56 And they tempt and provoke God Most High, And His testimonies have not kept. 57 And they turn back, And deal treacherously like their fathers, They have been turned like a deceitful bow, 58 And make Him angry with their high places, And with their graven images make Him zealous, 59 God hath heard, and sheweth Himself wroth. And kicketh exceedingly against Israel. 60 And He leaveth the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men, 61 And He giveth His strength to captivity, And His beauty into the hand of an adversary, 62 And delivereth up to the sword His people, And with His inheritance shewed Himself angry. 63 His young men hath fire consumed, And His virgins have not been praised. 64 His priests by the sword have fallen, And their widows weep not. 65 And the Lord waketh as a sleeper, As a mighty one crying aloud from wine. 66 And He smiteth His adversaries backward, A reproach age-during He hath put on them, 67 And He kicketh against the tent of Joseph, And on the tribe of Ephraim hath not fixed. 68 And He chooseth the tribe of Judah, With mount Zion that He loved, 69 And buildeth His sanctuary as a high place, Like the earth, He founded it to the age. 70 And He fixeth on David His servant, And taketh him from the folds of a flock, 71 From behind suckling ones He hath brought him in, To rule over Jacob His people, And over Israel His inheritance. 72 And he ruleth them according to the integrity of his heart, And by the skilfulness of his hands leadeth them!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:56-72
Commentary on Psalm 78:56-72
(Read Psalm 78:56-72)
After the Israelites were settled in Canaan, the children were like their fathers. God gave them his testimonies, but they turned back. Presumptuous sins render even Israelites hateful to God's holiness, and exposed to his justice. Those whom the Lord forsakes become an easy prey to the destroyer. And sooner or later, God will disgrace his enemies. He set a good government over his people; a monarch after his own heart. With good reason does the psalmist make this finishing, crowning instance of God's favour to Israel; for David was a type of Christ, the great and good Shepherd, who was humbled first, and then exalted; and of whom it was foretold, that he should be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. On the uprightness of his heart, and the skilfulness of his hands, all his subjects may rely; and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Every trial of human nature hitherto, confirms the testimony of Scripture, that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, and nothing but being created anew by the Holy Ghost can cure the ungodliness of any.