Psalms 78:34

34 When he cut them down, they came running for help; they turned and pled for mercy.

Psalms 78:34 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:34

When he slew them
Some of them, the spies particularly; or when he threatened to slay them, or was about to do it:

then they sought him;
that is, those who either survived the slain, or were threatened with destruction; these sought the Lord by prayer and supplication, that he would not destroy them; the Targum is,

``they repented and sought him;''

see ( Numbers 14:37 Numbers 14:39 Numbers 14:40 ) ,

and they returned;
from their evil ways, and by repentance, at least in show and appearance:

and inquired early after God;
but not earnestly, and with their whole hearts and spirits; the Targum is,

``they prayed before God;''

which is often done, by carnal professors, in trouble; see ( Isaiah 26:16 ) ( Hosea 5:15 ) .

Psalms 78:34 In-Context

32 And - can you believe it? - they kept right on sinning; all those wonders and they still wouldn't believe!

33 So their lives dribbled off to nothing - nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town.

34 When he cut them down, they came running for help; they turned and pled for mercy.

35 They gave witness that God was their rock, that High God was their redeemer,

36 But they didn't mean a word of it; they lied through their teeth the whole time.