Psalms 78
Tell to the Coming Generation
1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Word: Isaiah 51:4. Parallel theme: Psalms 50:7, 51:4, 74:1, Judges 5:3, Isaiah 55:3, Matthew 13:9 +2
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Darkness: Psalms 49:4, Proverbs 1:6. Parallel theme: Mark 4:34
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We 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.
5 For 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:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: Resurrection: Psalms 102:18, 145:4. Parallel theme: Psalms 90:16, Joel 1:3
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And 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. References God: 2 Kings 17:14, 2 Chronicles 30:7. Spirit: Acts 7:51. Parallel theme: Psalms 78:37, Exodus 32:9, 33:3, Deuteronomy 31:27, Ezekiel 20:18 +3
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his lawLaw: תּוֹרָה (Torah). The Hebrew Torah (תּוֹרָה) means law or instruction—God's revealed will for His people. The Law includes moral, civil, and ceremonial commandments, revealing God's character and humanity's need for a Savior.; Covenant: Deuteronomy 31:16, 31:20, Jeremiah 31:32
11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Parallel theme: Psalms 106:13
12 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. References Egypt: Numbers 13:22, Isaiah 19:13. Parallel theme: Isaiah 19:11, Ezekiel 30:14
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. Creation: Exodus 14:21. Parallel theme: Psalms 66:6, Exodus 15:8, Joshua 3:16
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. Light: Psalms 105:39, Nehemiah 9:12, 9:19. Parallel theme: Exodus 14:24
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. Parallel theme: Psalms 105:41, 114:8, Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:11, Isaiah 41:18, 43:20, 48:21, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Revelation 22:1, 22:17 +5
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. Parallel theme: Numbers 20:8, Deuteronomy 8:15
17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. Parallel theme: Isaiah 63:10
18 And they tempted GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity. in their heart by asking meat for their lust. References God: Deuteronomy 6:16. Parallel theme: Numbers 11:4, 1 Corinthians 10:9
19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, 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?
21 Therefore the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: Salvation: Jude 1:5. References God: Hebrews 3:12. Faith: Psalms 106:24, Deuteronomy 1:32, Isaiah 7:9, Hebrews 11:6, 1 John 5:10 +2
23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, Parallel theme: Genesis 7:11, Malachi 3:10
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Parallel theme: Psalms 105:40, Exodus 16:4, 16:14
25 Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. Parallel theme: Psalms 103:20, Exodus 16:8, Matthew 14:20, 15:37
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. Parallel theme: Numbers 11:31
27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. Faith: Psalms 78:22, John 12:37
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. Parallel theme: Numbers 14:29, 14:35
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity.. Parallel theme: Numbers 21:7, Hosea 5:15
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. References God: Deuteronomy 32:4, 32:15. Redemption: Exodus 15:13, Isaiah 41:14, Titus 2:14
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. Parallel theme: Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 33:31
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 But 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. Parallel theme: 2 Kings 21:20, Isaiah 48:9, Ezekiel 20:17
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. Parallel theme: Genesis 6:3, Job 7:7, 7:16, 10:9, James 4:14
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Parallel theme: Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. References God: Deuteronomy 6:16. Holy: 2 Kings 19:22. Parallel theme: Numbers 14:4, 14:22, Acts 7:39
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. Parallel theme: Psalms 78:11, Exodus 13:9, 14:12, Judges 8:34, Isaiah 11:11, Jeremiah 32:21
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink. Blood: Psalms 105:29
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrathWrath: אַף (Aph). The Hebrew aph (אַף) literally means 'nose' or 'nostrils,' idiomatically expressing wrath or anger—God's righteous indignation against sin. Yet God is 'slow to anger' (Exodus 34:6) and 'abundant in mercy.', and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. Judgment: Exodus 15:7. Evil: Psalms 11:6, 2 Samuel 24:16. Parallel theme: Exodus 12:13
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; Parallel theme: Ezekiel 7:4, Romans 8:32
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: References Egypt: Psalms 105:23, 135:8, 136:10, Exodus 12:12, 13:15. Parallel theme: Psalms 105:36, 106:22, Genesis 49:3 +3
52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. Creation: Psalms 100:3. Parallel theme: Psalms 77:20, 95:7, 105:37, Nehemiah 9:12, Isaiah 40:11
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. Parallel theme: Psalms 136:15, Exodus 14:15, 15:10, Hebrews 11:29
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 He 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. Parallel theme: Psalms 44:2, Joshua 13:7
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high GodGod: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim). The Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) is a plural form denoting majesty and fullness of deity. Though grammatically plural, it takes singular verbs when referring to the one true God, suggesting the Trinity's plurality within unity., and kept not his testimonies:
57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. Parallel theme: Psalms 78:8, Hosea 7:16
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. Parallel theme: Leviticus 26:30, Deuteronomy 12:2, 32:21, 1 Kings 11:7, 12:31, 1 Corinthians 10:22
59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: Parallel theme: Psalms 106:40
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; Temple: Joshua 18:1. Parallel theme: 1 Samuel 1:3
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. Parallel theme: Psalms 132:8
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. Parallel theme: Jeremiah 7:34, 16:9
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. Parallel theme: 1 Samuel 4:11, 4:17, Job 27:15, Ezekiel 24:23
65 Then the LordLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. References Lord: Psalms 44:23, Isaiah 51:9
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. Parallel theme: 1 Samuel 5:6, Job 40:12, Jeremiah 23:40
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. Love: Psalms 87:2
69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: References David: Acts 13:22
71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. References Israel: 2 Samuel 5:2, 1 Chronicles 11:2. Parallel theme: Psalms 28:9, Genesis 33:13, Isaiah 40:11, 1 Peter 5:2
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. Parallel theme: 1 Kings 9:4, 2 Timothy 2:15