Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:14
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
14. And he led them with the cloud by day (cp. Exo 13:21), as a shepherd leads his flock ( Psa 78:53; Psa 77:20).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the day-time also he led them with a cloud – That is, the cloud was the visible symbol of his presence, and its movements determined the way in which they were to go. It was God who led them, and who adopted this manner of doing it, so that they had always with them, by day and by night, a visible proof of his presence. There was that with them which could not be ascribed to any natural causes, and which, therefore, demonstrated that God was with them, and that as long as they followed the cloud and the pillar of fire they could not err. See Exo 13:21; Exo 14:24. They had the less excuse, therefore, for rebelling against him.
And all the night with a light of fire – A column – a pillar – which stood over the camp, and which was a symbol of the divine presence and guidance. The cloud would not be visible by night, nor would the fire be a good guide by day; and hence, the form of the symbol was changed. The same thing, however, was intended by both, and together they were standing proofs of the presence of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 78:14
In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Day and night leading
Did some man imagine this? I thank him. It was worth being born to imagine this conception of God. It is so tender, so fatherlike; it is charged to the full with inspiration of the best kind; it makes all things feel securer; it brings to the soul contributions from all quarters, contributions that increase its wealth, that improve its quality, that inspire its courage,
1. A startling statement that people were led in the daytime. Surely there is no need for leadership in the season of light. We have reason, experience, natural sagacity, human society, a thousand other ministries all operating in the daytime: what need have we for divinity, supernaturalness, providence–that higher rule which is called Divine? A very proper question, admitting of a very satisfactory reply. It is in the daytime men go most astray. Very few people go astray at night. There is a natural fear, which becomes a natural caution and restriction of liberty, and men say they had better wait until the light comes before they go out on any adventure. How tempting is the daylight I How well it would have been for some men had there been no daylight! How much there is in that daylight to excite the spirit of adventure! Yet, properly used, it is the very blessing of God, the great opportunity of life–so nearly do death and life lie together. God led His people in the daytime with a cloud. It required a poet to think of that.
2. Even the night need not shut out the light of God: all the night He led them with a light of fire. There must be night. That is strange, but true. There must be darkness. Why cannot we always have holiday, festival, noontide? If we close the Bible, we do not alter the facts of life. Better keep the Bible at hand as the deepest and wisest interpreter of all the mystery of existence. The Bible comes into the night of our experience, and says, I will set it with stars all over, so that there shall not be room to put another diamond in all the coronal; and as for this cold night, I will light a fire–not a crackling flame, but a glowing fire–and the darkness shall make it the more precious. How Providence adapts its communications to circumstances. A cloud would have been no use at night; a fire would have been wholly out of keeping with the poetry of daylight. Providence knows what is best. The fitness of things is a religious argument. There is a shaping Hand about. What is my proof of the existence of God? My own lifetime, that is a tract I never bought, and cannot sell, and the more I read it the more I pray. Providence brings with it not only a light at night-time, but a light of fire. It might have been another light, but it would not have fitted all the occasion with so exquisite an adaptation. The night is cold, so the light is of fire. Other light may glare and dazzle, gleam upon the eyes so as to hurt the vision, but oh! there are two comforts in the household fire–the warmth and the light; not a light that could be seen afar, but a light just adapted to the next step or two–and so warm, it makes the house. And the fire is the crown of the winter. It is the very centre and joy of our Christmas festivity. However far you stray away in the snow it is the fire in the house that is getting ready for you the very delight of your enjoyment. There may be more barbarism than civilization, there may be more wickedness than goodness, there may be more desert than garden; and it is not for us to explain why these things should be or how they came to be; the counsel is in heaven, and we are living from without and from above, and by and by we shall be called in to hear how it all came to pass, and how the very darkness was made into a temple, how the very wilderness was needful for the culture of our life, and how our necessity was one of our chief riches. How regularly the day comes, how regularly the night; how regularly, therefore, the cloud and the pillar of glowing, illuminating fire. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Gods unceasing care
All the night! how much is often conveyed in that word all: to have lain awake all night without one snatch of sleep; to have tossed to and fro, all night, wondering how long the hours are; these are some of the experiences of those who are familiar with this little word all in connection with night. The soul has its seasons of protracted trial, when it speaks of all night. Long-continued temptations, or depressions, or struggles, make it talk of all night. And now, that which so cheers us is the thought that there is no night too long for God. He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep; whatever may be the length of our night the Lord is unwearied through it all. Mans watching is exemplified by the disciples in Gethsemane; Gods by the pillar of fire. Could ye not watch one hour? is the record of the one; all the night is the record of the other. Is it not a blessed thought that, however much we may weary our fellow-watchers, so that one by one they drop off, by reason of the weariness of the flesh, we never weary out our God! And as God watches with us if we be wakeful, so also He watches over us if we be at rest. We never can enjoy any real repose of soul unless it be in the consciousness that God is near us, above us, manifesting Himself for us. A watchful and a watching God is the believers warrant for repose; we repose beneath, when we are sure that He watches above. And Gods watch is an undivided one–all the night. He does not take us up, where another has laid us down. We have not to do with a new watcher, who has to learn from his predecessor all the peculiarities of our condition; where we are sore; how we must be handled; what are our peculiarities; what our special needs; it is the one watcher all through. And hence may Gods people be assured of true tenderness; and consummate skill; and an anticipation of all their needs; our Divine Watcher has been too long with us not to know all we want. (P. B. Power, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
A cloud; which was very comfortable, both for a shadow from the scorching heat of the climate and season, and for a companion and director in their journey.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud,…. Which was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and the Lord in it, and directed their way, and protected them from heat; see Ex 13:21 Ne 9:12 this was typical of Christ, who is a shadow and security from the heat of a fiery law, the flaming sword of justice, the wrath of God, which is poured forth like fire, the fiery darts of Satan, and from hurt by any enemy whatever; see Isa 4:5, and who leads his people through the wilderness of this world by his Spirit, by his word, and by his own example; and who is the best and safest guide to follow:
and all the night with a light of fire; which also was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and gave light in the night, and the Lord was in it; and this also was typical of Christ, who is the light of his people amidst all their darkness in this world.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
THE GUIDANCE OF GOD
Psa 78:14; Psa 78:72
I MAKE no claim of a balanced ministry. It has been the custom of years when the Sunday service is finished, to face the eternal question, What is the next need of my people; and in most instances, I have been thinking of progress in the individual life and in the collective body of church believers.
I fear, therefore, I have been more of a leader of the flock than a shepherd to the same. The great Shepherd Psalm opens after this manner, The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to He down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.
For the most part, I have spent my time in trying to keep my flock from lying down, thus saving them from being lulled to sleep by too great a quiet. In other words, I have emphasized the strenuous endeavor.
This text presents another side of religion entirely, the side of rest and trust, the cultivation of a quiet spirit, the upbuilding of confidence; and certainly, that is a side not to be overlooked. Life itself seems now to be divided into three sections per day, eight hours for work, eight hours for play, and eight hours for sleep. This is the program that men have deliberately adopted, the program everywhere preached as the Gospel of component parts. There may be those who would take issue with the first and say eight hours was too little, or too much, for work. There are many of us who believe that eight hours is too much for play; but few indeed would deny that eight hours, in daily rest, is natures demand. If the body demands so much quiet and utilizes that quiet for rebuilding and recuperation, may we not imagine that the souls interest demands a kindred treatment? If it be true, as the Scriptures teach, that God giveth to His beloved in sleep, may we not also conclude that His method of bodily refreshing is His method of soul refreshment? Pacivity, therefore, is a spiritual necessity; and it is a great thing to know that God regards that fact, and in His grace makes provision for it.
Rest and trust, these are also Christian graces. We are told to Trust, and not be afraid; and these texts, taken from this seventy-eighth Psalm, present the true ground of peace; the basis of restful confidence.
The Psalmist would remind Israel of the time when the sea stretched across their path. The enemy, pushing hard from the rear, left only the prospect of destruction. But the Lord made the waters to stand up as an heap and Israel to go over dry shod; and in connection with the event In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
GODS GUIDANCE, THEN, IS CONSTANT
In the daytime He leads with a cloud. There are people who verily imagine that they need no leader in daytime. Daylight makes the path of life plain; daylight frightens voracious beasts back into the forest or sends them under ground; and daylight is supposed to be destitute of danger. There are many of us that imagine, as the little child did when about to retire at night, saying, Dear Lord, look after me till sun-up; during the daytime I will take care of myself. Her speech was frank and sincere and it voiced the egotistical opinion of her elders. When all is well, when no storm gathers, when no opposing army is at hand, when no blackness of darkness is roundabout, we imagine we can look after our own affairs. We can guide ourselves by common sense, we can determine the path to take by reason; we can provide against exigencies by consulting experience, therefore, whether we confess it to ourselves or not, we practically say that we can get on without God. What folly! As dear Joseph Parker said, Daytime men go most astray. In the daytime they make the biggest fools of themselves, outwitting their own sagacity, and following things that have no reality.
Upon a little reflection we find these words true to fact. Our biggest mistakes are made in the moments when we are least alarmed and feel the least need of carefulness, much less, guidance. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fair and they are both exercised in daytime. The poet had cause for his words:
Saviour lead me, lest I stray,Gently lead me all the way;I am safe when by Thy side,I would in Thy love abide.
In the darkness God guides. And all the night with a light of fire. Has it not occurred to us that the guidance at night is more positive than in the daytime? A fire is more brilliant than a cloud. There is sound reason for such leadership. When darkness is oh we need the greater light. The moon and the stars are not adequate for that; the sun is now set. God does not leave us to natures uncertain shining; He provides a light beyond the brightness of the moon and above the brilliance of all the stars, the light of fire. It is possible, then, to be guided in the hours of danger by even a better path than we follow in bright day. Our very fear of the danger fixes our eyes upon the light, and following that point, we may make straighter tracks, take a straighter course than we would do in bright day.
Who is there, then, looking back over a long life, will not say frankly, my greatest mistakes were made in my apparently best hours; my most careless steps were taken when the sun was at the meridian? In the night I walked with caution and came into less danger; and consequently, less often fell before calamity. The most of us have had bright days that we could banish from our personal history and lose nothing. Not so with the dark nights through which we have come. Who would forget them! Who could forget the pressure of the Fathers hand, the whisper of His love, the consciousness of His grace and constant care, the sense of His long-suffering presence.
In Gods guidance there is definite direction. Some men say, Oh, if I only knew the path of duty! As for myself I have little trouble on that score. I find I only lose Gods definite direction when I have refused to follow it. If any man will do His will, he shall know. There are a good many people in the world who complain that lifes pathway lies always in the wilderness, or over the trackless desert, and man is a wanderer and lost because no path has been cleared in the forest; no well-beaten track appears in the sand. But these are the people who have tried lifes pilgrimage aloneasking no favors of God. The man who starts from New York to San Francisco without guide or map will find the road crooked and long, and will lose it many times, if he ever makes the distance at all. The man who puts his trust in the Nickel Plate and Santa Fe engineers, takes his seat in a sleeping car and rests, will be in San Francisco in four days over a definite road, never having left the track by the space of an inch. If you would find out Gods way, look in Gods guidebook, the Bible, and follow that, and the direction will never be indefinite or in doubt. He is a wise man who with the Psalmist prays, Oh, Lord, * * for Thy Names sake lead me, and guide me. He is a very foolish man, who in the morning kneels beside his bed and asks God to lead him that day, and then goes off in the path of his own pleasure or preference.
If thou but suffer God to guide thee,And hope in Him through all thy ways,Hell give thee strength whatever betide thee,And bear thee through the evil days,Who trusts in Gods unchanging loveBuilds on the rock that cannot move.
Fuente: The Bible of the Expositor and the Evangelist by Riley
14. He led them See Psa 105:39
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Ver. 14. In the daytime also he led them with a cloud ] This cloud not only conducted them, but also compassed them in on every side, both to keep them from the parching heat of the sun, and to save them from the sight and violence of their enemies, Exo 13:21 . A figure of God’s guidance of his Church, and protection over the same, Isa 4:5 Neh 9:9 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
led them. Compare Exo 13:21; Exo 14:24; and note the correspondence of 13-16 with 52-55, in the Structure above.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 105:39, Exo 13:21, Exo 13:22, Exo 14:24, Exo 40:35-38, Neh 9:12, Neh 9:19
Reciprocal: Exo 40:36 – when Exo 40:38 – fire Num 9:15 – the cloud Num 9:16 – General Num 14:14 – thy cloud Deu 1:31 – in the wilderness Deu 1:33 – in fire Deu 11:5 – General Deu 32:12 – the Lord Isa 4:5 – a cloud Jer 31:2 – found Act 7:36 – and in the wilderness 1Co 10:1 – were