Psalms 78:40

40 How often they ¹rebelled against him in the wilderness and ²grieved him in ³the desert!

Psalms 78:40 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:40

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness
Where they were not only at his mercy, having nothing to help themselves with, but had many singular mercies bestowed upon them; and yet were continually committing such sins against God as provoked the eyes of his glory; ten times they tempted him, the Lord says, ( Numbers 14:22 ) , therefore that dispensation is called the provocation and day of temptation; for it was a series of rebellion and sin, ( Psalms 95:8 ) ,

and grieve him in the desert;
which signifies the same as before, and is spoken after the manner of men, ( Genesis 6:6 ) and like a tender parent grieved at the disobedience of his child, and that he is obliged to take the rod and chastise it. The prophet Isaiah says, they "vexed" or "grieved his Holy Spirit", ( Isaiah 63:10 ) , the same word is there used as here; compare with it ( Ephesians 4:30 ) .

Psalms 78:40 In-Context

38 Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.

39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!

41 They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

42 They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,

Cross References

• 1. ver. 17, 56; Psalms 107:11
• 2. [Ephesians 4:30]
• 3. Psalms 106:14