9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows,
turned back in the day of battle. 10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant,
and refused to walk in his law. 11 They forgot his doings,
his wondrous works that he had shown them. 12 He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers,
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He split the sea, and caused them to pass through.
He made the waters stand as a heap. 14 In the daytime he also led them with a cloud,
and all night with a light of fire. 15 He split rocks in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock,
and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 Yet they still went on to sin against him,
to rebel against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tempted God in their heart
by asking food according to their desire. 19 Yes, 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 overflowed.
Can he give bread also?
Will he provide flesh for his people?” 21 Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry.
A fire was kindled against Jacob,
anger also went up against Israel, 22 because they didn’t believe in God,
and didn’t trust in his salvation. 23 Yet he commanded the skies above,
and opened the doors of heaven. 24 He rained down manna on them to eat,
and gave them food from the sky. 25 Man ate the bread of angels.
He sent them food to the full. 26 He caused the east wind to blow in the sky.
By his power he guided the south wind. 27 He rained also flesh on them as the dust;
winged birds as the sand of the seas. 28 He let them fall in the midst of their camp,
around their habitations. 29 So they ate, and were well filled.
He gave them their own desire. 30 They didn’t turn from their cravings.
Their food was yet in their mouths, 31 when the anger of God went up against them,
killed some of the fattest of them,
and struck down the young men of Israel. 32 For all this they still sinned,
and didn’t believe in his wondrous works. 33 Therefore he consumed their days in vanity,
and their years in terror. 34 When he killed them, then they inquired after him.
They returned and sought God earnestly. 35 They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God, their redeemer. 36 But they flattered him with their mouth,
and lied to him with their tongue. 37 For their heart was not right with him,
neither were they faithful in his covenant. 38 But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them.
Yes, many times he turned his anger away,
and didn’t stir up all his wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.

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!