caused His own people to go forth like a flock, guiding them like sheep in the wilderness, going before, leasing and providing for them, Exodus 12:37; Exodus 14:3; Exodus 15:22. He led them on, so that they feared no evil; but the flood came over their enemies, Exodus 14:13.
Verse 54 asserts that "He brought them to the border of His sanctuary that He had already claimed for himself, to the mountain of Zion, that He had purchased, where Abraham offered his son Isaac, Exodus 15:13-17; Genesis ch. 22; See also Psalms 74:2; Psalms 68:16.
Verse 55 declares that He "cast out the heathen also before them (Israel); and divided or parted them an inheritance by (line), tribe by tribe, making (causing) them to dwell in their own tents," as certified Numbers 34:2; Psalms 105:11; Psalms 136:21; Joshua 13:7; Joshua 19:51.

Scripture v. 56-72:

Captivity Judgment

Verses 56-58 further relate that still they refused to keep or guard His testimonies and provoked the most High God, turning back and dealing unfaithfully and deceitfully like their fathers, like a deceitful or untrustworthy bow in time of battle, Judges 2:7-13; Deuteronomy 6:16-17; Hosea 7:16. For a time they promised well, then turned back as one unfit for kingdom of God trust, Ezekiel 20:17-18; 2 Peter 2:19-21.
Verse 58 goes on "They provoked Him with their high places, even with their graven images," idolatrous objects, as the heathen do, Deuteronomy 12:2; Deuteronomy 12:4; Deuteronomy 32:16; Deuteronomy 32:21; 1 Kings 11:7; 1 Kings 12:31; Judges 2:12; Judges 2:20.

Verses 59-61 relate that "when God heard this," their cries to idol gods, He was wroth and "greatly abhorred Israel," so that "He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh," manifesting His glory there no more, even the tent that He had placed as His meeting place among men," 1 Samuel 4:11; Jeremiah 7:12; Jeremiah 7:14; Jeremiah 16:6; Jeremiah 16:9. He had placed it there in Ephraim, north of Bethel, but would appear there to bless His people no more, because of their idolatrous rebellion against Him and His law, Joshua 18:1; Joshua 22:19; 1 Samuel 4:3; Ezekiel 11:22-23; Exodus 25:28. The tent (tabernacle) was later moved by Saul to Gibeon, 1 Kings 3:4; Jeremiah 7:12; Jeremiah 7:14; Jeremiah 26:6.
Verse 61 adds that "He delivered his strength into captivity (to the Philistines) and His glory into the enemies hands," 1 Samuel 4:21-22; La 2:1; See also 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 29:1; Psalms 96:6-7; Psalms 132:8. The Shekinah light He made to depart from Israel, for a long season of judgment, Deuteronomy 12; Deuteronomy 11. See too 2 Chronicles 6:41; 1 Samuel 5:1-2.

Verses 62-64 declare that because of this (he gave also his people over to the sword," being wroth with his inheritance people. Fire consumed their young men for a time, and their maidens were not given in marriage, because 30,000 Israelites had fallen in battle, 1 Samuel 4:11-17; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9; Jeremiah 25:10. So morally corrupt had the priests become that when they fell by the sword, the widows of Israel would not even weep for them, 1 Samuel 4:19-20; Ezekiel 24:21; Genesis 23:2.

Verses 65, 66 state that, "Then," at that point, "The Lord awoke," as one out of a (deep) sleep, "and like a mighty (strong) man that shouts by reason of wine," too much wine, Isaiah 42:13. He "smote his enemies from the rear," unexpectedly, and "put them to a perpetual or lasting reproach," and shame, Psalms 44:23; 1Samuel ch. 5, 6, and 1 Samuel 7:10-14; See too 1 Samuel 5:9; Psalms 9:3.

Verses 67, 68 relate that the Lord refused (rejected) the tabernacle of Joseph, at Shiloh, v. 59, 60; and "chose not the tribe of Ephraim," in taking it away, at the hand of the Philistines. But he chose instead the tribe of Judah, the mount of Zion, to be the place of His sanctuary seat, the place He loved in a special way, v. 69-71; Psalms 87:2.

Verse 69 states that "He built his sanctuary (in Jerusalem), like high palaces," elevated, pointing sharply toward the heavens, 1 Kings 6:1; 1 Kings 9:8, 2 Chronicles 3:4. He pledged to build or establish it "like the earth, for ever," Psalms 68:25; Psalms 68:16; Psalms 104:4-5; Ecclesiastes 1:4; Psalms 132:14; 1 Kings 8:13.

Verses 70, 71 relate that He took David His servant from the work of to sheepfolds, from "following the ewes great with young," and brought him as a tender hearted, caring shepherd, "to feed Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance." David did not choose His royal position, the Lord, by Grace Supreme, chose him for a work, even as He called and chose His church, 2 Samuel 5:2; 1 Chronicles 11:2; Ezekiel 23, 24; Micah 5:2-4; Zechariah 11:4; Matthew 2:6; John 15:15-17; John 15:27; 1 Peter 5:2.

Verse 72 concludes "So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart," 1 Kings 9:4; Psalms 75:2. He was called to lead, feed, shelter and protect them, not to drive them, Genesis 33:13-14; 2 Samuel 7:8. Let rulers and leaders both secular and religious, always remember that they are chosen for the state, (people) they lead, not the state for them; With rod and staff in hand the shepherd-pastor leads and guides his sheep, never acting as a "lord" over them, a cow-boy, or a whip cracker, as Illustrated in the Word, Psalms 23:4; 1 Peter 5:3. So may it ever be or exist in true churches of the Lord.