9 The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows , Yet they turned back in the day of battle . 10 They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk in His law ; 11 They forgot His deeds And His miracles that He had shown them. 12 He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt , in the field of Zoan . 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through , And He made the waters stand up like a heap . 14 Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire . 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths . 16 He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers . 17 Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert . 18 And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire . 19 Then they spoke against God ; They said , " Can God prepare a table in the wilderness ? 20 "Behold , He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing ; Can He give bread also ? Will He provide meat for His people ?" 21 Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath ; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel , 22 Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation . 23 Yet He commanded the clouds above e And opened the doors of heaven ; 24 He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven . 25 Man did eat the bread of angels ; He sent them food in abundance . 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind . 27 When He rained meat upon them like the dust , Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas , 28 Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp , Round about their dwellings . 29 So they ate and were well filled , And their desire He gave to them. 30 Before they had satisfied their desire , While their food was in their mouths , 31 The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel . 32 In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works . 33 So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror . 34 When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and searched diligently for God ; 35 And they remembered that God was their rock , And the Most High God their Redeemer . 36 But they deceived Him with their mouth And lied to Him with their tongue . 37 For their heart was not steadfast toward Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant . 38 But He, being compassionate , forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them; And often He restrained His anger And did not arouse all His wrath . 39 Thus He remembered that they were but flesh , A wind that passes and does not return .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:9-39

Commentary on Psalm 78:9-39

(Read Psalm 78:9-39)

Sin dispirits men, and takes away the heart. Forgetfulness of God's works is the cause of disobedience to his laws. This narrative relates a struggle between God's goodness and man's badness. The Lord hears all our murmurings and distrusts, and is much displeased. Those that will not believe the power of God's mercy, shall feel the fire of his indignation. Those cannot be said to trust in God's salvation as their happiness at last, who can not trust his providence in the way to it. To all that by faith and prayer, ask, seek, and knock, these doors of heaven shall at any time be opened; and our distrust of God is a great aggravation of our sins. He expressed his resentment of their provocation; not in denying what they sinfully lusted after, but in granting it to them. Lust is contented with nothing. Those that indulge their lust, will never be estranged from it. Those hearts are hard indeed, that will neither be melted by the mercies of the Lord, nor broken by his judgments. Those that sin still, must expect to be in trouble still. And the reason why we live with so little comfort, and to so little purpose, is, because we do not live by faith. Under these rebukes they professed repentance, but they were not sincere, for they were not constant. In Israel's history we have a picture of our own hearts and lives. God's patience, and warnings, and mercies, imbolden them to harden their hearts against his word. And the history of kingdoms is much the same. Judgments and mercies have been little attended to, until the measure of their sins has been full. And higher advantages have not kept churches from declining from the commandments of God. Even true believers recollect, that for many a year they abused the kindness of Providence. When they come to heaven, how will they admire the Lord's patience and mercy in bringing them to his kingdom!