40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the wasteland! 41 Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember his power- the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, 43 the day he displayed his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan. 44 He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams. 45 He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. 46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet. 48 He gave over their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. 49 He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and hostility- a band of destroying angels. 50 He prepared a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague. 51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. 52 But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness. 53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. 54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. 55 He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.
40 How oft did they provoke
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert! 41 They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember his power
40 How often in the desert they had spurned him, tried his patience in those wilderness years. 41 Time and again they pushed him to the limit, provoked Israel's Holy God. 42 How quickly they forgot what he'd done, forgot their day of rescue from the enemy, 43 When he did miracles in Egypt, wonders on the plain of Zoan. 44 He turned the River and its streams to blood - not a drop of water fit to drink. 45 He sent flies, which ate them alive, and frogs, which bedeviled them. 46 He turned their harvest over to caterpillars, everything they had worked for to the locusts. 47 He flattened their grapevines with hail; a killing frost ruined their orchards. 48 He pounded their cattle with hail, let thunderbolts loose on their herds. 49 His anger flared, a wild firestorm of havoc, An advance guard of disease-carrying angels 50 to clear the ground, preparing the way before him. He didn't spare those people, he let the plague rage through their lives. 51 He killed all the Egyptian firstborns, lusty infants, offspring of Ham's virility. 52 Then he led his people out like sheep, took his flock safely through the wilderness. 53 He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear. The Sea took care of their enemies for good. 54 He brought them into his holy land, this mountain he claimed for his own. 55 He scattered everyone who got in their way; he staked out an inheritance for them - the tribes of Israel all had their own places.
40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, And grieved Him in the desert! 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43 When He worked His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; 44 Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, that they could not drink. 45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. 49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. 50 He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the plague, 51 And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 But He made His own people go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And He brought them to His holy border, This mountain which His right hand had acquired. 55 He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them an inheritance by survey, And made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents.
40 Oh, how often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved his heart in that dry wasteland. 41 Again and again they tested God's patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember his power and how he rescued them from their enemies. 43 They did not remember his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders on the plain of Zoan. 44 For he turned their rivers into blood, so no one could drink from the streams. 45 He sent vast swarms of flies to consume them and hordes of frogs to ruin them. 46 He gave their crops to caterpillars; their harvest was consumed by locusts. 47 He destroyed their grapevines with hail and shattered their sycamore-figs with sleet. 48 He abandoned their cattle to the hail, their livestock to bolts of lightning. 49 He loosed on them his fierce anger- all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels. 50 He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians' lives but ravaged them with the plague. 51 He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt. 52 But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness. 53 He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies. 54 He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this land of hills he had won for them. 55 He drove out the nations before them; he gave them their inheritance by lot. He settled the tribes of Israel into their homes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:40-55
Commentary on Psalm 78:40-55.
(Read Psalm 78:40-55.)
Let not those that receive mercy from God, be thereby made bold to sin, for the mercies they receive will hasten its punishment; yet let not those who are under Divine rebukes for sin, be discouraged from repentance. The Holy One of Israel will do what is most for his own glory, and what is most for their good. Their forgetting former favours, led them to limit God for the future. God made his own people to go forth like sheep; and guided them in the wilderness, as a shepherd his flock, with all care and tenderness. Thus the true Joshua, even Jesus, brings his church out of the wilderness; but no earthly Canaan, no worldly advantages, should make us forget that the church is in the wilderness while in this world, and that there remaineth a far more glorious rest for the people of God.