Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 78:52
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
52. But made &c.] But he led forth his people like sheep. The verb is that which is commonly used of the journeyings of the Israelites from stage to stage through the wilderness (Exo 15:22 &c.). The figure of Israel as Jehovah’s flock is a favourite one in the Asaphite Psalms (Psa 74:1 note).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
52 55. God’s guidance of Israel through the wilderness into Canaan. Cp. Exo 15:13-17. The circumstances of the Journey have been already recounted in Psa 78:13 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But made his own people to go forth like sheep … – That is, he was a shepherd to them. He defended them; provided for them; led them – as a shepherd does his flock. See the notes at Psa 23:1-2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
52-54. made his . . . forthor,brought them by periodical journeys (compare Ex15:1).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But made his own people to go forth like sheep,…. The people of Israel, whom the Lord chose to be his peculiar people above all others; these he caused to go forth out of Egypt, with a mighty hand and stretched out arm; like sheep, weak, timorous, unarmed, harmless, and inoffensive, not a dog daring to move his tongue at them: the power of God was wonderfully displayed in the delivery of his poor, helpless, and oppressed people, well may it be ascribed to him; for it was not their arm, but his, that brought them out:
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; by the hands of Moses and Aaron, Ps 77:20, he also going before them as the Shepherd of the flock, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night; he kept them together as a flock from scattering, straying, and being lost; and directed their way in the untrodden wilderness, through all the windings and turnings of it, and protected them from all dangers and enemies.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
52. And he made his people to go forth like sheep. The Psalmist again celebrates God’s fatherly love towards the chosen people, whom, as we have elsewhere remarked, he compares to a flock of sheep. They had no wisdom or power of their own to preserve and defend themselves; but God graciously condescended to perform towards them the office of a shepherd. It is a singular token of the love which he bore towards them, that he did not disdain to humble himself so far as to feed them as his own sheep. What could a multitude who had never been trained up to the art of war do against powerful and warlike enemies? So far from having learned the art of war, the people, as is well known, had been employed, when in Egypt, in mean and servile occupations, as if they had been condemned to toil under the earth in mines or in quarries.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Here a sweet contrast is drawn, in the view of divine love and compassion, notwithstanding human ingratitude. The sacred writer takes up the subject in tracing the history of the church even into Canaan, and shows that even here, in the land flowing with milk and honey, as well as in a wilderness, a corrupt and fallen nature carries about with it its corruptions still. And what doth the whole of such representations of our nature teach, but the same as we are taught now, that all have sinned, and come short of God’s glory; and that by the deeds of the law can no flesh be justified before God. Oh! how precious here again is the contemplation of Him who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. And oh! how rapturous the thought, that he who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 78:52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Ver. 52. But made his own people to go forth like sheep ] i.e. Tuto et lente, softly and safely, as Gen 33:13 , tending them with all tenderness, and providing for their necessities.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wilderness. Compare Isa 63:11-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But: Psa 77:20, Psa 105:37, Neh 9:12, Isa 63:11-14
like a: Psa 95:7, Psa 100:3, Isa 40:11, Jer 23:2-4, Eze 34:11-31, Luk 15:4-6, Joh 10:11-42
Reciprocal: Exo 14:29 – walked Exo 15:13 – led Deu 32:12 – the Lord Psa 80:1 – leadest Psa 105:43 – And he Psa 106:9 – He rebuked Psa 107:7 – he led Psa 107:41 – maketh Psa 136:11 – brought out Jer 31:2 – found Eze 34:31 – ye my Mat 25:32 – as Joh 10:3 – and leadeth Heb 8:9 – to lead
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 78:52-54. But made his own people go out like sheep Distinguishing between them and the Egyptians, as a shepherd divideth between the sheep and the goats, having set his own mark upon these sheep, by the blood of the Lamb sprinkled on their door-posts. And they went forth as sheep, not knowing whither they went. And guided them in the wilderness As a shepherd guides his flock, with all possible care and tenderness. And he led them on safely Though in dangerous paths; so that they feared not That is, they did not need to fear. They were indeed afraid at first, but after Moses had encouraged them they grew bold and secure, one evidence whereof was, that they confidently went into the middle of the sea, and passed between the vast heaps of water which were on both sides of them. And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary Or, of his holiness, or holy place; that is, the land of Canaan, which is so called, (Ezr 9:8; Zec 2:8,) as being separated by God from all other lands, for his people and service, and sanctified by his presence, and his dwelling in it. Even to this mountain Either the mountain upon which the tabernacle and temple stood; or rather the mountainous country of Canaan, which is called a land of hills and valleys, Deu 11:11.