Psalm 78: 
“A Negative Sermon: 
Old Truths for Present Needs” 
 

The exodus from Egypt is a story that is used all through the Bible to teach lessons to every generation.  As a matter of fact, God wanted this story to be told again and again.  However, there were many times that the telling of it was with reference to the failure of people to learn from the sins that were committed in the story of the exodus and the wilderness wanderings.  The psalm before us at this time uses the approach that describes the blessings provided by God, the rebellion of the people, and the wrath of God toward their sin.

Our outline of Psalm 78 has five points, beginning with a three-point plea to listen to some things about truth.

TRUTHS THAT NEED TO BE TOLD (78:1-11).
In this first part, the poet appeals to his readers to think about truths that relate to three areas:
~~TRUTHS ABOUT GOD (78:1-3). He desires that they listen to the words he has in his mouth (and as an inspired poet of God, these would be spiritual truths).  These truths were time-tested, and had been taught previously by their fathers.
~~TRUTHS TO TELL THE CHILDREN (78:4-8).  The approach that was needed was to tell the new generation about God; including His strength, works, will, and the commandment that each generation should be taught.  The purpose included the goal of giving each new generation knowledge, hope, and reasons to obey God—as well as to teach them to be different in their manner of living than the first generation out of Egypt had been.
~~TRUTH ABOUT REBELLION (from the example of Ephraim; 78:9-11).  Suddenly, the poet illustrates his point about rebellion with an example from Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel.  He does not identify the specific act of rebellion, but the point is clear (especially since Ephraim rebelled so often in Old Testament history).

BLESSINGS RECEIVED; REBELLION REPEATED; WRATH STIRRED (78:12-39).
The lesson now returns to the story of the exodus, as Asaph refers to the cycle of blessings, rebellion, and wrath.
~~SALVATION IN THE EXODUS (78:12-16).  The first part of his story is the escape from Egypt that was founded upon the marvelous works of God—works that the first generation actually experienced.  These things resulted in their salvation from bondage (which is a type of our salvation from sin (1 Corinthians 10:1ff).
~~WATER FROM THE ROCK (78:17-20).  Almost as soon as God freed them, they began to murmur against Him.  These verses tell us that they rebelled against the Most High, they tested Him, and they spoke against Him.  His response was to give another blessing!  But it was given in connection with His righteous anger against them.
~~MANNA FROM HEAVEN (78:21-25).  Again there was an almost immediate negative complaint from the people about food.  Jehovah’s fury was aroused against them due to their unbelief—yet “He opened the doors of heaven” and gave them “angels’ food”: manna.
~~QUAIL FOR MEAT (78:26-33).  The Lord continued giving to them by providing quail for meat.  The poetic description of this blessing comes next—surely Israel was finally learning faith and thankfulness!!  Not so! While the “food was still in their mouths,” the wrath of God came against them again.  This time, the “stoutest” of them, the “choicest” of them, were struck down.  A sad and powerful summary is written in verses 32,33:
“In spite of this they still sinned,
And did not believe in His wondrous works.
Therefore their days He consumed in futility,
And their years in fear.” (NKJ)
~~WRATH—BUT NOT ALL OF IT (78:34-39).  These verses contain one of the most moving pieces of poetry in the whole world.  The true actions and attitudes of the people are revealed, and the true desire of God to be compassionate and forgiving is proclaimed to the generation addressed by Asaph.  Let us read humbly:
When He slew them, then they sought Him;
And they returned and sought diligently for God. 
Then they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer. 
Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth,
And they lied to Him with their tongue; 
For their heart was not steadfast with Him,
Nor were they faithful in His covenant. 
But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
And did not stir up all His wrath; 
For He remembered that they were but flesh,
A breath that passes away and does not come again.  (NKJ)

FORGOTTEN FOUNDATIONS (78:40-55).  The things that God had done (including the ten plagues, the guidance through the wilderness, and the victories over the enemies of the promised land) had not been remembered.  But these things were supposed to be more than lessons for the first generation!  They were meant to be the foundation truths for all other generations!  But they had not been remembered, so the next section of the psalm had to be written.

JUSTIFIED WRATH (78:56-64).  The frequent apostasies of Israel (and then Israel and Judah) had continued to show the Lord that sin was the choice of other generations of His people, too.  So, He had often been moved to anger, fury, and justified jealousy.  This led to the sad stories of rebellion and punishment that are found in the rest of the Old Testament (even after the writings of Asaph—which shows that the lessons he taught were largely ignored).

“AWAKENED,” JEHOVAH TRIES AGAIN (78:65-72).  But who would think that God would try again with such a people?  Yet, the poem ends with this wonderful proclamation that the “Lord awoke as from sleep,” chose Judah, and David, and tried again!

So, in spite of the fact that many of His Own people forsook Him in most every generation, Jehovah’s desire to save all who will serve Him in “integrity of heart” (2 Peter 3:9), leads Him to continue offering salvation on His terms.

And as you read this article, the offer is still “on the table.”  Will you read Psalm 78, learn its lessons, teach them to all who will hear?  Will you hear the call of God to you through the gospel of Christ, and “give ear to the words” of His mouth (Matthew 11:28-30)?  Will you believe in Him as the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16; 8:24)?  Will you repent of all sin (Acts 3:19; 17:30)?  Will you confess your faith in Jesus (Acts 8:37)?  Will you obey His command to be immersed for the remission of your sins by the power of His blood (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3,4)?  And will you live according to His will for the rest of your life (Colossians 3:17; Revelation 22:14)?

 — Skip Andrews
 

Next Week: 
Psalm 79:
Help Us, O God!
Jerusalem Is in Ruins
 
 

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VOLUME 3:5                    March 18, 2001