Psalm 78– A maskil of Asaph.— 1 My people, hear my law ; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of Yahweh, His power, and the wonders He has done. “‘My people, hear My law (torah);’ i.e. My doctrine, which hath its name in Hebrew from darting it into the soul... Listen— "‘Incline your ears,’ etc.—‘to the Words of My mouth,’ that is, My oracles. These oracles were committed to believing Jews from Creation until the time of the Prophets. They safeguarded them, which involves "oral proclamation, and refer[s] to the living voice of God and the truths which God spoke to men. God entrusted them to the Jews over long periods of time. The Jews collected them..." [Wycliff Commentary] The great gift is these red letter Words of the OT— not the cry of the saint, but rather the answer of God. Thus here: "Lay them close to My lips, that no parcel of this sacred language fall to the ground by your default…. Receive it into your ears; yea, draw up the ears of your mind to the ears of your bodies, that one sound may pierce both, Acts 2:14, Isaiah 55:3. ‘Hear, and give ear; be not proud; for Yahweh hath spoken it,’ Jer. 13:15.” (Trapp) “‘I will open My mouth with a parable.’ The word for parable (masal) gives the book of Proverbs its title. Basically this means a comparison, i.e., a saying which uses one realm of life to illuminate another.” (Derek Kidner) The Gospel is hidden in the ancient writings. The land of Israel and the harvest therein are parables of heaven and a spiritual harvest.— “’I will utter dark sayings of old’ Heb. I will well out (as from a spring or fountain) dark or sharp sayings, transacted and recorded of old, but of good use for ever.” (John Trapp) This exalts the ministry of Jesus as these parables are unfolded "between the story of Israel and the lives of believers. Israel was ordained to be a type; the tribes and their marchings are living allegories traced by the hand of an all-wise providence. Unspiritual persons may sneer..., but Paul spake well when he said ‘which things are an allegory,’ (Galatians 4:24) and Asaph in the present case spake to the point when he called his narrative ‘a parable.’ That such was his meaning is clear from the quotation, ‘All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.’ - Matthew 13:34, Matthew 13:35. — ‘I will utter dark sayings of old;’ - enigmas of antiquity, riddles of yore...The letter of this song is precious, but the inner sense is beyond all price. Whereas Psalm 78:1 called for attention, the second [verse],justifies the demand by hinting that the outer sense conceals an inner and hidden meaning, which only the thoughtful will be able to perceive.” (Treasury of David) "‘We will not hide them from their descendants:’ etc.- the church. We will “bring out, and apply,” to their cases, “the maxims of ancient wisdom.” (Albert Barnes) “In those ancient times there was very little reading, because books were exceedingly scarce; tradition was therefore the only, or nearly the only, means of preserving the memory of past events. They were handed down from father to son by parables or pithy sayings and by chronological poems. This very Psalm is of this kind, and must have been very useful to the Israelites, as giving instructions concerning their ancient history, and recounting the wonderful deeds of the Almighty in their behalf.” (Adam Clarke) 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands. “He decreed statutes or testimony (edut) for Jacob and established the law (torah)- particularly the moral code of the Ten Commandments- "in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children’ (v. 5).... These laws reflected Yahweh’s will for His people. He commanded the Israelites to place those tablets (of testimony) into the ark, which represented Yahweh’s presence in the midst of his people.... "The purpose of teaching children about God [doctrine] is that they might ‘keep (God’s) commandments [mitzvahs].’ While we are subject to commandments set by governments or other authorities, such as employers, the commandments that stand above all others are those issued by God. Keeping God’s commandments serve at least two purposes:First, our faithfulness in keeping God’s commandments pleases God. Second, keeping God’s commandments contributes to stable and happy family life and national life. It helps us to avoid the potholes and snares that life puts in our way.” (Sermon Writer) “Also in the ark [in addition to the testimony] were placed a pot of manna, the miraculous food provided by God (Ex 16:33) [signifying teaching], and Aaron's rod that had budded (Nm 17:10; Heb 9:4) [signifying new birth]. The lid of the ark was called the ‘mercy seat’ or ‘place of mercy’ (Ex 25:17). It was a slab of gold fitting over the top of the ark... The Hebrew word for which ‘mercy seat’ is the translation is technically best rendered as ‘propitiatory,’ a term denoting the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift.” (Tyndale Dictionary) 8 They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him. 9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; 10 they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law. 11 They forgot what He had done, the wonders he had shown them. 12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. They would not be like their ancestors- the men of Ephraim. “‘The men of Ephraim’- The sons of Ephraim; that is, the descendants of Ephraim; the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim was one of the ‘largest’ of the tribes of Israel, and was the ‘chief’ tribe in the rebellion, and hence, the term is often used to denote the ‘ten’ tribes, or the kingdom of Israel, in contradistinction from that of Judah. See Isaiah 7:2, Isaiah 7:5, 8-9, 17; 11:13; 28:1. The word is evidently used in this sense here, not as denoting that one tribe only, but that tribe as the head of the revolted kingdom; or, in other words, the name is used as representing the kingdom of that name after the revolt...— ‘Being armed carrying bows’- The idea in this phrase is, that they had abundant means for maintaining their independence in connection with the other tribes, or as a part of the nation, but that they refused to cooperate with their brethren.— ‘Turned back in the day of battle’ - That is, they did not stand by their brethren, or assist them in defending their country. There is probably no reference here to any particular battle, but the idea is, that in the wars of the nation - in those wars which were waged for national purposes - they refused to join with the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in defense of the lawful government.” (Albert Barnes) “‘Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.’ The miracles of Egypt are, perhaps, the most striking series in Jewish history. A more particular account of them is given below (Psalms 78:44-53). They were wrought ’in the field of Zoan,’ i.e. in the rich flat tract east and south of the city of Zoan.” (Pulpit Commentary) Asaph speaks: 13 He divided the sea and led them through; He made the water stand up like a wall. 14 He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.
In Exodus 14, the narrative goes that as danger approached, that is the armies of Pharaoh, “‘And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.’ (v. 19-20) The Jews say this was Michael, the great prince, who became a wall of fire between Israel and the Egyptians; and if they understood by him the uncreated angel, the eternal Word, the Son of God, who is always in Scripture meant by Michael, they are right: for certainly this Angel of the LORD is the same with Jehovah, who is said to go before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, Exodus 13:21, removed, and went behind them; but because removing from place to place, and going forwards or backwards, cannot be properly said of a divine Person, who is omnipresent, and fills every place and space; this is to be understood of the emblem of him, the pillar of cloud, as the next clause explains it: and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them; the Targum of Jonathan adds, 'because of the Egyptians, who cast arrows and stones, and the cloud received them;’ and so Jarchi; whereby the Israelites were protected and preserved from receiving any hurt by them: so Christ is the protection of His people from all their enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, that sin cannot damn them, nor Satan destroy them, nor the world overcome them; for His salvation is as walls and bulwarks to them, and he is indeed a wall of fire about them.” (John Gill’s Exposition)
"Isaiah indicates there is a spiritual meaning in the pillar of cloud and fire by placing it on Mt. Zion (Is. 4:5-6). Paul indicates there is a sacramental meaning in it when he says that Israel was baptized in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. 10:2). He also links this ‘glory and covering’ to a Christian woman’s hair—she is that kind of glory, and so there is a typological meaning here (1 Cor. 11:7, 10, 14-15)." (Blog & Mablog by Douglas Wilson)
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; 16 He brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.
"'He [Moses, as God's imperfect agent, sinned and] split the rock in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas;' On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus [God's perfect Agent] stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39) “And when Paul tells us in the next breath that the Israelites drank from the rock who is Christ, the meaning is apparent (1 Cor. 10:4).” (Blog & Mablog by Douglas Wilson)
17 But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. 18 They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. 19 They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? 20 True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?” 21 When Yahweh heard them, he was furious; His fire broke out against Jacob, and His wrath rose against Israel, 22 for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.
"'But they continued to sin against Him' etc. —the Most High— grieving the Spirit. 'They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.' etc.— ‘Can he provide?’— R.V., Will he provide? The narrative is thrown into a graphic poetical form. Unbelief reaches its climax in the words for His people. If, as He says, we are His people, let Him provide, and provide liberally, for our wants. Bread … flesh, as in Exodus 16:8; Exodus 16:12.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) "'And they sinned yet more against Him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness.’ The two provocations of a demand for bread (Exodus 16:3) and a demand for flesh (Numbers 11:4) are joined together in the present passage, as the two occasions of giving water are in Psalms 78:15, Psalms 78:16. Only the second of these two provocations was subsequent to the (first) giving of water; but the psalmist does not allow himself to be bound by considerations of strict chronological accuracy. He is a poet, and not an historian...” (The Pulpit Commentary)
Give us that Bread that springs up into eternal life! Jesus is both water and bread of His people in this, the church, age. "In like manner God has often stood between his trembling church and danger. Often would Zion have been destroyed, had not God become her shield and high defense. Often should we have run into ruin, had not the Lord interposed for our safety. Oh how much we owe to the arm of strength, and to the everlasting presence of God with his church.” (Sutcliffe Commentary) Beware, these complaints or questionings "were probably the people's thoughts rather than their words. An ‘evil heart of unbelief’ underlay their clamours and their murmurings. They doubted God's power to relieve their wants, notwithstanding all the proofs that they had had of his omnipotence. — ‘Therefore Yahweh heard’ this. Though these might be unspoken thoughts, yet God would 'hear' them, i.e. be aware of them; for ‘he knoweth the very secrets of the heart.’ ‘And was wroth’ (comp. Psalms 78:59, Psalms 78:62; Deuteronomy 3:26). ‘So a fire was kindled against Jacob.’ etc. Not a material fire, as in Psalms 10:2; Numbers 11:1-3; and Numbers 16:35 [picturing an actual fire on the day of Judgment]; but the fire of God's displeasure.” ‘And anger also came up against Israel’ (cp. Numbers 11:33; 16:30, 31).” (The Pulpit Commentary) The charge— “Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation.” (v.22) Though He worked mightily for them as follows— > “23 Yet He gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; 24 He rained down manna for the people to eat, He gave them the grain of heaven. 25 Human beings ate the bread of angels; He sent them all the food they could eat. 26 He let loose the east wind from the heavens and by His power made the south wind blow. 27 He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore. 28 He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. 29 They ate till they were gorged— He had given them what they craved. 30 But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths, 31 God’s anger rose against them; He put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. 32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders, they did not believe. 33 So He ended their days in futility and their years in terror.”
"'Yet He gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; He rained down manna for the people to eat, He gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels;' (v. 23-25a) etc. “How much stronger were their obligations to God, when He created a new kind of food, with which, by stretching out, as it were, His hand from heaven, he supplied them richly and in great abundance? This is the reason why the manna is called ‘corn of heaven,’ and ‘bread of the mighty.’ Some explain the Hebrew word אבירים , ‘abbirim,’ as denoting ‘the heavens,’ (329) an opinion which I do not altogether reject. I, however, prefer taking it for ‘angels,’ as it is understood by the Chaldee interpreter, and some others who have followed him. (330)
The miracle is celebrated in high terms, to present the impiety of the people in a more detestable light; for it was a much more striking display of divine power for manna to be rained down from heaven, than if they had been fed either with herbs or fruits, or with other increase of the earth. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:3, calls the manna ‘spiritual meat,’ in a different sense — because it was a figure and symbol of Christ.” (John Gill’s Exposition)
In Numbers 32, these sermon of allegories was preached to Joshua and Caleb's generation:
"So Yahweh's anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of Yahweh was gone. And look! You have risen in your fathers’ place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of Yahweh against Israel. For if you turn away from following Him, He will once again leave them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all these people.” (v. 13-15) 34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek Him; they eagerly turned to Him again. 35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 36 But then they [Ephraim and his spiritual children] would flatter Him with their mouths, lying to Him with their tongues; 37 their hearts were not loyal to Him, they were not faithful to His covenant. 38 Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return. 40 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the wasteland! 41 Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power— the day He redeemed them from the oppressor, 43 the day He displayed his signs in Egypt, His wonders in the region of Zoan. 44 He turned their river into blood; they could not drink from their streams. 45 He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, and frogs that devastated them. 46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamore-figs with sleet. 48 He gave over their cattle to the hail,their livestock to bolts of lightning. 49 He unleashed against them His hot anger, His wrath, indignation and hostility— a band of destroying angels. 50 He prepared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but gave them over to the plague. 51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. 52 But He brought his people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the wilderness. "The history of Israel... continues down to the time when Judah takes over from Ephraim as the dominant tribe (vv. 53-66). That transfer is then celebrated (vv. 67-72)." (Douglas Wilson) 53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. 54 And so He brought them to the border of His holy land, to the hill country His right hand had taken. 55 He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. 56 But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep His statutes. 57 Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. 58 They angered Him with their high places; they aroused His jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard them, He was furious; He rejected Israel completely. 60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had set up among humans. 61 He sent the ark of His might into captivity, His splendor into the hands of the enemy. 62 He gave His people over to the sword; He was furious with His inheritance. 63 Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs; 64 their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep. 65 Then Yahweh awoke as from sleep, as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine. 66 He beat back His enemies; He put them to everlasting shame. 67 Then He rejected the tents of Joseph, He did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; 68 but He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved. 69 He built His. sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that He established forever. 70 He chose David His servant and took Him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep He brought Him to be the shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands He led them. We see everlasting shame, rather than eternal torment, as the lot of those not found faithful. But in our own stories, another transfer has occurred. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed, though Judah has also been rejected with the destruction of the temple in 70AD. Will you also turn from following Him who lead Israel in their wilderness journey, as well as in the land of Canaan? He has already come in the flesh- the first time to deal with sin... and lived a perfect life and died, but has arisen and is alive forever more? He will come again for the salvation of His people.