Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:34
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.
34. When he slew them, then they would inquire after him:
And return and seek God earnestly.
The tenses denote the repeated alternations of punishment and repentance. Cp. Jdg 2:11 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
When he slew them – When he came forth in his wrath and cut them down by the plague, by fiery serpents, or by their enemies.
Then they sought him – Their calamities had the effect of producing temporary reformation. They became professedly penitent; they manifested a wish to know God, and expressed a purpose to serve him. It was, however, a temporary and hollow, not a deep and real reformation. This often occurs. In times of affliction, in sickness, in bereavement, in the loss of property, people become serious, and express a purpose to repent and turn to God. A deep impression seems to be produced on their minds, to last, alas! only as long as the hand of God rests upon them. Resolutions of repentance are formed only to be forgotten when the affliction is removed, and when the days of prosperity again return.
And they returned and inquired early after God – The word rendered inquired early has reference to the first rays of the morning – the aurora – the dawn. Then it comes to denote the beginning of anything; or, the first thing. Thus employed, it may refer to the act of seeking God as the first thing; in youth; in the morning; at the commencement of any enterprise or undertaking. See Pro 8:17; Pro 1:28. Here it means that, in their affliction, they did not delay to seek God, but expressed an early intention of serving him. They evinced a prompt purpose to break off their sins, and to return to him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 78:34-37
When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and inquired early after God.
Israels hypocritical repentance
I. The acts of repentance which they performed.
1. Seeking God.
2. Returning.
3. Inquiring.
4. Remembering (Psa 78:35).
5. Renewing their covenant with God (Psa 78:37).
II. The defects of their repentance.
1. It was untimely; a fore-slowed, and delayed repentance: that is implied in this word, when; not till such a time; then, not till then.
2. It was enforced repentance, not ingenuous and voluntarily undertaken; it was extorted by plagues. They repented when they were under the rod; nay, under the sword.
3. It was an unsound repentance; not true and sincere, but feigned and acted only: it was a flattering and lying repentance.
4. It was a momentary, transitory, unsettled, unconstant repentance, not firm and lasting. And these four are usually linked together, one draws on the other. These four twists make up Esays cart-rope of sin. What, then, is wanting? The main of all is, that the heart must be changed. A true convert, hath an inward principle of repentance planted into him; grace is a second nature, and works constantly, as Nature doth; but an hypocrite in his actions of reformation and repentance is moved not by an inward principle of God, but by some outward motive. When that ceases his conversion fails. The motions of piety in a good Christian are like natural motions; the motions of an hypocrite are as artificial motions. The motions of the sun and the motions of a clock keep time alike; and for a time, we will say, the clock goes as true as the sun. Aye, but heres the difference, the one moves out of an inward principle naturally; the other, the clock, is moved by an outward principle; the weight and plummet makes it go; and when that is down the clock stands still. Or, as in waters, a natural stream flows always, it is fed with a spring; but a sudden land-flood, though it runs strongly for a while, yet it will dry up; it hath no spring or fountain to feed it. (Bishop Browning🙂
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 34. When he slew them] While his judgments were upon them, then they began to humble themselves, and deprecate his wrath. When they saw some fall, the rest began to tremble.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They sought him; they prayed to him to deliver them from their deadly dangers; which even Pharaoh frequently did.
They returned, to wit, from their idols, unto the outward worship of God; or being moved with fear, they ceased for the present from their grossly wicked courses, which they might easily do without a dram of true repentance or hearty conversion to God.
Inquired early after God; speedily and earnestly sought to God for ease, and safety, and comfort, as wicked men in such cases frequently do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
When he slew them,…. Some of them, the spies particularly; or when he threatened to slay them, or was about to do it:
then they sought him; that is, those who either survived the slain, or were threatened with destruction; these sought the Lord by prayer and supplication, that he would not destroy them; the Targum is,
“they repented and sought him;”
see Nu 14:37,
and they returned; from their evil ways, and by repentance, at least in show and appearance:
and inquired early after God; but not earnestly, and with their whole hearts and spirits; the Targum is,
“they prayed before God;”
which is often done, by carnal professors, in trouble; see Isa 26:16 Ho 5:15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
34. When he slew them, then they sought him. By the circumstance here recorded, it is intended to aggravate their guilt. When under a conviction of their wickedness they acknowledged that they were justly punished, and yet did not with sincerity of heart humble themselves before God, but rather mocked him, intending to put him off with false pretences, their impiety was the less excusable. If a man who has lost his judgment does not feel his own calamities, he is excusable because he is insensible; but he who is forced to acknowledge that he is culpable, and yet always continues the same, or after having lightly sought pardon, in fair but deceitful words, suddenly returns to his former state of mind, manifestly shows by such hollowness of heart that his disease is incurable. It is here tacitly intimated, that the punishments, by which a people so obstinate were constrained to seek God, were of no common or ordinary kind; and we are informed, (verse 35, (339)) not only that they were convinced of wickedness, but also that they were affected with a sense and a remembrance of the redemption from which they were fallen. By this means they are the more effectually deprived of all excuse on the ground of ignorance. The language implies that they were not carried away inadvertently, or deceived through ignorance, but that they had provoked the wrath of God, by dealing treacherously, as it were with deliberate purpose. And, indeed, God opened their eyes with the view of more openly discovering their desperate wickedness, as if, shaking off their hypocrisy and flatteries, he drew them from their lurking-places into the light.
(339) In the Hebrew Bible, a masoretic note is inserted after the 35 verse, חצי הספר, chatsi ha-sepher, the middle of the book, that is, with respect to verses.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
34. When he slew them, then The “when” and “then” are emphatic words. If we give a more uniform rendering to , ( ve,) “then,” “and” “but,” in the English version, so as to preserve its relation to the contingent particle, , ( eem,) when, if, we get a clearer contrast between the character of God and that of his people as given Psa 78:34-39. Thus: When he slew them, then they sought him, Then they turned and early sought God, Then they remembered that God is their rock, Then [they remembered] God Most High, their redeemer, Then they enticed him with their mouth; Then with their tongue they did lie unto him; Then their heart was not established with him; Then they were not steadfast in his covenant: But he, being merciful, purged their iniquity, And destroyed them not, And many a time he turned his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath, And he remembered that they were flesh, A wind going that will not return.
Their repentance, being extorted by the pressure of their judgments, and not by conviction and godly sorrow for sin, was insincere, fickle, and false, and wrought out no reformation of life or true obedience. God, therefore, could govern them only with the rod and with terror.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 78:34-38. When he slew them, &c. When he slew them, and they sought him, and returned, &c.Ver. 35. And remembered, &c.Ver. 36. Though they did flatter himand lied, &c.Ver. 37. And their heart, &c.Ver. 38. Yet he, being full of compassion, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
DISCOURSE: 635
THE EXTENT OF GODS MERCY
Psa 78:34-39. When he slew them, then they sought him; and they returned and inquired early after God: and they remembered that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues: for their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath: for he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
THE psalm before us is altogether historical: yet may it be called one great parable. It is, in fact, so called by the Psalmist himself: and the very words by which he designates this composition are quoted by the Evangelist as fulfilled, when our blessed Lord spake to the people in parables, and in parables exclusively [Note: Compare ver. 2. with Mat 13:35.]. The truth is, that the whole account of the redemption of Israel from Egypt, with their preservation in the wilderness, and their final establishment in the land of Canaan, is typical of mans redemption through Christ, and of the final salvation of all Gods chosen people. It is not unlike the parable of the Prodigal Son: and, unless we view it in this light, and read in it the great concerns of our own souls, we have no just conception of its true import. As a record of the most important events in the Jewish history, the writer of it might justly urge the importance of transmitting it with care, and teaching it with diligence, to all succeeding generations [Note: ver. 36.]: but, as a vehicle of spiritual instruction, it is of inestimable value, not to Jews only, but to Gentiles also, and ought to be studied with care by every child of man.
We shall not now enter into a minute illustration of this truth, because it would occupy far more of your attention than could be allotted to one discourse: but a general view of the subject will be brought before us, whilst we notice the conduct of the Israelites towards God, and his forbearance towards them, or, in other words,
I.
The extent of their wickedness
They were continually provoking God to anger
[They were from the beginning a rebellious and gain-saying people. Never would they pay any regard to God, till they were constrained to do so by his chastening rod. In vain were his mercies multiplied unto them: they overlooked them all, and forgat all the wonders of his love and mercy [Note: ver. 11.]. Dissatisfied with what he gave them for their subsistence, notwithstanding it was angels food, they lusted after things which were in no respect necessary for their well-being [Note: ver. 1825.]. And when they had provoked God to punish them for their ungrateful murmurings, instead of being reclaimed by his chastisements, they only sinned yet more against him [Note: ver. 17, 32.]. When, in consequence of their obstinacy, these chastisements became more severe, and no way of deliverance was found but by their turning unto God, they pretended to return unto him; but it was a mere pretence. They called to remembrance his past interpositions in their favour, and professed to acknowledge him as their Redeemer and their God: but they only flattered him with titles, which excited no corresponding sentiments in their hearts, and lied unto him with vows, which they never intended to perform. They pretended to lay hold on his covenant: but they would not be steadfast in it, or perform any of the engagements which it entailed upon them.]
And what is this, but a history of ourselves also?
[In our prosperity, we care not about God; he is not in all our thoughts But under some heavy calamity we begin to lay to heart our former transgressions, and to inquire after God. This is common, especially in sickness, and at the expected approach of death [Note: Isa 26:16 and Hos 5:15.]. Then we can bear to hear of God, and of Christ; yea, we apply to God as our Father, and to Christ as our Redeemer; we acknowledge with apparent gratitude all that they have done for us; and profess a dependence on them for all that we stand in need of Yet in the midst of all these professions there is no true contrition, no real self-abhorrence, no fixed determination to give up ourselves unreservedly to God. We approach our God indeed, but it is with flattery and lies [Note: Hos 11:12.]. We profess much love to him, and much delight in that covenant which he has made with us in Christ Jesus; but our hearts are not right with him, neither are we steadfast in his covenant. This appears from our speedy return to vanity, as soon as ever the judgment is removed from us. We are like metal taken out of the furnace, which, however liquefied, soon returns to its original hardness. Our relentings possibly have been renewed either under the ministry of the word, or by some fresh calamity: but, after all, like Pharaoh, we have only verified that humiliating description of the Apostle, we have turned again with the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.]
These rebellions however against their God only gave occasion for displaying,
II.
The extent of his mercy
Many times did he forgive them
[Often, through the greatness of their provocations, did he lift up his hand to destroy them in the wilderness; but he forbore to execute upon them the judgments they deserved. He remembered that they were but flesh, or as a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again; and, if he should giv vent to his indignation against them, they must inevitably, and irremediably perish.]
It is thus also that he hath dealt with us
[How oft have we provoked him, and grieved him by our transgressions [Note: ver. 40.]! yet on every fresh occasion he has shewn himself slow to anger and of great kindness. Let every one think with himself how many seasons there have been, when, in heart at least, if not in act, we have exceeded our usual measure of wickedness, and when he might have cut us off, so to speak, with advantage, and made us signal monuments of his displeasure Yet he has borne with us, and not suffered his whole displeasure to arise. He has, thus far at least, forgiven us; and, in answer to the intercessions of our great High Priest, he has spared the barren fig-tree, revoking the order for its removal, and renewing, for its preservation, all the means which have hitherto been used in vain. Of this his mercy we are all living monuments: from time to time he has said concerning us, How shall I give thee up [Note: Hos 11:7-9.]? Wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be [Note: Jer 13:27.]? Yes, we must all bear witness for him, that the only reason of our not having been long since consumed, is, because his compassions fail not.]
See, then,
1.
What improvement we should make of afflictive providences
[What the Jews professed to do, we should do in reality God sends afflictions for this end and, if they produce this happy effect, we shall have reason to be thankful for them.]
2.
What, under all circumstances, should be the chief object of our attention
[The Jews failed, because their heart was not right with God. Let us look to this, that we indulge not hypocrisy in our hearts. If we call God our God, and our Redeemer, let our eyes be to him as our only, and our all-sufficient Help.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
The history of Israel fully shows this. While under the divine chastisements, oh! how seemingly earnest they sought the Lord: but when the rod was taken off, they returned every man again to his evil way. But, Reader, was Israel singular in this? Whose heart is free from the same reproach? Precious Jesus, how blessed here again, as in every other view, is thy perfect soul justifying, and sin-atoning righteousness, to my meditation. Where should I look for help, if I had not thee to flee unto?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 78:34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
Ver. 34. When he slew them, then they sought him ] Fictis scilicet, quibusdam et fucatis pollicitationabus, with a few dissembled devotions. So many now, when deadly, sick, will be wondrous good. Nuper me amici cuiusdam languor admonuit, optimos esse nos dum infirmi sumus (Plin. eph 26, 1. 7). As iron is very soft and malleable while in the fire, but soon after returneth to its former hardness; so many, while afflicted, seem very well affected, but afterwards soon show what they are. William Rufus, in a fit of sickness at Gloucester, vowed upon his recovery to see all vacancies in the Church furnished; which he did, but with so great ado as showed that, having escaped the danger, he would willingly have deceived the saint, saith the chronicler. In the sweating sickness here in England, so long as the ferventness of the plague lasted there was crying, Peccavi, peccavi, I have sinned, I have sinned, the ministers were sought for in every corner, You must come to my lord, you must come to my lady, &c.; but this lasted with many little longer than the disease; so deceitful is man’s heart, and desperately wicked. Most men are nailed to the earth (saith one well), as Sisera was by Jael; and will not so much as lift up their eyes to heaven, unless it be as hogs do, who go noddling down and rooting in the earth all their life, and never look upward till, being ready to be killed, they are laid flat upon their backs and forced; so these, till wrestling with the pangs of death, they are fastened to their sick-beds, &c.
And they returned
And inquired early after God
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 78:34-39
34When He killed them, then they sought Him,
And returned and searched diligently for God;
35And they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer.
36But they deceived Him with their mouth
And lied to Him with their tongue.
37For their heart was not steadfast toward Him,
Nor were they faithful in His covenant.
38But He, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them;
And often He restrained His anger
And did not arouse all His wrath.
39Thus He remembered that they were but flesh,
A wind that passes and does not return.
Psa 78:34-39 This strophe describes the false repentance of the surviving Israelites and YHWH’s reaction to it.
1. the seeming repentance, Psa 78:34-35
a. they sought Him
b. they returned to Him
c. they searched diligently for Him
d. they remembered God was their rock/redeemer
2. their true thoughts/actions (Psa 78:36-37)
a. they deceived Him by lying (Psa 78:36 a and b, cf. Isa 29:13)
b. their hearts were not steadfast toward Him
c. they were not faithful to His covenant
3. YHWH’s reactions (Psa 78:38-39)
a. He is compassionate (cf. Exo 34:6; Neh 9:17; Psa 103:8, see SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL’S GOD )
b. He forgave (lit. covered over, BDB 497, KB 493, Piel imperfect)
c. He did not destroy them
d. He restrained (lit. turned away) His anger
e. He did not arouse all His wrath
f. He remembered that they were but flesh (cf. Psa 103:14) which is here today and gone tomorrow
Psa 78:38-39 does not mean that they were not judged (cf. Psa 78:34 a), but that YHWH did not completely destroy them.
Psa 78:38-39 is used in many rabbinical writings. It is a summary of the character of God (cf. Exo 34:6; Neh 9:17; Psa 103:8-14).
Psa 78:35 Notice the different names and titles for Deity.
1. Elohim (BDB 43, KB 52)
2. their rock (cf. Psa 18:2; Psa 19:14)
3. El (BDB 42, KB 48)
4. Elyon (BDB 751, KB 832)
5. their redeemer (cf. Psa 19:14)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Num 21:7, Jdg 3:8, Jdg 3:9, Jdg 3:12-15, Jdg 4:3, Jdg 10:7-10, Isa 26:6, Jer 22:23, Hos 5:15, Hos 7:14
Reciprocal: Exo 8:8 – and I will Exo 8:29 – deal Num 11:2 – cried Num 22:34 – I Have sinned Deu 1:45 – General Jdg 3:15 – cried unto Jdg 6:6 – cried Jdg 20:23 – wept Jdg 21:4 – rose early 1Sa 12:10 – And they 1Sa 12:19 – Pray for thy 2Sa 19:20 – I am come 1Ki 13:33 – made again 1Ki 21:29 – Ahab 2Ki 3:10 – the Lord 2Ki 13:4 – Jehoahaz 2Ch 12:6 – humbled Job 27:10 – will he always Psa 63:1 – early Psa 107:19 – General Pro 1:28 – they shall seek Jer 2:27 – but in the time Jer 34:11 – General Hos 6:4 – for Hos 8:2 – General Jon 1:6 – arise Mal 2:13 – covering Mat 13:20 – anon Joh 4:46 – whose
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 78:34-35. When he slew them Or condemned them to be slain; then they sought him Confessed their sin, begged pardon, and prayed to him to deliver them from the threatened destruction. When some were slain, others, in a fright, cried for mercy, and promised to be obedient in future: And they returned Namely, from their idols, unto the outward worship of God: or, being moved with fear, they ceased, for the present, from their grossly wicked courses, but stopped short of true repentance, and a thorough conversion to God. And inquired early after God Speedily and earnestly sought to him for deliverance from their temporal calamities and troubles, and for safety and comfort, as even wicked men, in such cases, frequently do. And they remembered that God was their rock Their support and defence, and therefore, as they now found they needed him, they would flee for help to him; and the high God their Redeemer Who had brought them out of Egypt, and wrought out many deliverances for them, and to whom therefore they might still apply for aid in their distresses. They considered that he, and he alone, had preserved them in all their former exigences, and that he only could now help them, and not those idols, nor the creatures which they had preferred before him: and therefore, being driven by absolute necessity, they fled to him for relief.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
78:34 When he {t} slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
(t) Such was their hypocrisy, that they sought God out of fear of punishment, though in their heart they did not love him.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
When God killed some of that generation, others of them turned back to Him. However, they did not do so wholeheartedly or consistently. Still, God faithfully showed them compassion, forgave them, and did not destroy all of them at once. The contrast between Israel’s unfaithfulness and Yahweh’s loyal love stands out in this pericope.