Psalm 78:1-72 Book# 3 of Psalms

Maschil, [a.k.a. Maskil,] of Asaph.

Psalm 78:1-72            Book# 3 of Psalms [in Smaller Chunks]

O My people, [lend] [your] ear [& listen] to My Law. [Lean] your ears to the Words of My mouth. *I will open My mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old; which we have heard & known, & our [forefathers] have told us.

[*Matthew 13:33-35 Another parable He [spoke] to them; The kingdom of heaven is [similar] to [yeast,] which a woman took, & hid in 3 measures of [flour, until] the whole [dough] was leavened. All these things, Jesus [spoke] to the multitude in parables.

And He [didn't speak] without a parable to them: [so] that it might be fulfilled, [what] was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables. I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.]

We won't hide them from their children, [declaring] to the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, His strength, & His wonderful works, [a.k.a. miracles,] that He [has] done. [Exodus 13:14-15 And it shall be when your son [asks] you in [times] to come, saying, What is this? That you shall say to him, The Lord, brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage, by [the] strength of  [His] hand.

And it [happened,] when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of: man, & [animals.] Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord all [first born] males, but all the firstborn of My children, I redeem.]

For He established a Testimony in Jacob, & appointed a Law in Israel, which He commanded our [forefathers, so] that they should make them known to their children. [So,] that the generation to come might know them, even the children [to] be born, who should arise, & declare them to their children. [Deuteronomy 4:5-7 [Look,] I have taught you: [mandates,] & judgments, [a.k.a. justice,] even [like] the Lord my God commanded me, [so] that you should do so in the land [where] you go to possess it. Therefore keep, & do them. For this is your wisdom & your understanding in the sight of the nations, [that] shall hear all these [mandates,] & say, Surely, this great nation is a wise & understanding people. For what nation is there so great, [to] [whom] God [is] so [close] to them, [like] our God is, in all things that that we call upon Him for?]

[So,] that they might [put] their hope in God, & not forget the works, [a.k.a. miracles,] of God, but keep His commandments, & might not be [like] their [forefathers,] a stubborn, & rebellious generation. A generation that [doesn't correctly focus] their [hearts,] & whose spirit wasn't [steadfast, a.k.a. loyal,] with God. [2 Kings 17:12-15 For they served idols, [of which] the Lord had said to them, You shall not do this thing. [Still,] the Lord testified against: Israel, & Judah, by all the: prophets, & seers [warning them,] & saying, [Return yourselves] from your evil  ways, & keep My commandments, & [mandates,] according to all the Law [that] I commanded your [forefathers, that] I sent to you by My servants, the prophets. [However,] they wouldn't hear,  but hardened their necks, [similar] to the [necks] of their [forefathers, who] didn't believe in the Lord their God. And they rejected His [mandates,] that He made with their [forefathers,] & His testimonies [that] He testified against them. And they followed vanity, & became vain. And went after the heathen [who] were [all around] them, whom the Lord had [ordered] them, that they shouldn't do like them.]

Being armed, & carrying bows, the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Ephraim, turned back [on] the day of battle. They [didn't keep] the covenant, [a.k.a. contract,] of God, & refused to walk, [a.k.a. follow,] in His Law. [2 Kings 17:16-18 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, & made [themselves molded] images, even 2 calves, made a grove, & worshiped all the host, [a.k.a. stars & constellations,] of heaven, & served Baal. And they caused their: sons & daughters to pass through the fire, & [they] used: divination, & enchantments, & sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, & removed them out of His sight. There [were] none left, [except] only the tribe of Judah.]

And [they] [forgot] His works, & wonders, [a.k.a. miracles,] that He had [demonstrated to] them. [Marvelous] things He did in the sight of their [forefathers,] in the field of Zoan, in the land of Egypt. He divided the [Red] Sea, & caused them to pass through; & He made the waters stand [like a] heap. [Exodus 14:21-22 And Moses stretched out his hand over the [Red] Sea. And the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong East wind all that night, & made the sea dry land, & the waters were divided. And the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground. And the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, & on their left.]

Also, in the daytime, He led them with a cloud, & all the night with a light of fire. [Exodus 13:20-22 And they took their journey from Succoth, & [camped] in Etham, [at] the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went [out] [in front of] them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them [on] the way; & by a pillar of fire [at] night, to give them light, to go by day, & night. He [didn't take] away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire [at] night, from [in front of] the people.]

He [split] the rocks in the wilderness, & gave them [water] [to] drink [like] out of the great depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, & caused waters to run down like rivers. [Numbers 20:7-11 And the Lord [spoke] to Moses, saying, Take the rod, & you gather the assembly together. You, & your brother, Aaron, speak to the rock, [in front of] their eyes, & it shall [produce its] water, & you [shall] bring them water out of the rock. So you [shall] give the congregation, & their [animals] [water to] drink. And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him. And Moses & Aaron gathered the congregation together, [in front of] the rock, & [Moses] said to them, Now hear, you rebels. Must we [get] you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, & he [struck] the rock twice with his rod, & the water came out abundantly, & the congregation drank, & also their [animals.]

And they [still] sinned more against Him by provoking the Most High in the wilderness. And they [tested] God in their heart by asking for meat [to satisfy] their [lusts.] [Still,] they [spoke] against God. They said, Can God furnish a table [of food] in the wilderness? [Look,] He [struck] the rock, [so] that the waters gushed out, & the streams overflowed; can He also give bread? Can He provide [meat] for His people?  [Exodus 16:13-15 And it [happened,] that [evening,] the quails came up, & covered the camp. And in the morning, the dew lay [all around the Israelites.] And when the dew that lay [on the ground had] gone up, [a.k.a. evaporated,] behold, there lay a small round thing, as small as the frost on the ground, upon the [surface] of the wilderness. And when the children, [a.k.a.  people,] of Israel saw it, they said to one another, It is manna, for they [didn't know] what it was. And Moses said to them, This is the bread [that] the Lord [has] given you to eat.]

Therefore, the Lord heard this, & was [angry:] so a fire [grew] against Jacob, & anger also came up against Israel; because they [didn't believe] in God, & didn't trust in His Salvation. [Numbers 21:5-6 And the people [spoke] against God, & against Moses, [For what reason,] have you brought us up, out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, & neither is there any water, & our soul [loathes] this light bread, [a.k.a. manna.] And the Lord sent fiery serpents, [a.k.a. snakes,] among the people, & they bit the people, & [many] people of Israel died.]

[Although] He had commanded the clouds from above, & opened the doors of heaven, & had rained down manna upon them to eat, & had given them the corn, [a.k.a. grain, from] heaven. [The Lord God] sent them meat [until they were] full, & man [ate] Angel's food, [a.k.a. manna.]

He caused an East wind to blow in heaven, & by His power, He brought in the South wind. He also rained [meat] upon them [like] dust, & feathered [quail] like the sand of the sea. And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, [all around] their [dwellings.]

So, they [ate,] & were [very full:] for He gave them their own desire. They weren't estranged, [a.k.a. didn't turn away,] from their [lusts.] But while their meat was [still] in their mouths, the [anger] of God came upon them, & [killed] the [most plump] of them, & [struck] down the chosen men of Israel.

[After] all this, they still sinned, & [didn't believe] His wondrous works, [a.k.a. miracles.] Therefore, He [consumed] their days in vanity, & their years in trouble. [Numbers 14:35-38 I, the Lord, have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, [who] are gathered together against Me.

They shall be consumed, in this wilderness, & they shall die there. And the men, [whom] Moses sent to [spy out] the land, who returned, & by bringing up [a false report about] the land, made all the congregation [grumble] against Him.

Even those men, [who brought] up the [bad] report [about] the land, died before the Lord by the plague. But: Joshua, [Nun's] son, & Caleb, [Jephunneh's] son, still lived [from those] men [who] went to search the land.]

When He [killed] them, then they sought Him, & they returned & [inquired] early after God. And they remembered that God was their Rock, & the High God, their Redeemer. [However,] they [flattered] Him with their [mouths,] & they lied to Him with their tongues. [Mark 7:6-7 [Jesus] answered & said to them, [Elijah has] prophesied [correctly about] you, hypocrites, [like] it is written [in the Scriptures,] This people [honor] Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. [However,] they worship Me in vain, teaching the commandments of men, for doctrines.]

For their heart was not [honest] with Him, & neither were they [faithful] in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their [sin, & didn't destroy] them. [Yes,] many [times,] He turned His anger away, & didn't stir up all His [fury.] [Isaiah 48:9-11 For My Name's sake, I will [hold off My] anger, & for My praise, I will [withhold it] for you, [so] I [don't] cut you off. [Look,] I have refined you, but not with silver. I have chosen you [from] the furnace of affliction. For [My] Own sake, I will do it, even for [My] Own sake: for how should My Name be [defiled?] And I won't give My glory to another.]

For He remembered that they were [only] flesh, [like] a wind that [blows] away, & [doesn't come] again. How [often] did they provoke Him in the wilderness, & grieve Him in the desert! [Deuteronomy 1:30-33 He shall fight for you, according to all that He did for you in Egypt, [in front of] your eyes, The Lord your God, [Who goes in front of] you. And you [have] seen how the Lord your God [carried] you, [like] a man [carries] his son, in all the [ways] that you went in the wilderness, until you came into this place. [Still,] you didn't believe the Lord your God in this thing. Who went in the [road in front of] you, in: fire [at] night, & a cloud by day, to [show] you what way you should go, & to search out a place [for] you to pitch your tents.]

[Yes,] they turned back, & [tested] God, & [had] limited [faith in] the Holy One of Israel. [Numbers 14:22-23 Because all those men [who] have seen My glory, & My miracles, [that] I did in Egypt, & in the wilderness, & have [tested] Me now, these 10 times, & haven't [paid attention] to My voice. Surely, they shall not see the land [that] I [swore] to their [forefathers,] & neither shall any see it of [those who] provoked Me.]

They [didn't remember] His hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the enemy. How He had [performed] His signs in Egypt, & His wonders in the field of Zoan, & had turned their rivers into blood, & their [streams, so] that they couldn't drink. [Psalm 105:29 He turned their waters into blood, & [killed] their fish.]

He sent [various] sorts of flies among them, which devoured them. [Psalm 105:31 He [spoke,] & [various] sorts of flies, & lice came there [on] all their coasts.]

And [sent] frogs, which destroyed them. [Psalm 105:30 Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the [rooms] of their kings.]

He also gave [the] increase [of] their [produce] to the caterpillar, & their [labor] to the locust. [Psalm 105:34-35 He [spoke,] & the locusts & the caterpillars came, without number, & they [ate] up all the [vegetation] in their land, & devoured the fruit of their ground.]

He destroyed: their vines with hail, & their sycamore trees with frost. [Psalm 105:32-33 He gave them hail for rain, & flaming fire in their land. He [struck] their vines, & also their fig trees, & [broke] the trees of their coasts.]

He also gave up: their cattle, [a.k.a. livestock,] to the hail, & their flocks to hot thunderbolts. [Exodus 9:23-26 And Moses stretched [out] his rod toward heaven, & the Lord sent thunder & hail. And the fire ran along upon the ground, & the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and [the] fire [was mixed] with the hail, very [grievously,] such as there [wasn't any] like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

And the hail [struck] throughout all the land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man, & [animals.] The hail [struck down] every herb of the field, & [broke] every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, [there] was no hail, where the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel were.]

He cast upon them, the fierceness of His anger, [fury,] indignation, [a.k.a. anger aroused by injustice,] & trouble, by sending evil angels among them. [Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil & Satan, which [deceives] the whole world. He was cast out into the earth, & his angels were cast out with him.]

He made a [pathway for] His anger, & He [didn't spare] their soul from death, but gave their life over to the [plagues,] & [struck] all [Egypt's] firstborn, the [best] of their strength, in the tabernacles of Ham. [Exodus 12:29-30 And it [happened,] that at midnight the Lord [struck] all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, [who] sat on his throne, [all the way] to the firstborn of the captive, [who] was in the dungeon, & all the firstborn of cattle, [a.k.a. livestock.] And Pharaoh, his servants, & all the Egyptians; rose up in the night, & in Egypt, there was a great [out] cry; for there wasn't a house where there wasn't one dead.]

But made His Own people go [out] like sheep, & guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And He led them on safely, so that they [weren't afraid:] but the [Red] Sea overwhelmed their enemies. [Exodus 14:23-30 And the Egyptians, even all Pharaoh's: horses, chariots, & horsemen, pursued, & went in after [the Israelites, into] the midst of the sea. And [during] the morning watch, it [happened,] that the Lord looked through the pillar of fire, & the cloud, [at] the [Egyptian army,] & troubled the [army] of the Egyptians. And they took off their [chariots'] wheels, & [drove] them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord [fights] for them against the Egyptians. And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, [so] that the waters may [return] again upon: the Egyptians, their chariots, & their horsemen. And Moses stretched [out] his hand over the sea, & the sea returned to [its] strength when morning appeared. And  the Egyptians fled against it; & the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, & covered the: chariots, horsemen, & all of [Pharaoh's army, who] came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. But the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel walked upon dry land in the [middle] of the sea. And the waters were a wall [for] them on their right hand [side,] & on their left. [Like this,] the Lord saved Israel that day, out of the [hands] of the Egyptians. And Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.]

And He brought them to the border of His Sanctuary, even to this mountain, which His right hand had purchased. [Exodus 15:17-18 You shall bring them in, & plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, [that] You [have] made for You to dwell in. In the Sanctuary, O Lord, [that] Your hands have established. The Lord shall [rule] forever & ever.]

Also, He cast out the heathen before them, & divided them an inheritance by [lot,] & made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. [Joshua 23:3-5 And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations, because of you. For the Lord your God is He, [Who has] fought for you.

[Look,] I have divided unto you, by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even westward to the [Mediterranean] Sea. And the Lord your God, He shall [remove] them from [in front of] you, & drive them out from your sight. And you shall possess their land, [like] the Lord your God [has] promised to you.]

[Still,] they [tested,] & provoked the Most High God, & [didn't keep] His Testimonies. But [they] [returned] back, & dealt unfaithfully like their [forefathers.] [Deuteronomy 12:2-3 You shall [totally] destroy all the places, [with which] the nations [that] you shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, & upon the hills, & under every green tree.

And you shall overthrow their altars, & break their pillars, & burn their groves with fire. And you shall [cut] down the [carved] images of their gods, & destroy the names of them out of that place.]

They [went astray] like [an arrow from] a deceitful bow. For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, & moved Him to jealousy with their [carved] images. When God heard this, He was [furious,] & greatly [loathed] Israel. So, that He [abandoned] the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent [that] He placed among men.

[1 Samuel 4:11 And the Ark of God was taken, & the 2 sons of Eli, Hophni, & Phinehas, were killed.]

And delivered His strength into captivity, & [delivered] His glory into the enemy's hand. [Judges 18:30-31 And the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Dan, [put] up the [carved] image. And Jonathan, [Gershom's] son, the son of Manasseh, & [Jonathan,] & his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. And all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh, they [put] up Micah's [carved] image, [that] he made.]

He also gave His people over to the sword; & was [furious] with His inheritance.  [1 Samuel 4:10 And the Philistines fought, & Israel was [defeated,] & every man fled into his tent. And there was a very [large] slaughter of 30,000 footmen of Israel [who] fell there.]

The fire consumed their young men, & their maidens were not given [in] marriage. Their priests fell by the sword; & their widows [didn't mourn.] Then, the Lord [awakened like someone] out of sleep, & like a mighty man [who shouts, because] of wine. And He [struck] His enemies in the [hidden] parts, & He put them [into] perpetual [disgrace.]

[1 Samuel 5:6-7 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon [those] of Ashdod, & He destroyed them, & [struck] them with [tumors,] even Ashdod, & [its] coasts. And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The Ark of the God of Israel shall not [stay] with us: for His hand is [severe] upon us, & upon Dagon, our god.]

[Additionally,] He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, & [didn't choose] the tribe of Ephraim; but chose Mount Zion & the tribe of Judah, which He loved. And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He [has] established forever.

[1 Kings 6:1 And it [happened,] in the 480th year after the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel [had] come out of the land of Egypt, in the 4th year Solomon [ruled] over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the 2nd month, that [Solomon] began to build the house of the Lord.]

Also, [prior to that:] He chose David, His servant, & took him from the [sheep pens.] From following the [pregnant sheep] with [the] young, & He brought him to feed Jacob, His people, & Israel, His inheritance. [2 Samuel 7:8 Therefore, you [shall] now say to My servant, David, the Lord of Hosts [says this,] I took you from the [sheep pens,] from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.]

So, [David] fed them according to the integrity of his heart; & guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.