38 And He -- the Merciful One, Pardoneth iniquity, and destroyeth not, And hath often turned back His anger, And waketh not up all His fury.
Jehovah `is' slow to anger, and of great kindness; bearing away iniquity and transgression, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on a third `generation', and on a fourth; -- forgive, I pray Thee, the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of Thy kindness, and as Thou hast borne with this people from Egypt, even until now.' And Jehovah saith, `I have forgiven, according to thy word;
For My name's sake I defer Mine anger, And My praise I restrain for thee, So as not to cut thee off.
and Jehovah passeth over before his face, and calleth: `Jehovah, Jehovah God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth, keeping kindness for thousands, taking away iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on children, and on children's children, on a third `generation', and on a fourth.' And Moses hasteth, and boweth to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith, `If, I pray Thee, I have found grace in Thine eyes, O my Lord, let my Lord, I pray Thee, go in our midst (for it `is' a stiff-necked people), and thou hast forgiven our iniquity and our sin, and hast inherited us.'
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, `Get you up from the midst of this company, and I consume them in a moment;' and they fall on their faces, and Moses saith unto Aaron, `Take the censer, and put on it fire from off the altar, and place perfume, and go, hasten unto the company, and make atonement for them, for the wrath hath gone out from the presence of Jehovah -- the plague hath begun.' And Aaron taketh as Moses hath spoken, and runneth unto the midst of the assembly, and lo, the plague hath begun among the people; and he giveth the perfume, and maketh atonement for the people, and standeth between the dead and the living, and the plague is restrained;
and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father,
Many times He doth deliver them, And they rebel in their counsel, And they are brought low in their iniquity. And He looketh on their distress When He heareth their cry, And remembereth for them His covenant, And is comforted, According to the abundance of His kindness.
Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, For My servant thou `art', I formed thee, a servant to Me thou `art', O Israel, thou dost not forget Me. I have blotted out, as `by' a thick cloud, Thy transgressions, And as `by' a cloud thy sins, Return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee.
And -- they rebel against Me, And have not been willing to hearken to Me, Each, the detestable things of their eyes, They have not cast away, And the idols of Egypt have not forsaken, And I say -- to pour out My fury on them, To complete Mine anger against them, In the midst of the land of Egypt. And I do `it' for My name's sake, Not to pollute `it' before the eyes of the nations, In whose midst they `are', Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring them out from the land of Egypt.
And -- rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. And I do `it' for My name's sake, Not to pollute `it' before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them forth.
And Mine eye hath pity on them -- against destroying them, And I have not made of them an end in the wilderness.
And -- the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have not observed -- to do them, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them, To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness. And I have turned back My hand, And I do `it' for My name's sake, Not to pollute `it' before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them out.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 78
Commentary on Psalms 78 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 78
Ps 78:1-72. This Psalm appears to have been occasioned by the removal of the sanctuary from Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim to Zion in the tribe of Judah, and the coincident transfer of pre-eminence in Israel from the former to the latter tribe, as clearly evinced by David's settlement as the head of the Church and nation. Though this was the execution of God's purpose, the writer here shows that it also proceeded from the divine judgment on Ephraim, under whose leadership the people had manifested the same sinful and rebellious character which had distinguished their ancestors in Egypt.
1. my people … my law—the language of a religious teacher (Ps 78:2; La 3:14; Ro 2:16, 27; compare Ps 49:4). The history which follows was a "dark saying," or riddle, if left unexplained, and its right apprehension required wisdom and attention.
3-8. This history had been handed down (Ex 12:14; De 6:20) for God's honor, and that the principles of His law might be known and observed by posterity. This important sentiment is reiterated in (Ps 78:7, 8) negative form.
5. testimony—(Ps 19:7).
8. stubborn and rebellious—(De 21:18).
set not their heart—on God's service (2Ch 12:14).
9-11. The privileges of the first-born which belonged to Joseph (1Ch 5:1, 2) were assigned to Ephraim by Jacob (Ge 48:1). The supremacy of the tribe thus intimated was recognized by its position (in the marching of the nation to Canaan) next to the ark (Nu 2:18-24), by the selection of the first permanent locality for the ark within its borders at Shiloh, and by the extensive and fertile province given for its possession. Traces of this prominence remained after the schism under Rehoboam, in the use, by later writers, of Ephraim for Israel (compare Ho 5:3-14; 11:3-12). Though a strong, well-armed tribe, and, from an early period, emulous and haughty (compare Jos 17:14; Jud 8:1-3; 2Sa 19:41), it appears, in this place, that it had rather led the rest in cowardice than courage; and had incurred God's displeasure, because, diffident of His promise, though often heretofore fulfilled, it had failed as a leader to carry out the terms of the covenant, by not driving out the heathen (Ex 23:24; De 31:16; 2Ki 17:15).
12-14. A record of God's dealings and the sins of the people is now made. The writer gives the history from the exode to the retreat from Kadesh; then contrasts their sins with their reasons for confidence, shown by a detail of God's dealings in Egypt, and presents a summary of the subsequent history to David's time.
Zoan—for Egypt, as its ancient capital (Nu 13:22; Isa 19:11).
15, 16. There were two similar miracles (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11).
great depths—and—rivers—denote abundance.
17-20. yet more—literally, "added to sin," instead of being led to repentance (Ro 2:4).
18. in their heart—(Mt 15:19).
for their lust—literally, "soul," or, "desire."
provoking—and—tempted—illustrated by their absurd doubts,
19, 20. in the face of His admitted power.
21. fire—the effect of the "anger" (Nu 11:1).
22. (Compare Heb 8:8, 9).
23-29. (Compare Ex 16:11-15; Nu 11:4-9).
25. angels' food—literally, "bread of the mighty" (compare Ps 105:40); so called, as it came from heaven.
meat—literally, "victuals," as for a journey.
29. their … desire—what they longed for.
30, 31. not estranged … lust—or, "desire"—that is, were indulging it.
31. slew … fattest—or, "among the fattest"; some of them—
chosen—the young and strong (Isa 40:31), and so none could resist.
33-39. Though there were partial reformations after chastisement, and God, in pity, withdrew His hand for a time, yet their general conduct was rebellious, and He was thus provoked to waste and destroy them, by long and fruitless wandering in the desert.
36. lied … tongues—a feigned obedience (Ps 18:44).
37. heart … not right—or, "firm" (compare Ps 78:8; Ps 51:10).
39. a wind … again—literally, "a breath," thin air (compare Ps 103:16; Jas 4:14).
40, 41. There were ten temptations (Nu 14:22).
41. limited—as in Ps 78:19, 20. Though some prefer "grieved" or "provoked." The retreat from Kadesh (De 1:19-23) is meant, whether—
turned—be for turning back, or to denote repetition of offense.
43. wrought—set or held forth.
45. The dog-fly or the mosquito.
46. caterpillar—the Hebrew name, from its voracity, and that of—
locust—from its multitude.
47, 48. The additional effects of the storm here mentioned (compare Ex 9:23-34) are consistent with Moses' account.
48. gave … cattle—literally, "shut up" (compare Ps 31:8).
49. evil angels—or, "angels of evil"—many were perhaps employed, and other evils inflicted.
50, 51. made a way—removed obstacles, gave it full scope.
51. chief of their strength—literally, "first-fruits," or, "first-born" (Ge 49:3; De 21:17).
Ham—one of whose sons gave name (Mizraim, Hebrew) to Egypt.
52-54. made his … forth—or, brought them by periodical journeys (compare Ex 15:1).
54. border of his sanctuary—or, "holy border"—i. e., region of which—
this mountain—(Zion) was, as the seat of civil and religious government, the representative, used for the whole land, as afterwards for the Church (Isa 25:6, 7).
purchased—or, "procured by His right hand" or power (Ps 60:5).
55. by line—or, the portion thus measured.
divided them—that is, the heathen, put for their possessions, so tents—that is, of the heathen (compare De 6:11).
56, 57. a deceitful bow—which turns back, and so fails to project the arrow (2Sa 1:22; Ho 7:16). They relapsed.
58. Idolatry resulted from sparing the heathen (compare Ps 78:9-11).
59, 60. heard—perceived (Ge 11:7).
abhorred—but not utterly.
60. tent … placed—literally, "caused to dwell," set up (Jos 18:1).
61. his strength—the ark, as symbolical of it (Ps 96:6).
62. gave—or, "shut up."
his people—(Ps 78:48; 1Sa 4:10-17).
63. fire—either figure of the slaughter (1Sa 4:10), or a literal burning by the heathen.
given to marriage—literally, "praised"—that is, as brides.
64. (Compare 1Sa 4:17); and there were, doubtless, others.
made no lamentation—either because stupefied by grief, or hindered by the enemy.
65. (Compare Ps 22:16; Isa 42:13).
66. And he smote … part—or, "struck His enemies' back." The Philistines never regained their position after their defeats by David.
67, 68. tabernacle of Joseph—or, "home," or, "tribe," to which—
tribe of Ephraim—is parallel (compare Re 7:8). Its pre-eminence was, like Saul's, only permitted. Judah had been the choice (Ge 49:10).
69. Exalted as—
high palaces—or, "mountains," and abiding as—the earth.
70-72. God's sovereignty was illustrated in this choice. The contrast is striking—humility and exaltation—and the correspondence is beautiful.
71. following … ewes, &c.—literally, "ewes giving suck" (compare Isa 40:11). On the pastoral terms, compare Ps 79:13.