(1) Outline (more details over today's passage v.9-55)
I. The psalmist calls the people to listen to his wise teaching concerning the history of the faith that was passed down from generation to generation so that the people would not forget the words and works of God (1–8).
II. The psalmist traces the history of the faith from Egypt to the holy land, reporting how often the people rebelled against the LORD and were judged, and how frequently the LORD in his compassion forgave them (9–55).
A. He tells how Ephraim turned back in the day of battle and failed to keep covenant because they forgot the works and words of the LORD (9–11).
1. Ephraim turned back in the day of the battle (9).
2. They disobeyed the LORD and did not keep the covenant (10).
3. They forgot the wonderful works and the words of the LORD (11).
B. He depicts the marvelous things God did in Egypt and how Israel, forgetting them, rebelled and was judged (12–31).
1. He reminds the people of the marvelous things the LORD did in Egypt (12–16).
2. He recalls how the people rebelled in the wilderness and God provided their needs (17–20).
3. He reports how the LORD was angry with them, but brought them the desired food and water before plaguing them (21–31).
C. He reveals how the people turned to the LORD although their hearts were far from him, but the LORD in his mercy forgave them (32–39).
1. They remembered and sought God, but their lying heart was not right (32–37).
2. God in his mercy forgave them, remembering that they were but flesh (38–39).
D. Noting how often the people rebelled when they forgot God’s works, he reiterates some of those marvelous things that the LORD did in delivering them from Egypt and settling them in the land (40–55).
1. The people rebelled when they forgot God’s marvelous works (40–41).
2. The LORD did marvelous things for them in delivering them from Egypt and settling them in the land (42–55).
a. All the plagues were his powerful works for their benefit (42–51).
b. All the deliverance from Egypt demonstrated his power (52–54).
c. By his power he drove out the nations and settled Israel (55).
III. The psalmist sadly recalls the defection of the people in the land that brought about the destruction of Shiloh and capture of the ark, but then joyfully recalls how the LORD saved his people and chose David to be his faithful shepherd (56–72).
(2) Key verses
A. 78:9 The Ephraimites were armed with bows,
but they retreated in the day of battle.
(NET) Ephraim probably stands here by synecdoche (part for whole) for the northern kingdom of Israel...[retreated in the day of battle]This could refer to the northern tribes’ failure to conquer completely their allotted territory (see Judg 1), or it could refer generally to the typical consequence (military defeat) of their sin (see vv. 10–11).
Reflection: From v.9-11, forgetting what God had done had dire consequences. They would not obey God and God would judge them. Finally they retreated or lost in their battle. What will help you to remember what God has done to you? Keep those good habits of reading God's word, meditate on His words, reflection of your past, prayer, or fellowship with like-minded Christians.
but they retreated in the day of battle.
(NET) Ephraim probably stands here by synecdoche (part for whole) for the northern kingdom of Israel...[retreated in the day of battle]This could refer to the northern tribes’ failure to conquer completely their allotted territory (see Judg 1), or it could refer generally to the typical consequence (military defeat) of their sin (see vv. 10–11).
Reflection: From v.9-11, forgetting what God had done had dire consequences. They would not obey God and God would judge them. Finally they retreated or lost in their battle. What will help you to remember what God has done to you? Keep those good habits of reading God's word, meditate on His words, reflection of your past, prayer, or fellowship with like-minded Christians.
B. 78:19 They insulted God, saying,
“Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness? 78:20 Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out,
streams gushed forth.
But can he also give us food?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
After the first round of disbelief v.17-20 and judgment from God v.21-31 Israelites did that again in the second round v.32-37.
78:32 Despite all this, they continued to sin,
and did not trust him to do amazing things.
78:35 They remembered that God was their protector,
and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.
It was weird for Israelites to doubt God's ability after so many miracles listed. In v.35 the author pointed out that after God struck them down again they remembered now God was good to them (and they were just lying to God v.36).
and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.
It was weird for Israelites to doubt God's ability after so many miracles listed. In v.35 the author pointed out that after God struck them down again they remembered now God was good to them (and they were just lying to God v.36).
Reflection: Do we doubt that? Even God has helped us over and over again when we are in trials we still freak out and doubt if God will help us?
Audrey
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