Psalm 78:39

39 for he remembered that they [were] flesh, a passing wind that does not return.

Psalm 78:39 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:39

For he remembered that they [were but] flesh
Or "children of flesh", as the Targum; poor, frail, weak, mortal creatures, unable to bear the weight of his displeasure, the stroke of his hand, and the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his wrath; that they must be crushed before him, and would sink, and fail, and die; see ( Psalms 103:14 ) ( Isaiah 57:16 ) , or that they were naturally sinful and corrupt, prone to evil, easily drawn into sin; it was what their depraved natures inclined unto; they were impotent to that which is good, and unable to withstand temptations to evil; all which was taken notice of and considered by the Lord in his condescending goodness, and therefore he dealt gently with them; see ( Genesis 6:3 ) ( 8:21 ) ,

a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again;
such is the life of man; it may be fitly compared to the wind, which moves swiftly, and, passing on, loses its strength and subsides; so the life of man is quickly gone, his days move swiftly on, he dies, and returns not again to his former state, to a mortal life; and though the spirit returns to the body again, yet not till the resurrection; and then not of itself, but by the power of God; see ( Job 7:7 ) .

Psalm 78:39 In-Context

37 For their heart was not steadfast with him, nor were they faithful to his covenant.

38 But he [was] compassionate; he pardoned [their] guilt and did not destroy [them]. And many [times] he turned back his anger and did not stir up all his wrath,

39 for he remembered that they [were] flesh, a passing wind that does not return.

40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and vexed him in [the] wasteland!

41 So they again tested God and distressed the Holy One of Israel.