Psalm 78:title–31

Lessons from Israel’s Past

A Maskil of Asaph. ⁿ

¹My people, hear my instruction;

listen to what I say. ^o

²I will declare wise sayings;

I will speak mysteries from the past ^p—

³things we have heard and known

and that our fathers have passed down to us. ^q

⁴We must not hide them from their children,

but must tell a future generation

the praises of the Lord,

His might, and the wonderful works

He has performed. ^r

⁵He established a testimony in Jacob

and set up a law in Israel,

which He commanded our fathers

to teach to their children ^s

⁶so that a future generation—

children yet to be born—might know.

They were to rise and tell their children ^t

⁷so that they might put their confidence in God

and not forget God’s works,

but keep His commands. ^u

⁸Then they would not be like their fathers,

a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose heart was not loyal

and whose spirit was not faithful to God. ^v

⁹The Ephraimite archers turned back

on the day of battle. ^w

¹⁰They did not keep God’s covenant

and refused to live by His law. ^x

¹¹They forgot what He had done,

the wonderful works He had shown them. ^y

¹²He worked wonders in the sight of their fathers

in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. ^z

¹³He split the sea and brought them across;

the water stood firm like a wall. ^a

¹⁴He led them with a cloud by day

and with a fiery light throughout the night. ^b

¹⁵He split rocks in the wilderness

and gave them drink as abundant as the depths. ^c

¹⁶He brought streams out of the stone

and made water flow down like rivers. ^d

¹⁷But they continued to sin against Him,

rebelling in the desert against the Most High. ^e

¹⁸They deliberately ^ftested God,

demanding the food they craved. ^g

¹⁹They spoke against God, saying,

“Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?

²⁰Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out;

torrents overflowed. ^h

But can He also provide bread

or furnish meat for His people?” ⁱ

²¹Therefore, the Lord heard and became furious;

then fire broke out against Jacob,

and anger flared up against Israel ^j

²²because they did not believe God

or rely on His salvation. ^k

²³He gave a command to the clouds above

and opened the doors of heaven. ^l

²⁴He rained manna for them to eat;

He gave them grain from heaven. ^m

²⁵People ⁿate the bread of angels. ^o

He sent them an abundant supply of food. ^p

²⁶He made the east wind blow in the skies

and drove the south wind by His might. ^q

²⁷He rained meat on them like dust,

and winged birds like the sand of the seas.

²⁸He made them fall in His camp,

all around His tent. ^rst

²⁹They ate and were completely satisfied,

for He gave them what they craved. ^u

³⁰Before they had satisfied their desire,

while the food was still in their mouths,

³¹God’s anger flared up against them,

and He killed some of their best men.

He struck down Israel’s choice young men. ^v