ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH PSALM

The psalmist, considering that it is God's command that his works be not forgotten, but that the father should deliver his former doings to posterity, that they might be to them both comfort and instruction, deter them from sin, and persuade them to fear God, gives in this Psalm a long catalogue of God's dealings with his people, even from their coming out of Egypt to the conclusion of the reign of David.

There are three principal parts in this Psalm: - I. A preface, in which the psalmist exhorts men to learn and declare the way of God, ver. 1-9.

II. A continued narrative of God's administration among the people, and their stubborn ness, disobedience, and contumacy; together with the punishments which God inflicted upon them, ver. 9-67.

III. His mercy, manifested in the midst of judgment; that he did not cut them off, but, after the rejection of Ephraim, (Israel,) made choice of Judah, Zion, and David.

I. In the PREFACE or exordium he labours to gain attention: "Give ear, O my people," ver. 1.

1. Shows that he is about to deliver doctrines and precepts from heaven. It is God's law, and it should be heard: 1. For its excellence, ver. 2. 2. For its certainty, ver. 3.

2. He shows the end, which is another argument for attention. 1. It must not be hidden from their children, that God might be praised, ver. 4. 2. And his power magnified; and 3. His people edified, ver. 5.

Then follow the duties of their children, which are three: 1. That they might know God, his law, his works, ver. 6. 2. That they might trust in him, ver. 7. 3. That they might be obedient, ver. 8.

II. The NARRTION. Their fathers were stubborn and rebellious, of which he gives several examples: - 1. In Ephraim: "They turned back in the day of battle," ver. 9.

2. They kept not the covenant of God, ver. 10.

3. They foryat his works in Egypt, ver. 11.

The psalmist extends this narrative, and shows, 1. God's goodness; 2.

Israel's obstinacy; 3. Their punishment.

I. His goodness in bringing them out of Egypt in such a marvellous way, ver. 12. 1. He divided the Red Sea, ver. 13. 2. He made the waters to stand on a heap, ver. 13.

1. His care in guiding them: 1. In the daytime by a cloud, ver. 14. 2. In the night by fire, ver. 14.

2. His love in providing for them. 1. He clave the rock that they might have water, ver. 15. 2. He caused these waters to follow them as rivers, ver. 16. 3. And thus they had an abundant supply, ver. 16.

Ir. Israel's obstinacy. 1. They sinned. 2. More and more. 3. Provoked the Holy One of Israel, ver. 17, 18.

They were incredulous.

1. They tempted God by desiring other supplies than his providence had designed. He gave them manna; they would have flesh.

2. They questioned his power, ver. 19.

3. They were foolishly impatient, and must have immediately whatever they thought proper, else they murmured. They said, 1. He smote the rock, and the water gushed out. 2. But can he give bread also? ver. 20.

III. Their punishment. 1. The Lord was wroth, ver. 21. 2. A fire was kindled. 3. Because they believed him not, nor trusted in his salvation, ver. 22.

He provided manna for them; an especial blessing, on various considerations.

1. It came from heaven, ver. 23.

2. It came abundantly. He "rained it down," ver. 24.

3. It was most excellent: "Man did eat angels' food," ver. 25.

Weary of this, they desired flesh. In this also God heard them. 1. He brought quails. 2, In abundance 3. Brought them to and about the camp, so that they had no labour to find them, ver. 25, 26, 28. 4. They were all gratified with them, ver. 29. See God's justice in their punishment, and the cause of it. 1. They were "not estranged from their lust," ver. 30. 2. His wrath came upon them. 3.

It came suddenly. 4. It slew them. 5. Even the chief of them, ver. 31. See their sin notwithstanding. 1. For all this, they sinned yet more. 2.

They were incredulous, ver. 32. 3. He caused them to consume their days in vanity. 4. And their years (forty long years) in trouble, ver. 33.

They began apparently to relent. 1. They sought him. 2. They returned. 3.

They sought after God. 4. They remembered that he was their Rock. 5.

And the Most High their Redeemer, ver. 34, 35.

But in this, their apparent amendment, they were guilty-1. Of hypocrisy, ver. 36. 2. Of insincerity, ver. 37. 3. Of instability: "They were not steadfast in his covenant," ver. 37.

On a review of this, the prophet extols the goodness of God that bore with such a people.

1. He opened to them the fountain of mercy: "He being full of compassion." 2. He displayed an act of this mercy: "He forgave their iniquity." 3. Though he punished in a measure, yet he restrained his vindictive justice, and destroyed them not, ver. 38.

His motives for this tenderness: 1. He remembered that they were but flesh. 2. That, their probation once ended, their state was fixed for ever, ver. 39. See the note.

He proceeds with the story of their rebellions. 1. They provoked him often in the wilderness. 2. They grieved him in the desert, ver. 40. 3. They returned to sin, tempted him. 4. Insulted him. 5. And forgat all his past mercies, ver. 41-43. More particularly, 1. They remembered not his hand, ver. 42. 2. Nor his signs in Egypt, ver. 44.

The wonders which he wrought in Egypt. Five of the plagues mentioned: - First plague. He turned their rivers into blood, ver. 44.

Fourth plague. He sent divers flies, ver. 45.

Second plague. The frogs destroyed them, ver. 45.

Eighth plague. The locusts, ver. 46.

Seventh plague. Their vines, &c. were destroyed, ver. 47.

1. He cast upon them the fierceness of his wrath. 2. Sent evil angels among them. 3. And made a path for his anger, ver. 49.

The first plague. He gave their life to the pestilence, ver. 50.

The last plague. He slew their first-born, ver. 51.

He now gives a recital of God's mercy in the following particulars: 1. He brought his people through the Red Sea, ver. 62.

2. He guided them as a flock.

3. He kept them in safety, ver. 53.

4. He did not suffer them still to wander, but brought them, - 1. To the border of his sanctuary. 2. Even to Mount Zion. 3. Cast out the heathen before them. 4. And divided them an inheritance by lot, ver. 54, 55.

Yet still, 1. "They tempted and provoked him." 2. "Kept not his testimonies." 3. "Turned aside" from his worship. 4. Were unfaithful. 5.

And idolatrous, ver. 55-68.

For this, - 1. God's wrath grows more hot against the people. 2. He greatly abhorred Israel. 3. Forsook the tabernacle. 4. Delivered up the ark.

5. Gave the people to the sword. 6. Gave up the priests to death. 7. And brought upon them general desolation, ver. 59- 64.

Once more, God-1. Remembers them in mercy. 2. Fixes his tabernacle among them. 3. Chooses David to be their king. 4. During the whole of whose days they had prosperity in all things, ver. 65-72.