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Texts -- Psalms 78:1-34 (NET)

Context
Psalm 78
78:1 A well-written song by Asaph . Pay attention , my people , to my instruction ! Listen to the words I speak ! 78:2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom ; I will make insightful observations about the past . 78:3 What we have heard and learned – that which our ancestors have told us– 78:4 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 . 78:5 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 , 78:6 so that the next generation , children yet to be born , might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them. 78:7 Then they will place their confidence in God . They will not forget the works of God , and they will obey his commands . 78:8 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 . 78:9 The Ephraimites were armed with bows , but they retreated in the day of battle . 78:10 They did not keep their covenant with God , and they refused to obey his law . 78:11 They forgot what he had done , the amazing things he had shown them. 78:12 He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors , in the land of Egypt , in the region of Zoan . 78:13 He divided the sea and led them across it; he made the water stand in a heap . 78:14 He led them with a cloud by day , and with the light of a fire all night long. 78:15 He broke open rocks in the wilderness , and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea . 78:16 He caused streams to flow from the rock , and made the water flow like rivers . 78:17 Yet they continued to sin against him, and rebelled against the sovereign One in the desert . 78:18 They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite . 78:19 They insulted God , saying , “Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness ? 78:20 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 ?” 78:21 When the Lord heard this, he was furious . A fire broke out against Jacob , and his anger flared up against Israel , 78:22 because they did not have faith in God , and did not trust his ability to deliver them. 78:23 He gave a command to the clouds above , and opened the doors in the sky . 78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat ; he gave them the grain of heaven . 78:25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat . 78:26 He brought the east wind through the sky , and by his strength led forth the south wind . 78:27 He rained down meat on them like dust , birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores . 78:28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp , all around their homes . 78:29 They ate until they were stuffed ; he gave them what they desired . 78:30 They were not yet filled up , their food was still in their mouths , 78:31 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 . 78:32 Despite all this , they continued to sin , and did not trust him to do amazing things. 78:33 So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror . 78:34 When he struck them down , they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Wilderness

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wildernes...

  • WRATH, (ANGER)

    [isbe] WRATH, (ANGER) - rath, roth, rath ('aph, from 'anaph, "to snort," "to be angry"; orge, thumos, orgizomai): Designates various degrees of feeling, such as sadness (Ps 85:4), a frown or turning away of the face in grief or ang...

  • STREAM

    [isbe] STREAM - strem: (1) nachal, English Versions of the Bible "stream," as: "Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed" (Ps 78:20). Often "valley," as "the valley (the King James Version "river...

  • Quails

    [ebd] The Israelites were twice relieved in their privation by a miraculous supply of quails, (1) in the wilderness of Sin (Ex. 16:13), and (2) again at Kibroth-hattaavah (q.v.), Num. 11:31. God "rained flesh upon them as dust, an...

  • QUAIL

    [isbe] QUAIL - kwal (selaw; ortugometra; Latin Coturnix vulgaris): A game bird of the family Coturnix, closely related to "partridges" (which see). Quail and partridges are near relatives, the partridge a little larger and of brigh...

  • PROVIDENCE, 1

    [isbe] PROVIDENCE, 1 - prov'-i-dens: I. PROVIDENCE DEFINED II. DIFFERENT SPHERES OF PROVIDENTIAL ACTIVITY DISTINGUISHED III. BIBLICAL PRESENTATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE 1. Divine Providence in the Old Testament Scriptures (...

  • PLAGUES OF EGYPT

    [isbe] PLAGUES OF EGYPT - plagz (niphle'oth, "wonders "from pala', "to be separate," i.e. in a class by themselves; also called negheph, "plague," from naghaph, "to smite" (Ex 9:14), and negha`, "a stroke," from nagha`, "to touch" ...

  • PARABLE

    [ebd] (Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a similitude. In the Old Testament this is used to denote (1) a proverb (1 Sam. 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chr. 7:20), (2) a prophetic utterance (Num. 23:7;...
    [smith] (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by anoth...

  • Music

    [nave] MUSIC Teachers of, 1 Chr. 15:22; 25:7, 8; 2 Chr. 23:13. Physical effect of, on people, 1 Sam. 16:15, 16, 23. Discoursed during the offering of sacrifices, 2 Chr. 29:27, 28. Precentor, Neh. 12:42. Chief musician, Neh. 12:...

  • LUST

    [isbe] LUST - (5 Hebrew and 5 Greek words are so rendered, namely: (1) nephesh, (2) sheriruth, (3) ta'awah, (4) chamadh, (5) 'awah; (1) epithumia, (2) hedone, (3) epipotheo, (4) orexis, (5) pathos): The word both as verb and as sub...

  • Kibroth-hattaavah

    [ebd] the graves of the longing or of lust, one of the stations of the Israelites in the wilderness. It was probably in the Wady Murrah, and has been identified with the Erweis el-Ebeirig, where the remains of an ancient encampmen...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Heaven

    [ebd] (1.) Definitions. The phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Gen. 1:1; Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) The firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" ...

  • HEZEKIAH (2)

    [isbe] HEZEKIAH (2) - (chizqiyah, "Yahweh has strengthened"; also written chizqiyahu, "Yah has strengthened him"; Hezekias): One of the greatest of the kings of Judah; reigned (according to the most self-consistent chronology) from...

  • Goshen

    [ebd] (1.) A district in Egypt where Jacob and his family settled, and in which they remained till the Exodus (Gen. 45:10; 46:28, 29, 31, etc.). It is called "the land of Goshen" (47:27), and also simply "Goshen" (46:28), and "the...

  • FLINT

    [isbe] FLINT - flint (challamish (Dt 8:15; 32:13; Job 28:9; Ps 114:8), tsor (Ex 4:25; Ezek 3:9), tser (Isa 5:28), tsur (Job 22:24; Ps 89:43), tsurim (Josh 5:2 f); (= kechlex "pebble"), kochlax (1 Macc 10:73)): The word challamish s...

  • FLESH

    [isbe] FLESH - @basar, she'er): 1. Etymology: Used in all senses of the word, the latter, however, most frequently in the sense of kin, family, relationship (compare sha'arah, "kins-woman," Lev 18:17): Lev 18:6; 25:49; Prov 11:17; ...

  • Encamp

    [ebd] An encampment was the resting-place for a longer or shorter period of an army or company of travellers (Ex. 13:20; 14:19; Josh. 10:5; 11:5). The manner in which the Israelites encamped during their march through the wilderne...

  • Asaph

    [ebd] convener, or collector. (1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2 Chr. 29:30)...
    [nave] ASAPH 1. Father of Joah, 2 Kin. 18:18; Isa. 36:3, 22. 2. Son of Berachiah. One of the three leaders of music in David's organization of the tabernacle service, 1 Chr. 15:16-19; 16:5-7; 25:1-9; 2 Chr. 5:12; 35:15; Neh. 12:46...

  • Angel

    [ebd] a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of...

Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • [Psa 78:1] Let Children Hear The Mighty Deeds
  • [Psa 78:1] My People, Give Ear
  • [Psa 78:1] O Come, My People, To My Law
  • [Psa 78:25] Very Bread, Good Shepherd, Tend Us

Questions

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • "The way of the land of the Philistines"refers to the most northern of three routes travelers took from Egypt to Canaan (v. 17). The others lay farther south. The Egyptians had heavily fortified this caravan route, also calle...
  • The "rabble"(v. 4) were the non-Israelites who had come out of Egypt with God's people (Exod. 12:38). It did not take them long to become discontented with conditions in the desert and to complain about their bland diet of ma...
  • The previous ordinance guarded a son from a capricious father. This one maintained the rights of parents whose son (or daughter, presumably) was incorrigible. While the problem in view was one of lack of respect for parents (...
  • A second group of seven Levites (v. 5) led the people in the prayer of praise that Nehemiah included in this book perhaps on a different day than the prayer he wrote about in verses 1-4."The prayer is intended to instruct the...
  • The texts of the individual psalms do not usually indicate who wrote them.1However some of the titles of the individual psalms do contain information about the writers.2This is the only really reliable information we have as ...
  • I. Book 1: chs. 1-41II. Book 2: chs. 42-72III. Book 3: chs. 73-89IV. Book 4: chs. 90-106V. Book 5: chs. 107-150...
  • In this psalm David urged those who sin against the Lord to seek His pardon with the encouragement that He is gracious with the penitent. He will, however, chasten the unrepentant.Students of this penitential psalm have often...
  • This psalm pictures God seated in His heavenly throne room. He has two indictments against His people Israel. The wicked among them were hypocritical in their worship, a violation of the first part of the Decalogue, and in th...
  • A man or men named Asaph wrote 17 of the psalms in this book (Pss. 73-83). Other writers were the sons of Korah (Pss. 84-85, 87), David (Ps. 86), Heman (Ps. 88), and Ethan (Ps. 89). Asaph, Heman, and Ethan were musicians from...
  • This didactic psalm teaches present and future generations to learn from the past, and it stresses the grace of God."This could be sub-titled, in view of verses 12 and 68, From Zoan to Zion, for it reviews the turbulent adole...
  • Asaph appealed to his audience to listen to his instruction about God's acts, power, and wonders. He had received these teachings from former generations and was now passing them on to the next generation as God had commanded...
  • 78:12-20 In his historical review Asaph began with the plagues in Egypt (v. 12). He drew broad strokes on his verbal canvas tracing God's faithfulness to the generation that left Egypt in the Exodus (vv. 12-16). Each verse in...
  • 89:38-45 Next Ethan recounted what God had permitted to overtake David. He was now weak and defeated rather than being strong and successful. God had apparently cut David off and gone back on His promises. The fall of Jerusal...
  • Allen, Ronald B. "Evidence from Psalm 89."In A Case for Premillennialism: A New Consensus, pp. 55-77. Edited by Donald K. Campbell and Jeffrey L. Townsend. Chicago: Moody Press, 1992._____. Lord of Song. Portland: Multnomah P...
  • Israel deserved judgment, and this pericope shows why. Jeremiah presented a series of pictures of the nation's irresponsibility and corruption.2:29 The Lord wanted to know why His people were angry with Him. The difficulties ...
  • In the section that follows, the relationship between Israel and Yahweh becomes even clearer. The mention of Baals and Israel's feasts makes this obvious. Hosea's relationship with Gomer recedes into the background.2:8 Israel...
  • Jesus' genealogy and virgin birth prove His legal human qualification as Israel's King. His baptism was the occasion of His divine approval. His temptation demonstrated His moral fitness to reign. The natural question a thoug...
  • Matthew linked this parabolic teaching with the controversy in chapter 12 by using the phrase "on that day"(NASB) or "that same day"(NIV, Gr. en te hemera ekeine). These parables were a response to Israel's rejection of her K...
  • 13:34 Matthew stressed the importance of parables in Jesus' teaching. This verse is a chiasm in the Greek text with "parables"in the middle. Jesus constantly used parables in His spoken ministry to the multitudes following Hi...
  • John had questioned Jesus' identity, and Jesus had defended John's identity. Jesus now warned his hearers who rejected John's identity and Jesus' identity.7:29 Verses 29 and 30 do not appear in the Matthew parallel. They reve...
  • This section of the text contains Jesus' enigmatic and attractive description of the Bread of Life. Jesus was whetting His hearers' appetites for it (cf. 4:10). The pericope ends with their asking Him to give them the Bread (...
  • Having announced His departure Jesus proceeded to offer the Holy Spirit for those who believed on Him (cf. chs. 14-16).7:37 The feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days (cf. Deut. 16:13). However the day following the feast was...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Gilgal, the first encampment, lay defenseless in the open plain, and the first thing to be done would be to throw up some earthwork round the camp. It seems to have been the resting-place of the ark and probably of the non-co...
  • That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.'--Psalm 78:7.IN its original application this verse is simply a statement of God's purpose in giving to Israel the Law, and su...
  • Mark's picturesque words show the groups sitting by companies of hundreds or of fifties. He uses a word which means the square garden plots in which herbs are grown.' So they sat on the green grass, which at that Passover sea...
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