PSALM PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:1. This is a historical psalm (compare Psalms 105:1; Psalms 106:1), recalling events from Israel’s past. It shows how God persevered with his people, even when they disbelieved, and how he cleansed them by removing unbelievers from their midst. The emphasis is on the pe... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:9 The first historical section recounts an otherwise unknown incident in which THE EPHRAIMITES... TURNED BACK ON THE DAY OF BATTLE. Presumably this was a battle in which all Israel was expected to participate, each tribe serving the others because of their bond as God’s peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:17 In spite of the deeds the people had seen, YET THEY SINNED STILL MORE AGAINST God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:32 The mighty works of God described in vv. Psalms 78:9 should have been enough reason for the people to be faithful, but they were not (v. Psalms 78:32). This section focuses on the many judgments the Lord used to lead his people to repent. WHEN HE KILLED THEM, THEY SOUGHT H... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:40 The next section goes back to the exodus, describing all the plagues God brought against the Egyptian oppressors (vv. Psalms 78:42). This is followed by a brief summary of the conquest of the Promised Land (vv. Psalms 78:54). God’s people continued to rebel because THEY DI... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:56 These verses describe the time of the judges, leading up to the capture of the ark and the death of Eli and his sons (vv. Psalms 78:60; see 1 Samuel 4:1). Just as before, THEY TESTED AND REBELLED AGAINST THE MOST HIGH, and PROVOKED HIM TO ANGER. The Lord UTTERLY REJECTED m... [ Continue Reading ]
PSALM—NOTE ON PSALMS 78:65 God graciously answered Israel’s recurring pattern of sin by raising up David to be their king. THE LORD AWOKE AS FROM SLEEP. This is a bold image, conveying what the believer can feel when God stirs himself from apparent inactivity to take action on behalf of his sufferin... [ Continue Reading ]