9 The Ephraimites, armed to the teeth, ran off when the battle began. 10 They were cowards to God's Covenant, refused to walk by his Word. 11 They forgot what he had done - marvels he'd done right before their eyes. 12 He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan. 13 He split the Sea and they walked right through it; he piled the waters to the right and the left. 14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness, gave them all they could drink from underground springs; 16 He made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water pour out like a river. 17 All they did was sin even more, rebel in the desert against the High God. 18 They tried to get their own way with God, clamored for favors, for special attention. 19 They whined like spoiled children, "Why can't God give us a decent meal in this desert? 20 Sure, he struck the rock and the water flowed, creeks cascaded from the rock. But how about some fresh-baked bread? How about a nice cut of meat?" 21 When God heard that, he was furious - his anger flared against Jacob, he lost his temper with Israel. 22 It was clear they didn't believe God, had no intention of trusting in his help. 23 But God helped them anyway, commanded the clouds and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven. 24 He rained down showers of manna to eat, he gave them the Bread of Heaven. 25 They ate the bread of the mighty angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. 26 He let East Wind break loose from the skies, gave a strong push to South Wind. 27 This time it was birds that rained down - succulent birds, an abundance of birds. 28 He aimed them right for the center of their camp; all round their tents there were birds. 29 They ate and had their fill; he handed them everything they craved on a platter. 30 But their greed knew no bounds; they stuffed their mouths with more and more. 31 Finally, God was fed up, his anger erupted - he cut down their brightest and best, he laid low Israel's finest young men. 32 And - can you believe it? - they kept right on sinning; all those wonders and they still wouldn't believe! 33 So their lives dribbled off to nothing - nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town. 34 When he cut them down, they came running for help; they turned and pled for mercy. 35 They gave witness that God was their rock, that High God was their redeemer, 36 But they didn't mean a word of it; they lied through their teeth the whole time. 37 They could not have cared less about him, wanted nothing to do with his Covenant. 38 And God? Compassionate! Forgave the sin! Didn't destroy! Over and over he reined in his anger, restrained his considerable wrath. 39 He knew what they were made of; he knew there wasn't much to them,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:9-39
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!