Psalms 78
DortThe Prophet having exhorteth to attention, instruction and preaching of Gods word and works, he rehearseth at large the Fatherly love and long suffering of God, by which having striven against the manifold unthankfulness of his people, at last he forsook Silo, and passing by the rest of the Tribes, chose out Zion in Juda, for the place of his worship, and David out of Juda, over the Kingdom: the same being a Type or Figure of Christs everlasting Kingdom.
1. An instruction [See Psa.32.on v.1.] of Asaph.[see Psa.50.on v.1.] O my people hearken unto my doctrine: encline thine ear to the sayings of my mouth.
2. I will open my mouth with sentences; [Heb. Sentence. See 1 Kin.4.32. and of opening the mouth Job 33.on v.2.] I will gush forth secrets abundantly of old. [I will stream forth or pour out like a fountain abundance of deep, excellent and remarkable sentences and matters, said and wrought in former times, wherein there lie great secrets hidden. See of the Hebrew word (which doth likewise signify riddles) Jud.14.v.12. 1 King.10.on v.1. Mat.13.35. and further of the other Hebrew word, signifying to gush forth, or bubble forth, Psa.on v.3.]
3. Which we have heard and know them, and our fathers have told us.
4. We will not hide it from their children, from before the generation to come, recounting the praise-worthiness’s of the LORD; [Heb. Lauds or praises, understand Gods praise-worthy acts, as is declared by the sequel] and his strength and his wonders which he hath done.
5. For he hath set up a testimony in Jacob, and put a Law in Israel, which he hath commanded our Fathers, that they should make them known to their children.
6. That the following generation should know (the same) the children (that) were to be born: (and) should rise up and rehearse them to their children.
7. And that they should put their hope in God, and not forget Gods acts, but keep his commandements.
8. And that they should not become like their Fathers, a disobedient and rebellious generation, a generation (that) did not dispose their heart, [According to the will of the Lord to serve and fear God. See 2 Chron.12.on v.14.] and whose spirit was not faithful with God.
9. The children of Ephraim, armed Archers, turned about in the day of the Battail. [See that in the sequel there are rehearsed the wonderful works of God, which he wrought before the eyes of the Fathers of these Ephraimites, this may be applied to the story, 1 Sam.4. where the Israelites, (among whom the Ephraimites were the most considerable and powerful, in whose country likewise the Ark was at Silo, 1 Sam.4.3,4.) were defeated by the Philistines, and put to flight, and the Ark carried away, 1 Sam.4.10,11. Compare below v.60.61,62,67. Some do understand it of the subversion of the Kingdom and captivity of the ten Tribes by the Assyrians, the said Tribes being frequently understood by Ephraim in the Prophets. See Isa.7.v.5.17. Hos.12.1. and 13.1. &c. And besides 2. King.17. and Hos.10.11,14. Others apply it to 1 Chron.7.21,22.]
10. They kept not Gods Covenant, and refused to walk in his law.
11. And they forgat his acts, and his wonders, which they had seen him do.
12. Before their fathers he had done wonders in Egypt (in) the field of Zoan [i.e. in the territory or country of Zoan, which was a very old and famous royal Metropolis in Egypt. See Num 13.on v.22. and Isa.19.on v.23. and 30.3,4.]
13. He cleft the Sea, and made them pass through it: and he made the waters stand as an heap.
14. And he led them by day with a cloud; and all the night with a light of fire.
15. He cleft the stony-rocks in the wilderness, and made them drink abundantly as out of abysses (Or gulfs.) [i.e. so plentifully as if they had been deep waters.]
16. For he brought streams forth out of the stony-rock, and made the waters to descend like rivers.
17. Yet continued they to sin against him, provoking the most high in the dry wilderness.
18. And they tempted God in their heart; coveting meat after their lust. [Heb. Soul. See Psa.29.on ver.12.]
19. And they spake against God; they said: should God be able to dress a table in the desert.
20. Behold he struck the stony rock, that waters flowed forth, and brooks broke out abundantly: should he be able to give bread also? Should he dress meat for his people.
21. Therefore the LORD heard, [i.e. he observed it as a Judge, or he shewed indeed, that he had heard and observed, or taken notice of it, and so v.59.] and was incensed, [spoken of God after the manner of men] and a fire was kindled against Jacob, [see Job 31.v.12.] and wrath also went up against Israel.
22. Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
23. When as he commanded the clouds from above [Or had commanded, and so in the sequel, meaning his disposing and ordering of them] and opened the doors of heaven. [a figurative expression, by way of similitude. Compare 2 Kings 2:19.]
24. And rained upon them the MAN [See Exod.16.on v.15.] to eat, and gave them heavens-corn. [that fell down out of the air, and might be ground like corn, and supply the want thereof. See Numb.11.8.]
25. Every one ate the bread of the mighty ones, [i.e. of the Angels, so called by reason of the power and might, which they received of God, to exploit and perform great and mighty things, especially for the service of his elect. See Psal.103.20. Heb.1.14. The MAN is called the bread of the Angels, for that God sent it down by Angels, or from heaven the Angels dwelling place; or because of the excellency of it, as there the tongues of Angels, 1 Cor.13.1. i.e. the most pleasant and harmonious] he sent them victuals to satisfaction.
26. He drave on the East-wind in the heaven (air) and brought on the south-wind through his strength.
27. And rained flesh upon them as dust, [In such plenty and abundance] and winged fowl [to wit the quailes] as sand of the Seas.
28. And made it to fall in the midst of his Camp, [Yet so notwithstanding that it fell likewise far without the Camp. See Numb.11.v.31. He calleth Israel Gods Camp, for that the LORD was the head and King and leader thereof] round about his habitations. [this may be understood of Gods Tabernacle, wherein there were several habitations, or of the peoples dwellings which may be called Gods habitations for the same reason, as the camp Gods camp.]
29. Then they ate, and were well satisfied, so that he yielded them their lust (desire) [i.e. abundance of that meat they lusted after.]
30. They were not yet estranged from their lust, [They had scarce satisfied their lust, their appetite was not quite over] their meat was in their mouth yet.
31. When the wrath of God rose against them, that he put to death of their fattest (ones,) [i.e. some of their principal, richest, strongest, goodliest, liveliest men. Compare Jud.3.on v.29. Heb. Fatnesses] and felled down the chosen of Israel. [Oth. Youths, young men, and so v.63.]
32. Above all this they sinned yet [Murmured again for all that. See Numb.14.16,17.] and believed not through his wonders. [Compare Deut.1.on v.32. i.e. they would not trust God, notwithstanding all these wonders which he wrought among them.]
33. Therefore caused he their days in vanity, [See Numb.14.28,29,33,34,35.] and their years in affrightment.
34. When he put them to death, then they enquired after him, and turned again and sought God early.
35. And remembered that God was their rock, and God the most high their Redeemer.
36. And they flattered him with their mouth [Or gave him good, or fair words, as if they meant to beguile him. See of the Hebrew word Jud.14.v.15.] and lied unto him with their tongue.
37. For their heart was not right with him: and they were not faithful in his covenant.
38. Nevertheless he being merciful, atoned the iniquity, [i.e. he remitted the temporal punishment, or withheld the same, in regard of those hypocrites; and pardoned them, in pursuance of his Covenant of grace, for the atonement of the Messiah, in regard of the Elect] and destroyed them not; [see of the Hebrew word Jud.20.v.21.] but turned oft times his anger away [Heb. He multiplied turning away, or diverting, &c.] and raised not up all his fierceness. [for to destroy them altogether at once.]
39. And he remembered that they were flesh [See Psa.on v.5.] a wind that passeth and turneth not again. [Comp. Jam.4.14.]
40. How often did they provoke him in the desert; grieve him in the wilderness.
41. For they came again still, and tempted God: [Or, they tempted God again] and set a pale to (or limited) the holy one of Israel. [See Psa.71.on v.22. i.e. they would set and appoint him limits and measure; confine his divine almighty power and government within certain pales as it were; as if he could or must do no otherwise, then pleased them, or they judged feasible, they would even rule and tutor him.]
42. They remembered not his hand [His mighty power, which he had manifested in delivering of his people] the day when he delivered them from the adversary: [or distress.]
43. How he set up his tokens in Egypt, and his marvels in the fields of Zoan: [Above v, 12.]
44. And turned their floods in blood: and their streams that they should not drink.
45. He sent a mixture of insects among them, that consumed them: and frogs which spoiled them. [Heb.a frog.]
46. And he gave their increase to the caterpillar, and their labour to the grasshopper, [i.e. the fruits of the Earth, which they had taken pains for, and bestowed their labour upon.]
47. He put their vine to death through the hail [i.e. he made them wither and decay, go out and die] and their wild fig-tree through fiery hail-stones. [this Hebrew word is only found in this place. Some hold that the fie mixed with hail (Exod.9.24,25.) is called thus, for piercing, splitting and spoiling it lighted, (or as it were lodged or camped) upon.]
48. He gate up their cattle also to the hail [Or he concluded their cattle under the hail, &c. That they were under the power of the hail, in pound or prison as it were, no where able to escaped or eschew it: and so v.50.62.] and their beasts to the fiery coals. [or fiery sparks, i.e. the fiery flashes of lightening. Compare 2 Sam.22.v.9.13.]
49. He sent over them the hotness of his anger, indignation and trouble and distress; [i.e. most grievous and heavy plagues and punishments, the effects of his wrath. See Job 21:30. Ezek.7.2. with the annotation] with sending forth the Messengers of much evil: [Heb. Of evils, i.e. of much evil and mischief: Hereby some understand destroying Angels: Others Moses and Aaron, by whom God caused these plagues to be denounced upon Pharoah.]
50. He weighed a path for his wrath: [In the scales of his Justice, balancing his punishments against their deserts; even as God useth to proceed in punishing, when men go on in sins and obstinacy. See Levit.26.v, 21,23,24,27,28.] he did not with draw their soul from death, and their cattle he gave up to the pestilence. [Oth. Their life, as Job 33:18,22,28.]
51. And he smote all the first-born [Every first-born] in Egypt: the beginning (or commencements, or firstlings) of powers [See Gen.49.on v.3.] in the tents of Cham. [in the dwelling places of Egypt, in Hebrew called Mitsraim, after the name of Chams. So see Gen.10.on v.6.]
52. And he conducted his people as sheep, and led them as a flock in the wilderness.
53. Yea he led them securely, so that they feared not (or were not afraid) for the Sea had covered over their Enemies. [The red sea namely, or reed sea.]
54. And he brought them to the Borders of his holiness; [To wit, Canaan. Compare Exod.15.13,17. That is his holy confines; Or the borders of his sanctuary] to this mountain, [viz. Zion, as v.68. Oth. This mountain (our region) understanding the land of Jury, encompassed with mountains] whom his right hand hath gotten.
55. And he expelled the heathens before their face, and made them fall into the line of (their) [the Israelites] inheritance; [i.e. he gave them Canaan as it were by the lot of inheritance, and caused the land to be divided among them by lot. See Numb.34.2, &c. Jos. Chap.14,15,16,17. See also Deut.32.on v.9. and Psal.16.on v.5,6.] and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56. But they tempted and provoked God the most high: [This hath regard to the sin, which Israel, being come into Canaan. Committed in the days of the Judges, see v.59.60, &c. And besides Deut.6.on v,16.] and entertained not his Testimonies. [his laws and commandements. See Numb.1.on v.50. and Deut.4.on v.45.]
57. And they recoiled, and dealt perfidiously, as their Fathers, [Had done in the wilderness] they are turned about like a deceitful bow. [Heb. A bow of deceit, which shoots the bolt backward, and not forward to the mark: or which hurteth the shooter, or doth vary and turn away in his hand, that he either faileth to shoot, or the shot miscarrieth, so Hos.7.16.]
58. And they stirred him up to anger [Compare Deut.32.21.] through their high places, [where they committed Idolatry, after the manner of the heathen. See Lev.26.on v.30. Deu.12.on v.2, &c.] and stirred him up to jealous [see Exod.20.on v.5.] through their carved Images.
59. God heard it [Compare above on.v.21. and was incensed, and greatly loathed Israel.
60. Therefore he forsook the Tabernacle at Silo [See 1 Sam,chap.4.v.4,11. Jerem.7.14. and 26.6,9.] the tent (which) he had set for an habitation among men. [The Israelites, whom he calleth barely men here, to set out the great favour of God, deigning to dwell among such wretched creatures.]
61. And he gave his strength [i.e. The Ark of the Covenant, whereby God manifested otherwise his help and power in his peoples behalf: See 2 Chron.6.41. Psalms 132:5.8. The same likewise called here the glory or, honourableness, or ornaments of God: as 1 Sam.4.21. some do understand by his strength the strong men and champions of Gods people] into captivity; and his glory into the hand of the adversary: [to wit, the Philistines, 1 Sam.4.11.]
62. And he delivered up his people to the sword, and was incensed against his inheritance.
63. The fire [The wrath of God, through the sword and fury of the Philistines.] consumed their young men; [Heb. His viz. Israels; and so in the sequel] and their young daughters were not praised. [viz. With nuptial hymns; as the custom was at their weddings and espousals, i.e. they were not married in any solemn, or honourable or joyful manner: this is likewise implied Jer.7.34. and 16.9. and 25.10.]
64. Their priests fell by the sword: [This may be understood in particular of the sons of Ely, the high Priest: 1 Sam.4.11.] and their widows wept not. [for astonishment and terror, by reason of the over great common calamities, which so withdraw their sence and mind from the particular cases, that they could not weigh the same, nor find time for the accustomed days and performances in that kind. See 1 Sam.4.19.20. Job 27:15. Ezekiel 24:23.]
65. Then the Lord awaked as one asleep: [Seeming to have been asleep, for suffering the Philistines to prevail thus, and to carry away the Ark. Comp. Psal.44.24.] as a Champion that shouteth of wine. [strengthened by a liberal draught of wine, and thereby made courageous and undaunted, to fall upon his enemy. Others, rising up from wine: i.e. as a strong man having slept out his wine, bestirreth himself main to shew his valour, when as before while he was asleep, he seemed to have none at all.]
66. And he smote his adversaries [The Philistines: See 1 Sam.5.6, etc. And 6.v.4,5,11,15,17.] on the him most (part): he put them to an everlasting reproach. [Heb. Reproach of eternity.]
67. Nevertheless, he rejected the Tent of Joseph: [The Tabernacle, which was at Silo, in the Tribe of Ephraim, was not suffered by God to continue there, nor the Ark to return thither again, for any reposing.] and the tribe of Ephraim he chose not.
68. But he chose the tribe of Judah: the hill of Zion, which he loved.
69. And he built his Sanctuary [The Temple, by Salomon; See 1 King.6.] as high (places:) as the earth which he hath grounded forever: [as high, as any high Palaces, and as firm as the earth, which is unmoveable forever.]
70. And he chose his servant David: and took him from the sheep-folds.
71. From after the sucking (ewes:) [Others bearing] made he him to come for to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritace: [See 2 Sam.5.on v.2.]
72. Also he fed them according to the uprightness of his heart: and led them with a very understanding conduct of his hands. [Heb. With understanding of his palms. i.e. He governed the kingdom, and managed the affairs thereof with great wisdom prudence and discretion.]