Psalms 78:34

34 But whenever God killed them, they went after him! They would turn and earnestly search for God.

Psalms 78:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:34

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 ( Numbers 14:37 Numbers 14:39 Numbers 14:40 ) ,

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 ( Isaiah 26:16 ) ( Hosea 5:15 ) .

Psalms 78:34 In-Context

32 But in spite of all that, they kept sinning and had no faith in God's wondrous works.

33 So God brought their days to an end, like a puff of air, and their years in total ruin.

34 But whenever God killed them, they went after him! They would turn and earnestly search for God.

35 They would remember that God was their rock, that the Most High was their redeemer.

36 But they were just flattering him with lip service. They were lying to him with their tongues.