Psalms 78:40

40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert; how many times they made him sad!

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 But God was merciful to his people. He forgave their sin and did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger and restrained his fury.

39 He remembered that they were only mortal beings, like a wind that blows by and is gone.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert; how many times they made him sad!

41 Again and again they put God to the test and brought pain to the Holy God of Israel.

42 They forgot his great power and the day when he saved them from their enemies