781 Listen , O my people , to my instruction ; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth . 2 I will open my mouth in a parable ; I will utter dark sayings of old , 3 Which we have heard and known , And our fathers have told us. 4 We will not conceal them from their children , But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord , And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done . 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel , Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children , 6 That the generation to come might know , even the children yet to be born , That they may arise and tell them to their children , 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God , But keep His commandments , 8 And not be like their fathers , A stubborn and rebellious generation , A generation that did not prepare its heart And whose spirit was not faithful to God .
9 The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows , Yet they turned back in the day of battle . 10 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law ; 11 They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them. 12 He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt , in the field of Zoan . 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through , And He made the waters stand up like a heap . 14 Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire . 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths . 16 He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers . 17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert . 18 And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire . 19 Then they spoke against God ; They said , " Can God prepare a table in the wilderness ? 20 "Behold , He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing ; Can He give bread also ? Will He provide meat for His people ?" 21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath ; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel , 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation . 23 Yet He commanded the clouds above e And opened the doors of heaven ; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven . 25 Man did eat the bread of angels ; He sent them food in abundance . 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind . 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust , Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas , 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp , Round about their dwellings . 29 So they ate and were well filled , And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire , While their food was in their mouths , 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel . 32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works . 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror . 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God ; 35 And they remembered that God was their rock , And the Most High God their Redeemer . 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue . 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:1-37
Commentary on Psalm 78:1-8
(Read Psalm 78:1-8)
These are called dark and deep sayings, because they are carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that the church may abide for ever. Also, that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostacy; those that do not set their hearts right, will not be stedfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, must not obey sinful orders, or copy sinful examples.
Commentary on Psalm 78:9-39
(Read Psalm 78:9-39)
Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not trust his providence in the way to it. To all that by faith and prayer, ask, seek, and knock, these doors of heaven shall at any time be opened; and our distrust of God is a great aggravation of our sins. He expressed his resentment of their provocation; not in denying what they sinfully lusted after, but in granting it to them. Lust is contented with nothing. Those that indulge their lust, will never be estranged from it. Those hearts are hard indeed, that will neither be melted by the mercies of the Lord, nor broken by his judgments. Those that sin still, must expect to be in trouble still. And the reason why we live with so little comfort, and to so little purpose, is, because we do not live by faith. Under these rebukes they professed repentance, but they were not sincere, for they were not constant. In Israel's history we have a picture of our own hearts and lives. God's patience, and warnings, and mercies, imbolden them to harden their hearts against his word. And the history of kingdoms is much the same. Judgments and mercies have been little attended to, until the measure of their sins has been full. And higher advantages have not kept churches from declining from the commandments of God. Even true believers recollect, that for many a year they abused the kindness of Providence. When they come to heaven, how will they admire the Lord's patience and mercy in bringing them to his kingdom!