ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Psalms 78

Psalm Ps. 78. This is a historical psalm (compare Psalms 105; 106), 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 people as a whole and their obligation to embrace the covenant faithfully in each generation. Terms for “remember” and “forget” run through the psalm (78:7, 11, 35, 42; see v. 39, where God remembers). The psalmist hopes that those who sing this will never again forget. The psalm opens with its purpose statement (vv. 1–8), followed by several episodes of sin and unbelief. Each new section begins with “they sinned” or “they rebelled” (vv. 17, 32, 40, 56). The final section focuses on David as one of God’s great gifts to Israel (vv. 65–72).

Ps. 78:1–8 The parable and dark sayings (v. 2) are not secret teachings. They are things that we have heard and known (v. 3), which must be passed on to the coming generation (v. 4). The OT describes the people of God as those whom God has chosen to receive his particular revelation (testimony and law, v. 5), which they have a responsibility to teach to their children, that the next generation might know God’s law (vv. 5–6; see Deut. 6:6–9). This teaching will help them not to be stubborn and rebellious (Ps. 78:8).

Ps. 78:9–16 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 people. Their failure, then, was not simply a failure in patriotism but also in brotherhood and faith. They did not keep God’s covenant because they forgot God’s works.

Ps. 78:17–31 In spite of the deeds the people had seen, yet they sinned still more against God.

Ps. 78:32–39 The mighty works of God described in vv. 9–31 should have been enough reason for the people to be faithful, but they were not (v. 32). This section focuses on the many judgments the Lord used to lead his people to repent. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly, yet their repentance was not deep and sincere (v. 36), so it did not last (v. 37; see v. 8). However, God did not destroy them because he is compassionate. He atoned for their iniquity (v. 38). He accepted their sacrifices and forgave them.

Ps. 78:40–55 The next section goes back to the exodus, describing all the plagues God brought against the Egyptian oppressors (vv. 42–53). This is followed by a brief summary of the conquest of the Promised Land (vv. 54–55). God’s people continued to rebel because they did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe (see 77:15).

Ps. 78:56–64 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. 60–64; see 1 Samuel 4). Just as before, they tested and rebelled against the Most High, and provoked him to anger. The Lord utterly rejected many of the Israelites for their unbelief.

Ps. 78:65–72 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 suffering people (see 35:23; 44:23). The action that God took was to install a king. David was taken from the sheepfolds. The king is ideally a shepherd of his people (see 2 Sam. 5:2), caring for them, protecting them, and leading them in faithfulness to the covenant. David at his best did his work with upright heart and skillful hand, though he had his own moral failures.