Psalms 78:14

14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch.

Psalms 78:14 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:14

In the daytime also he led them with a cloud
Which was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and the Lord in it, and directed their way, and protected them from heat; see ( Exodus 13:21 Exodus 13:22 ) ( Nehemiah 9:12 Nehemiah 9:19 ) this was typical of Christ, who is a shadow and security from the heat of a fiery law, the flaming sword of justice, the wrath of God, which is poured forth like fire, the fiery darts of Satan, and from hurt by any enemy whatever; see ( Isaiah 4:5 Isaiah 4:6 ) ( 25:4 ) , and who leads his people through the wilderness of this world by his Spirit, by his word, and by his own example; and who is the best and safest guide to follow:

and all the night with a light of fire;
which also was in the form of a pillar, and went before them, and gave light in the night, and the Lord was in it; and this also was typical of Christ, who is the light of his people amidst all their darkness in this world.

Psalms 78:14 In-Context

12 He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan.
13 He split the Sea and they walked right through it; he piled the waters to the right and the left.
14 He led them by day with a cloud, led them all the night long with a fiery torch.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness, gave them all they could drink from underground springs;
16 He made creeks flow out from sheer rock, and water pour out like a river.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.