Psalms 78

Psalms 78:1

Title. Maschil of Asaph] Or, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction.

O My people] The prophet, under the name of a teacher, calleth the people his, and the doctrine, his, as Paul calleth the Gospel his, whereof he was but the preacher, Romans 2:16. and Romans 16:25.

to my law] That is, my doctrine.

Psalms 78:2

I will open my mouth in a parable] Psalms 49:4. Matthew 13:35.

in a parable] A weighty sentence fit to teach men wisdom: which Christ frequently used.

I will utter] Plentifully, as a spring sends out water.

dark sayings] Sharp ones, that require wit to understand and expound them.

of old] Of things that have been done long since.

Psalms 78:3

heard and known] Psalms 44:1.

Psalms 78:5

a testimony in Jacob] Psal. 147. 19, 20. By the testimony and law, he meaneth the law written, which they were commanded to teach their children.

our fathers have told us] Which were the people of God, Psalms 44:1.

that they should make them known to their children] Deuteronomy 4:9. and Deuteronomy 6:7.

Psalms 78:6

That the generation to come might know them] He sheweth wherein the children should be like their fathers, that is, In maintaining Gods pure religion.

Psalms 78:7

That they might set their hope in God] He sheweth wherein the use of this doctrine standeth, in faith, meditation of Gods benefits, and obedience.

Psalms 78:8

And might not be as their fathers] Though these fathers were the seed of Abraham, and the chosen people, yet he sheweth by their rebellion, provocation, falshood, and hypocrisie, that the children ought not to follow their examples.

that set not their heart] Heb. that prepared not their heart.

their heart aright] Verse 37.

Psalms 78:9

The children of Ephraim] First, they fled before Jephtah, Judg. 12. 4, 6. Secondly, before the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:10. which seems the rather, because after mentioned in this Psalm, verse 57, 61, 67. or, before Ahijah, 2 Chronicles 13. 17.

carrying bowes] Heb. throwing forth: or, shooting with bowes, as Jeremiah 4:29.

Psalms 78:12

in the field of Zoan] A place of note in Egypt. Isaiah 19:13. Ezekiel 30:14.

Psalms 78:13

He divided the sea] Exodus 14:21.

Psalms 78:14

In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire] Exodus 13:21. and Exodus 14:24.

Psalms 78:15

He clae the rocks in the wildernesse, and gave them drink as out of the great depths] Exodus 17:6. Numbers 20:11. Psalms 105:41. 1 Corinthians 10:4.

Psalms 78:16

to run down like rivers] So that they drank of the water all the while they were in the wildernesse, for it followed them in the desert, Deuter. 9. 21. Psalms 105. 41. 1 Corinth. 10. 4.

Psalms 78:17

And they sinned yet more against him] Their wickednesse could not be overcome by Gods benefits, which were great and many, Isaiah 5:4.

provoking the most High in the wildernesse] Psalms 95:8.

Psalms 78:18

by asking meat for their lust] To require more then is convenient, to satisfie wanton lust, and to doubt of Gods power, if we have it not, is to tempt God.

Psalms 78:19

Yea, they spake against God] Numbers 11:4.

Can God furnish a table in the wildernesse?] Thus when we give place to sin, we are moved to doubt of Gods power, unlesse he will alwayes be ready to serve our lusts.

furnish] Heb. order.

Psalms 78:20

Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams over flowed] Exodus 17:6. Numbers 20:11.

Psalms 78:22

and trusted not in his salvation] That is, in his fatherly providence, whereby he careth for his, and provideth sufficiently for them.

Psalms 78:23

Though he had commanded the clouds] So that they had that which was convenient, but their lust made them to covet more.

Psalms 78:24

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven] Exodus 16:14. John 6. 31.

Psalms 78:25

Man did eat angels food] Or, every one did eat the bread of the mighty. Such as angels might eat, if they used food. Excellent food. So the tongue of angels is put for an excellent tongue, 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Psalms 78:26

He caused an east-winde to blow] God used the windes to teach them, that all creatures were at his command, and that no distance of place could let his working.

to blow] Heb. to go.

Psalms 78:27

feathered fowls] Heb. fowl of wing.

Psalms 78:28

in the midst] Of the places where they used to encamp: or, in a place neer the camp: for it follows, round about their habitations; not in the midst of them.

of their camp] Heb. his camp: That is, the camp of Jacob, mentioned, verse 21.

Psalms 78:30

from their lust] From the meat they desired: or, from desiring more.

while their meat was yet in their mouths] Numbers 11:33.

Psalms 78:31

slew the fattest of them] Though others were not spared, yet chiefly they suffered, who were most puffed up, and were chiefest among them.

smote down] Heb. made to bow

chosen men] Or, young men.

Psalms 78:32

they sinned still] Thus sin by continuance maketh men insensible, so that no plagues will mend them, 2 Chron. 28. 22.

Psalms 78:33

in vanitie] In fruitlesse journeys in the wildernesse, so that they could not come to Canaan, Numbers 14:29.

Psalms 78:34

When he slew them] Such was their hypocrisie, that they sought unto God for fear of punishment, though in their heart they loved him not, Hosea 5:15.

Psalms 78:37

For their heart was not right with him] Whatsoever cometh not from the pure fountain of the heart, is hypocrisie.

Psalms 78:38

forgave their iniquity] Because he would ever have some remnant of a church to praise his name on earth, he suffered not their sins to overcome his mercy.

Psalms 78:40

provoke him] Or, rebell against him.

Psalms 78:41

turned back and tempted God] Or, tempted God again.

limited the holy One of Israel] By appointing what he should do, or including his power within their capacity.

Psalms 78:42

They remembred not his hand] The forgetfulnesse of Gods benefits, is the root of rebellion, and of all vice.

from the enemy] Or, from affliction.

Psalms 78:43

wrought] Heb. set.

Psalms 78:44

And had turned their rivers into blood] Exodus 7:20.

Psalms 78:45

He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them] Exodus 8:24.

He sent divers sorts of flies] This word signifieth, a confused mixture of flies, and venemous worms. Some take it for all sorts of serpents: some, for all wilde beasts.

frogs, which destroyed them] Exodus 8:6.

Psalms 78:46

He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar] Exodus 10:13. He repeateth not here all the miracles that God did in Egypt, but some which might be sufficient to convince the people of ingratitude.

Psalms 78:47

He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomoretrees with frost] Exodus 9:23.

destroyed] Heb. killed.

frost] Or, great hail-stones.

Psalms 78:48

He gave up] Heb. He shut up.

ht thunder-bolts] Or, lightnings.

Psalms 78:49

wrath and indignation and trouble] Rom. 2. 8, 9.

evil angels] Or, messengers of evil.

Psalms 78:50

He made a way] Heb. He weighed a path.

their life over to the pestilence] Or, their beasts to the murrain, Exodus 9:3.

Psalms 78:51

And smote all the first-born in Egypt] Exodus 12:29.

the chief of their strength] The first-born are so called, Genesis 49:3.

of Ham] That is, Egypt: for it is called Mizraim, of Mizraim, that was the son of Ham.

like sheep] Psalms 77:20.

Psalms 78:53

so that they feared not] They had no occasion to fear, for God destroyed their enemies; yet they did fear sometimes out of unbelief.

overwhelmed their enemies] Exodus 14:27. and Exodus 15:10.

overwhelmed] Heb. covered.

Psalms 78:55

divided them an inheritance by line] Joshua 13:7.

Psalms 78:57

dealt unfaithfully] Nothing more displeaseth God in children, then when they continue in that wickednesse, which their fathers had begun.

deceitfull] Or, slack or, warping, Jeremiah 48:16.

Psalms 78:58

For they provoked him to anger] Deuteronomy 32:21. By serving God otherwise then he had appointed.

Psalms 78:60

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh] 1 Samuel 4:11. For their ingratitude he suffered the Philistines to take the ark, which was the sign of his presence, from among them, and never brought it back to Shiloh again, Jerem. 7. 12, 14.

Psalms 78:61

delivered his strength] The ark is called, his strength and beauty, because thereby he defended his people, and beautifully appeared unto them, 1 Samuel 4:21. Psalms 132:8.

Psalms 78:62

was wroth with his inheritance] His people, that were as dear to him, as our inheritance is to us.

Psalms 78:63

The fire consumed their young men] They were suddenly destroyed, 1 Samuel 4:10.

their maidens were not given to marriage] They had no marriage songs: that is, they were not married, Jeremiah 25:10. Revelation 18:23.

given] Heb. praised.

Psalms 78:64

their widows made no lamentation] They were so overwhelmed with grief, that they died themselves, and could not lament for their husbands, 1 Sam. 4. 19, &c.

Psalms 78:65

by reason of wine] As one refreshed with sleep, and comforted with wine.

Psalms 78:66

he smote his enemies] With diseases, 1 Samuel 5:6. which was a reproach to them, 1 Samuel 6:4.

Psalms 78:69

he built his sanctuary] By building the temple, and establishing the kingdom, he declared, that the signs of his favour were among them.

established] Heb. founded.

Psalms 78:70

He chose David also his servant] 1 Samuel 16:11. 2 Samuel 7:8.

Psalms 78:71

From following] Heb. From after.

to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance] 2 Samuel 5:2. 1 Chronicles 11:2.

Psalms 78:72

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart] He sheweth wherein a kings charge standeth, to wit, In providing faithfully for his people, In guiding them by counsell, and in defending them by power.