The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 77
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 78 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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A Psalm of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: Incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
Συνέσεως τῷ Ἀσάφ. Προσέχετε λαός μου τὸν νόμον μου, κλίνατε τὸ οὖς ὑμῶν εἰς τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ στόματός μου.
"Hearken ye," He says, "My people, to My law". Whom may we suppose to be here speaking, but God? For it was Himself that gave a law to His people, whom when delivered out of Egypt He gathered together, the which gathering together is properly named a Synagogue, which the word Asaph is interpreted to signify. Hath it…
I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings which have been from the beginning.
Ἀνοίξω ἐν παραβολαῖς τὸ στόμα μου, φθέγξομαι προβλήματα ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς.
"I will open," he says, "in parables My mouth, I will declare propositions from the beginning". From what beginning he means, is very evident in the words following. For it is not from the beginning, what time the Heaven and earth were made, nor what time mankind was created in the first man: but what time the…
All which we have heard and known, And our fathers have declared to us.
Ὅσα ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἔγνωμεν αὐτὰ, καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν διηγήσαντο ἡμῖν.
"How great things we have heard, and have known them, and our fathers have told them to us." The Lord was speaking higher up. For of what other person could these words be thought to be, "Hearken ye, O My people, to My law"? Why is it then that now on a sudden a man is speaking, for here we have the words of a man,…
They were not hidden from their children to a second generation; The fathers declaring the praises of the Lord, And his mighty acts, And his wonders which he wrought.
Οὐκ ἐκρύβη ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰν ἑτέραν, ἀπαγγέλλοντες τὰς αἰνέσεις Κυρίου καὶ τὰς δυναστείας αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ ἃ ἐποίησε.
"They have not been hidden from their sons in another generation." This is our generation wherein there hath been given to us regeneration. "Telling forth the praises of the Lord and His powers, and His wonderful works which He hath done." The order of the words is, "and our fathers have told unto us, telling forth…
And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, To make it known to their children:
Καὶ ἀνέστησε μαρτύριον ἐν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ νόμον ἔθετο ἐν Ἰσραήλ· ὃν ἐνετείλατο τοῖς πατράσιν ἡμῶν, γνωρίσαι αὐτὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν,
"How great things," he says, "He has commanded our fathers, to make the same known to their sons?". These words do point out two peoples as it were, the one belonging to the Old Testament, the other to the New: for in that he says, he has implied that they received the commandments, "to make them known to their sons,"…
That another generation might know, Even the sons which should be born; And they should arise and declare them to their children.
ὅπως ἂν γνῷ γενεὰ ἑτέρα, υἱοὶ οἱ τεχθησόμενοι, καὶ ἀναστήσονται καὶ ἀπαγγελοῦσιν αὐτὰ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτῶν·
That they might set their hope on God, And not forget the works of God, But diligently seek his commandments.
ἵνα θῶνται ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν τὴν ἐλπίδα αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ ἐπιλάθωνται τῶν ἔργων τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ ἐκζητήσωσιν.
"That they may put their hope in God, and may not forget the works of God, and may seek out His commandments". "And may not forget the works of God:" that is to say, in magnifying and vaunting their own works, as though they did them themselves; while "God it is that works," in them that work good things, "both to…
That they should not be as their fathers, A perverse and provoking generation; A generation which set not its heart aright, And its spirit was not steadfast with God.
Ἵνα μὴ γένωνται ὡς οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν, γενεὰ σκολιὰ καὶ παραπικραίνουσα, γενεὰ ἥτις οὐ κατεύθυνεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστώθη μετὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῆς.
"That they may not become, like their fathers, a crooked and embittering generation: a generation that hath not guided their heart, and the spirit thereof hath not been trusted with God" (ver. 8). These words do point out two peoples as it were, the one belonging to the Old Testament, the other to the New: for in that…
The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting with the bow, Turned back in the day of battle.
Υἱοὶ Ἐφραὶμ ἐντεινοντες καὶ βάλλοντες τόξον, ἐστράφησαν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πολέμου.
Lastly, "The sons of Ephrem bending and shooting bows, have been turned back in the day of war". Following after the law of righteousness, unto the law of righteousness they have not attained. [Romans 9:31] Why? Because they were not of faith. For they were that generation whereof the spirit has not been trusted with…
They kept not the covenant of God, And would not walk in his law.
Οὐκ ἐφύλαξαν τὴν διαθήκην τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐν τῷ νόμῳ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἤθελον πορεύεσθαι.
But what that is which he saith, "they have been turned back in the day of war," the following words do teach, wherein he hath most clearly explained this: "they have not kept," he saith, "the testament of God, and in His law they would not walk." Behold what is, "they have been turned back in the day of war:" they…
And they forgot his benefits, And his miracles which he had shown them;
Καὶ ἐπελάθοντο τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν θαυμασίων αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς·
"And they forgat His benefits, and the wonderful works of Him which He showed to them; before their fathers the wonderful things which He did". What this is, is not a question to be negligently passed over. Concerning those very fathers he was speaking a little before, that they had been a generation crooked and…
The miracles which he wrought before their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanis.
ἐναντίον τῶν πατέρων αὐτῶν ἃ ἐποίησε θαυμάσια, ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, ἐν πεδίῳ Τάνεως.
He clove the sea, and led them through: He made the waters to stand as in a bottle.
Διέῤῥηξε θάλασσαν, καὶ διήγαγεν αὐτοὺς· ἔστησεν ὕδατα ὡσεὶ ἀσκόν.
For He that "did burst asunder the sea and made them go through, did confine the waters as it were in bottles", in order that the water might stand up first as if it were shut in, is able by His grace to restrain the flowing and ebbing tides of carnal desires, when we renounce this world, so that all sins having been…
And he guided them with a cloud by day, And all the night with a light of fire.
Καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν νεφέλῃ ἡμέρας, καὶ ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἐν φωτισμῷ πυρός.
He that "led them home in the cloud of the day, and in the whole of the night in the illumination of fire", is able also spiritually to direct goings if faith cries to Him, "Direct my goings after Your word." Of Whom in another place is said, "For Himself shall make your courses right, and shall prolong your goings in…
He clove a rock in the wilderness, And made them drink as in a great deep.
Διέῤῥηξε πέτραν ἐν ἐρήμῳ, καὶ ἐπότισεν αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐν ἀβύσσῳ πολλῇ.
"He that burst asunder the rock in the desert, and gave them water as in a great deep"; "and brought out water from the rock, and brought down waters like rivers", is surely able upon thirsty faith to pour the gift of the Holy Spirit (the which gift the performance of that thing did spiritually signify), to pour, I…
And he brought water out of the rock, And caused waters to flow down as rivers.
Καὶ ἐξήγαγεν ὕδωρ ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ κατήγαγεν ὡς ποταμοὺς ὕδατα.
And they sinned yet more against him; They provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
Καὶ προσέθεντο ἔτι τοῦ ἁμαρτάνειν αὐτῷ· παρεπικραναν τὸν ὕψιστον ἐν ἀνύδρῳ,
And yet, "they," like a generation crooked and embittering, "added yet to sin against Him:" that is, not to believe. For this is the sin, whereof the Spirit doth convict the world, as the Lord saith, "Of sin indeed because they have not believed on Me." "And they exasperated the Most High in drought," which other…
And they tempted God in their hearts, In asking meat for the desire of their souls.
καὶ ἐξεπείρασαν τὸν Θεὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, τοῦ αἰτῆσαι βρώματα ταῖς ψυχαῖς αὐτῶν.
"And they tempted God in their hearts, in order that they might seek morsels for their souls." It is one thing to ask in believing, another thing in tempting. Lastly there followeth, "And they slandered God, and said, Shall God be able to prepare a table in the desert?" "For He smote the rock, and the waters flowed,…
They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
Καὶ κατελάλησαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ εἶπαν, μὴ δυνήσεται ὁ Θεὸς ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν ἐν ἐρήμῳ;
Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, And the torrents ran abundantly; Will he be able also to give bread, Or prepare a table for his people?
Ἐπεὶ ἐπάταξε πέτραν, καὶ ἐῤῥύησαν ὕδατα, καὶ χείμαῤῥοι κατεκλύσθησαν· μὴ καὶ ἄρτον δυνήσεται δοῦναι; ἢ ἑτοιμάσαι τράπεζαν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ;
Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: And fire was kindled in Jacob, And wrath went up against Israel.
Διὰ τοῦτο ἤκουσε Κύριος καὶ ἀνεβάλετο, καὶ πῦρ ἀνήφθη ἐν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ὀργὴ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ.
"Wherefore the Lord heard, and He delayed, and fire was lighted in Jacob, and wrath went up into Israel." He hath explained what he hath called fire. He hath called anger fire: although in strict propriety fire did also burn up many men. What is therefore this that he saith, "The Lord heard, and He delayed"? Did He…
Lastly, when both these things have been briefly touched, afterwards he is evidently following out the order of the narrative. "Because they believed not in God, nor hoped in His saving health." For when he had told why fire was lighted in Jacob, and anger went up upon Israel, that is to say, "because they believed…
But as to unbelievers, being a crooked and embittering generation, as it were, while the morsel was yet in their mouths, "the anger of God went up upon them, and it slew among the most of them": that is, the most of them, or as some copies have it, "the fat ones of them," which however in the Greek copies which we…
But the generation crooked and embittering, "in all these things sinned yet more, and they believed not in His wonderful works." "And in their days failed in vanity." Though they might, if they had believed have had days in truth without failing, with Him to whom hath been said, "Thy years shall not fail." Therefore,…
"And in their days failed in vanity." Though they might, if they had believed, have had days in truth without failing, with Him to whom has been said, "Your years shall not fail." Therefore, "their days failed in vanity, and their years with haste." For the whole life of mortal men is hastening, and that which seems…
Nevertheless, "when he slew them they sought Him:" not for the sake of eternal life, but fearing to end the vapour too soon. There sought Him then, not indeed those whom He had slain, but they that were afraid of being slain according to the example of them. But the Scripture has so spoken of them as if they sought…
Lastly, here let us see the words following: "And they loved Him," he says, "in their mouth, and in their tongue they lied unto Him". "But their heart was not right with Him, and they were not counted faithful in His Testament". One thing on their tongue, another thing in their heart He found, unto whom the secret…
"But He is Himself merciful, and will become propitious to their sins, and He will not destroy them. And He will abound to turn away His anger, and He will not kindle all his anger." By these words many men promise to themselves impunity for their iniquity from the Divine Mercy, even if they shall have persevered in…
"And He remembered that they are flesh, a spirit going and not returning". Therefore calling them and pitying them through His grace, He called them back Himself, because of themselves they could not return. For how does flesh return, "a spirit walking and not turning back," while a weight of evil deserts does weigh…
I say then of these crooked and embittering persons, "How often they exasperated Him in the desert, and provoked Him to wrath in the waterless place!". "And they turned themselves and tempted God, and exasperated the Holy One of Israel". He is repeating that same unbelief of theirs, of which He had made mention above.…
But as far as regards the present passage of this Psalm, if we dare not ascribe those things which were marvellously formed out of creatures, to evil angels; we have a thing which without doubt we can ascribe to them; the dyings of the beasts, the dyings of the first-born, and this especially whence all these things…
"And He led them down in hope, and they feared not, and their enemies the sea covered". But we are being led home in hope, "For by hope we are saved." [Romans 8:24] Nor ought we to fear. For, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" [Romans 8:31] And our enemies the sea has covered, He has effaced them in baptism by…
"God heard, and He despised:" that is, He gave heed and took vengeance. "And unto nothing He brought Israel exceedingly". For when God despised, what were they who by God's help were what they were? But doubtless he is commemorating the doing of that thing, when they were conquered by the Philistines in the time of…
"And He rejected the tabernacle of Selom, His tabernacle, where He dwelled among men". He has elegantly explained why He rejected His tabernacle, when he says, "where He dwelled among men." When therefore they were not worthy for Him to dwell among, why should He not reject the tabernacle, which indeed not for Himself…
"And He gave over unto captivity their strength, and their beauty unto the hands of the enemy." The very Ark whereby they thought themselves invincible, and whereon they plumed themselves, he calleth their "virtue" and "beauty." Lastly, also afterward, when they were living ill, and boasting of the temple of the Lord,…
"And He ended with the sword His people, and His inheritance He despised".
"Their young men the fire devoured:" that is, wrath. "And their virgins mourned not". For not even for this was there leisure, in fear of the foe.
"Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows were not lamented". For there fell by the sword the sons of Heli, of one of whom the wife being widowed, and presently dying in child-birth, [1 Samuel 4:19] because of the same confusion could not be mourned with the distinction of a funeral.
"And the Lord was awakened as one sleeping". For He seems to sleep, when He gives His people into the hands of those whom He hates, when there is said to them, "Where is your God?" "He was awakened, then, like one sleeping, like a mighty man drunken with wine." No one would dare to say this of God, save His Spirit.…
"And He smote His enemies in the hinder parts": those, to wit, who were rejoicing that they were able to take His Ark: for they were smitten in their back-parts. [1 Samuel 5:6] Which seems to me to be a sign of that punishment, wherewith a man will be tortured, if he shall have looked back upon things behind; which,…
"And He rejected," he saith, "the tabernacle of Joseph, and the tribe of Ephraim He chose not" (ver. 68). "And He chose the tribe of Judah" (ver. 69). He hath not said, He rejected the tabernacle of Reuben, who was the first-born son of Jacob; nor them that follow, and precede Judah in order of birth; so that they…
Lastly there follows, "and He built like as of unicorns His sanctification": or, as some interpreters have made thereof a new word, "His sanctifying." The unicorns are rightly understood to be those, whose firm hope is uplifted unto that one thing, concerning which another Psalm says, "One thing I have sought of the…
"And He chose David His servant". The tribe, I say, of Judah, for the sake of David: but David for the sake of Christ: the tribe then of Judah for the sake of Christ. At whose passing by blind men cried out, "Have pity on us, Son of David:" [Matthew 20:30] and immediately by His pity they received light, because true…
"And He took him from the flocks of sheep, from behind the teeming sheep He received him: to feed Jacob His servant, and Israel His inheritance". This David indeed, of whose seed the flesh of Christ is, from the pastoral care of cattle was translated to the kingdom of men: but our David, Jesus Himself, from men to…
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