Psalms 78:18

18 They deliberately tested God by demanding the food they craved.

Psalms 78:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:18

And they tempted God in their heart
Which is desperately wicked, and from whence all impiety flows; they entertained hard thoughts of God; they inwardly fretted at their present circumstances, and secretly repined and murmured against God, and wished for things they should not; not being contented with what they had, and thankful for them, as they ought to have been:

by asking meat for their lust;
or, "for their soul"; such as their souls lusted after, and their sensitive appetites craved; for they were not satisfied with the bread they had, which was sufficient for their sustenance and support; they wanted food for pleasure and wantonness; to ask for daily bread is right, but to ask for more to consume on our lusts is wrong, ( James 4:3 ) .

Psalms 78:18 In-Context

16 He made streams come out of a rock. He made the water flow like rivers.

17 They continued to sin against him, to rebel in the desert against the Most High.

18 They deliberately tested God by demanding the food they craved.

19 They spoke against God by saying, "Can God prepare a banquet in the desert?

20 True, he did strike a rock, and water did gush out, and the streams did overflow. But can he also give us bread or provide us, his people, with meat?"