The people of Israel rebelled and were not faithful to God (Psa 78:8). They forgot about the miracles God had done (Psa 78:11-12) and put God to the test by making demands of him (Psa 78:18). They lied to him, tried to flatter him (Psa 78:36), and continued to turn away from him even after he did great works on their behalf (Psa 78:42-56). God recorded these painful and shameful truths in his Word so that we can avoid the same errors. In 1Co 10:5-12, Paul used this classic story of Israel's unfaithfulness to warn the early Christians to be faithful.
Psalms 78:5
God commanded that the stories of his mighty acts in Israel's history and his laws be passed on from parents to children. This shows the purpose and importance of religious education: to help each generation obey God and set its hope on him. It is important to keep children from repeating the same mistakes as their ancestors. What are you doing to pass on the history of God's work to the next generation?
Psalms 78:9-10
Ephraim was the most prominent tribe of Israel from the days of Moses to Saul's time. The Tabernacle was set up in its territory. There is no biblical record of Ephraim's soldiers turning back from battle, so this is probably a metaphor referring to Ephraim's failure to provide strong leadership during those years. When David became king, the tribe of Judah gained prominence. Because of David's faith and obedience, God chose Jerusalem in Judah to be the place for the new Temple and rejected Ephraim (Psa 78:67). This caused tension between the two tribes. This psalm may have been written because of that tension in order to demonstrate once again why God chose Judah. God works through those who are faithful to him.
Psalms 78:36-37
Over and over the children of Israel claimed that they would follow God, but then they turned away from him. The problem was that they made commitments to God with their mouths and not with their hearts; thus, their repentance was empty. Talk is cheap. God wants our conduct to back up our spiritual claims and promises.
Psalms 78:58
Can God be jealous? According to Scripture, yes (see Deu_4:24; Deu_5:9, Nah_1:2). Like everything else about God, his jealousy is perfect. In this case, the offense caused by the ungratefulness and unfaithfulness of his people provoked a just and holy response from God. The shock conveyed in these verses comes not from God's jealousy but from the fact that God, though justified in passing absolute judgment, persistently seasons his responses with grace and patience. God's jealousy over you represents an honor worthy of your deepest gratitude.
Psalms 78:71-72
Although David was occupying the throne of Israel when this psalm was written, he is called a shepherd and not a king. Shepherding, a common profession in biblical times, was a highly responsible job. The flocks were completely dependent upon shepherds for guidance, provision, and protection. David had spent his early years as a shepherd (1Sa 16:10-11). This was a training ground for the future responsibilities God had in store for him. When he was ready, God took him from caring for sheep to caring for Israel, God's people. Don't treat your present situation lightly or irresponsibly; it may be God's training ground for your future.
