# Psalm 78 đź“–: Lessons from Israel's History
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 77]] | [[Psalm 79]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
#### A well-written song by Asaph.
[[#Verse 01.]]Â Pay attention, my people, to my instruction.
Listen to the words I speak.
[[#Verse 02.]]Â I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;
I will make insightful observations about the past.
[[#Verse 03.]] What we have heard and learned—
that which our ancestors have told us—
[[#Verse 04.]] we will not hide from their descendants.
We will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,
about his strength and the amazing things he has done.
[[#Verse 05.]] He established a rule in Jacob;
he set up a law in Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to make his deeds known to their descendants,
[[#Verse 06.]]Â so that the next generation, children yet to be born,
might know about them.
They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â Then they will place their confidence in God.
They will not forget the works of God,
and they will obey his commands.
[[#Verse 08.]]Â Then they will not be like their ancestors,
who were a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that was not committed
and faithful to God.
[[#Verse 09.]] The Ephraimites were armed with bows,
but they retreated in the day of battle.
[[#Verse 10.]]Â They did not keep their covenant with God,
and they refused to obey his law.
[[#Verse 11.]]Â They forgot what he had done,
the amazing things he had shown them.
[[#Verse 12.]]Â He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
[[#Verse 13.]]Â He divided the sea and led them across it;
he made the water stand in a heap.
[[#Verse 14.]]Â He led them with a cloud by day,
and with the light of a fire all night long.
[[#Verse 15.]]Â He broke open rocks in the wilderness,
and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.
[[#Verse 16.]]Â He caused streams to flow from the rock,
and made the water flow like rivers.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Yet they continued to sin against him,
and rebelled against the Most High in the desert.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â They willfully challenged God
by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â They insulted God, saying,
“Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?
[[#Verse 20.]] Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out; streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?”
[[#Verse 21.]] When the Lord heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,
[[#Verse 22.]] because they did not have faith in God and did not trust his ability to deliver them.
[[#Verse 23.]] He gave a command to the clouds above and opened the doors in the sky.
[[#Verse 24.]] He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.
[[#Verse 25.]] Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.
[[#Verse 26.]] He brought the east wind through the sky and by his strength led forth the south wind.
[[#Verse 27.]] He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.
[[#Verse 28.]] He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.
[[#Verse 29.]] They ate until they were beyond full; he gave them what they desired.
[[#Verse 30.]] They were not yet filled up; their food was still in their mouths
[[#Verse 31.]] when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.
[[#Verse 32.]] Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.
[[#Verse 33.]] So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.
[[#Verse 34.]] When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.
[[#Verse 35.]] They remembered that God was their protector and that God Most High was their deliverer.
[[#Verse 36.]] But they deceived him with their words and lied to him.
[[#Verse 37.]] They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.
[[#Verse 38.]] Yet he is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger and does not stir up his fury.
[[#Verse 39.]] He remembered that they were made of flesh and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.
[[#Verse 40.]] How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and insulted him in the wastelands.
[[#Verse 41.]] They again challenged God and offended the Holy One of Israel.
[[#Verse 42.]] They did not remember what he had done, how he delivered them from the enemy,
[[#Verse 43.]] when he performed his awesome deeds in Egypt and his acts of judgment in the region of Zoan.
[[#Verse 44.]] He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams.
[[#Verse 45.]] He sent swarms of biting insects against them, as well as frogs that overran their land.
[[#Verse 46.]] He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.
[[#Verse 47.]] He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.
[[#Verse 48.]] He rained hail down on their cattle and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.
[[#Verse 49.]] His raging anger lashed out against them. He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.
[[#Verse 50.]] He sent his anger in full force. He did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.
[[#Verse 51.]] He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.
[[#Verse 52.]] Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
[[#Verse 53.]] He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.
[[#Verse 54.]] He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land that his right hand acquired.
[[#Verse 55.]] He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.
[[#Verse 56.]] Yet they challenged and defied God Most High and did not obey his commands.
[[#Verse 57.]] They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
[[#Verse 58.]] They made him angry with their pagan shrines and made him jealous with their idols.
[[#Verse 59.]] God heard and was angry; he completely rejected Israel.
[[#Verse 60.]] He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh, the tent where he lived among men.
[[#Verse 61.]] He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; he gave the symbol of his splendor into the hand of the enemy.
[[#Verse 62.]] He delivered his people over to the sword and was angry with his chosen nation.
[[#Verse 63.]] Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins remained unmarried.
[[#Verse 64.]] Their priests fell by the sword, but their widows did not weep.
[[#Verse 65.]] But then the Lord awoke from his sleep; he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.
[[#Verse 66.]] He drove his enemies back; he made them a permanent target for insults.
[[#Verse 67.]] He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
[[#Verse 68.]] He chose the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which he loves.
[[#Verse 69.]] He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above, as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.
[[#Verse 70.]] He chose David, his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.
[[#Verse 71.]] He took him away from following the mother sheep, and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and of Israel, his chosen nation.
[[#Verse 20.]] Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out;
streams gushed forth.
But can he also give us food?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
[[#Verse 21.]] When the Lord heard this, he was furious.
A fire broke out against Jacob,
and his anger flared up against Israel,
[[#Verse 22.]]Â because they did not have faith in God,
and did not trust his ability to deliver them.
[[#Verse 23.]]Â He gave a command to the clouds above,
and opened the doors in the sky.
[[#Verse 24.]]Â He rained down manna for them to eat;
he gave them the grain of heaven.
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Man ate the food of the mighty ones.
He sent them more than enough to eat.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â He brought the east wind through the sky,
and by his strength led forth the south wind.
[[#Verse 27.]]Â He rained down meat on them like dust,
birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.
[[#Verse 28.]]Â He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,
all around their homes.
[[#Verse 29.]]Â They ate until they were beyond full;
he gave them what they desired.
[[#Verse 30.]]Â They were not yet filled up;
their food was still in their mouths,
[[#Verse 31.]]Â when the anger of God flared up against them.
He killed some of the strongest of them;
he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.
[[#Verse 32.]]Â Despite all this, they continued to sin,
and did not trust him to do amazing things.
[[#Verse 33.]]Â So he caused them to die unsatisfied
and filled with terror.
[[#Verse 34.]] When he struck them down, they sought his favor;
they turned back and longed for God.
[[#Verse 35.]]Â They remembered that God was their protector,
and that God Most High was their deliverer.
[[#Verse 36.]]Â But they deceived him with their words,
and lied to him.
[[#Verse 37.]]Â They were not really committed to him,
and they were unfaithful to his covenant.
[[#Verse 38.]]Â Yet he is compassionate.
He forgives sin and does not destroy.
He often holds back his anger,
and does not stir up his fury.
[[#Verse 39.]] He remembered that they were made of flesh,
and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.
[[#Verse 40.]]Â How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness,
and insulted him in the wastelands.
[[#Verse 41.]]Â They again challenged God,
and offended the Holy One of Israel.
[[#Verse 42.]]Â They did not remember what he had done,
how he delivered them from the enemy,
[[#Verse 43.]] when he performed his awesome deeds in Egypt,
and his acts of judgment in the region of Zoan.
[[#Verse 44.]]Â He turned their rivers into blood,
and they could not drink from their streams.
[[#Verse 45.]]Â He sent swarms of biting insects against them,
as well as frogs that overran their land.
[[#Verse 46.]]Â He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
the fruit of their labor to the locust.
[[#Verse 47.]]Â He destroyed their vines with hail,
and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.
[[#Verse 48.]]Â He rained hail down on their cattle,
and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.
[[#Verse 49.]] Â His raging anger lashed out against them.
He sent fury, rage, and trouble
as messengers who bring disaster.
[[#Verse 50.]]Â He sent his anger in full force.
He did not spare them from death;
he handed their lives over to destruction.
[[#Verse 51]]Â He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt,
the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.
[[#Verse 52]]Â Yet he brought out his people like sheep;
he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
[[#Verse 53]]Â He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.
[[#Verse 54.]]Â He brought them to the border of his holy land,
to this mountainous land that his right hand acquired.
[[#Verse 55.]]Â He drove the nations out from before them;
he assigned them their tribal allotments
and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.
[[#Verse 56.]] Yet they challenged and defied God Most High,
and did not obey his commands.
[[#Verse 57.]] They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors;
they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
[[#Verse 58.]]Â They made him angry with their pagan shrines,
and made him jealous with their idols.
[[#Verse 59.]]Â God heard and was angry;
he completely rejected Israel.
[[#Verse 60.]] He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh,
the tent where he lived among men.
[[#Verse 61.]]Â He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured;
he gave the symbol of his splendor into the hand of the enemy.
[[#Verse 62.]]Â He delivered his people over to the sword,
and was angry with his chosen nation.
[[#Verse 63.]] Fire consumed their young men,
and their virgins remained unmarried.
[[#Verse 64.]] Their priests fell by the sword,
but their widows did not weep.
[[#Verse 65.]]Â But then the Lord awoke from his sleep;
he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.
[[#Verse 66.]]Â He drove his enemies back;
he made them a permanent target for insults.
[[#Verse 67.]]Â He rejected the tent of Joseph;
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
[[#Verse 68.]]Â He chose the tribe of Judah
and Mount Zion, which he loves.
[[#Verse 69.]]Â He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above,
as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.
[[#Verse 70.]]Â He chose David, his servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds.
[[#Verse 71.]]Â He took him away from following the mother sheep,
and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people,
and of Israel, his chosen nation.
[[#Verse 72.]] David cared for them with pure motives;
he led them with skill.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
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###### Verse **4**9.
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###### Verse 72.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Psalm 78 has 72 verses, making it the second-longest psalm after Psalm 119.
2. It is called a *maskil*, likely meaning a teaching or skillful psalm.
3. Matthew 13:35 quotes 78:2 to explain why Jesus taught in parables.
4. The psalm retells Israel's history from the exodus to the choosing of David.
5. Zoan (78:12, 43) was an Egyptian city in the Nile Delta, later known to the Greeks as Tanis.
6. The plagues listed in 78:44-51 are not all ten and are not in the exact order of Exodus.
7. Manna is called "grain of heaven" and "bread of angels" or mighty ones (78:24-25).
8. Ephraim is singled out for turning back in battle (78:9), and God later rejects the tent at Shiloh (78:60).
9. The ark's capture at Shiloh (78:60-61) is recorded in 1 Samuel 4.
10. God chose Judah, Mount Zion, and David (78:68-70), explaining why worship moved to Jerusalem.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true Bread from heaven and the Shepherd-King from David's line. God gave Israel bread from heaven (78:24), and Jesus says He is the true bread that gives life to the world (John 6:32-35). Matthew sees 78:2 fulfilled in Jesus' parables (Matthew 13:35).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The psalm commands parents to tell the next generation what God has done (78:4-7). What is one story of God's faithfulness you can pass on?
2. Israel saw miracles yet still did not believe (78:32). Why do you think blessings do not always produce faithfulness?
3. God remembered that they were only flesh and restrained His anger (78:38-39). How does His patience with Israel encourage you?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 4: We will not hide these things from our children; we will tell the next generation about the Lord's mighty deeds.
- đź“– verse 7: The goal is that each generation will trust God and not forget His works.
- đź“– verses 70-72: God chose David, a shepherd, to lead His people with integrity and skill.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Deuteronomy 06#Verse 06.|Deuteronomy 6:6-9]] - Teach these words diligently to your children.
- đź”— [[Exodus 16#Verse 04.|Exodus 16:4]] - God rains bread from heaven.
- đź”— [[John 06#Verse 31.|John 6:31-35]] - Jesus is the bread of life.
- đź”— [[Matthew 13#Verse 34.|Matthew 13:34-35]] - Jesus speaks in parables to fulfill Scripture.
- đź”— [[1 Corinthians 10#Verse 01.|1 Corinthians 10:1-11]] - Israel's history was written as an example for us.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Psalm 78- SOAP|Pass On What You Know]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes