Psalm 78 Overview
Psalm 78
Welcome to the Overview of Psalm 78
This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 78 as a whole. It includes the following sections:
Introduction to Psalm 78
Author
Book
- Book 3 of the Psalter (Chapters 73-89)
Psalm 78: A Brief Summary
Psalm 78 uses the frame of a riddle, with the problem of how Israel would respond to God’s extravagant provision only by repeated rebellion, and with the solution of how God chose David to lead Israel, in place of the old, failed leadership. Within that frame are multiple historical recitals, recalling the wilderness wanderings, especially the miraculous food of manna and quail. The food which ought to have brought great pleasure and thankfulness, instead was only connected with more grumbling, disbelief, and judgment. God provided food for his people where there was none, and he destroyed the food of the Egyptian enemies where it was abundant, and yet, still, his people stubbornly refused to believe him. Not until God chose David was there hope, and exactly why David would change things is never made explicit. David’s leadership will bring an end to the seemingly endless rebellion.
"Rebellion Solved" This title is a memorable phrase that helps remember the unique character and content of this psalm.
The repeated pattern of rebellion can only stop if YHWH’s people will follow David as their shepherd. This is why “Rebellion solved” fits Psalm 78: rebellion is an enormous problem, but there is a solution, in the choice of David as king.
Purpose The Purpose was the psalmist's probable intent or reason for writing this psalm.
To argue that David is God's solution to the people's ongoing rebellion
Content The Content is a concise summary of the whole psalm's content.
Listen to these puzzling problems:
- Our ancestors repeatedly forgot YHWH's goodness, instead of recognizing it.
- YHWH repeatedly chose to turn back his anger and instead shepherd his people.
Pay attention to the solution found in this parable:
- YHWH has chosen David as the shepherd who would be able to lead his flock with integrity and wisdom.
Message The Message is the main idea the psalmist probably wanted the audience to remember upon or after hearing the psalm.
The repeated pattern of rebellion can only stop if YHWH's people will follow David as their shepherd.
Psalm 78 At-a-Glance
These sections divide the content of the psalm into digestible pieces , and are determined based on information from many of our layers, including Semantics, Poetics, and Discourse. The columns, left to right, contain: the verse numbers; the main title of the section; a brief summary of the content of that section (quote marks indicate the text is taken directly from the English text of the psalm (as per our Close-but-Clear translation); and an icon to visually represent and remember the content.
Background Orientation for Psalm 78
Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.
- A parable (מָשָׁל) is "an utterance, often in poetic style, that has a specific message" (SDBH), while puzzling problems (חִידוֹת) are "event[s] that perplex the mind and require wisdom in order to be dealt with" (SDBH). After figuring out the solution, however, it is all the more memorable for the hearer.
- Covenant unfaithfulness can result in military defeat (Josh 7; Judges; 1 Sam 4).
- Shiloh was located in Ephraimite territory. The Ephraimites were residents of what was the legitimate place of centralized worship before Jerusalem (see Josh 18; Judg 18:31; 21:19), yet it was destroyed due to Israel's unfaithfulness. The destruction of Shiloh and its Ephraimite inhabitants was used as a later warning against future unfaithfulness (Jer 7:12–15; 26:1–15).
- The narrative of 1 Samuel presents Samuel as the one who established the Israelite monarchy (1 Sam 8–10) and anointed David (1 Sam 16). He also declared the judgment on the priestly rule at Shiloh, following the rejection of Eli's family in 1 Samuel 2:27–36.
- The anointed king David was from the southern family of Judah. When David became king, he moved the place of centralized worship to Jerusalem, also known as Zion (see 2 Sam 5–6).
- In this psalm, the terms "Jacob" and "Israel" refer to northern and southern families together. David's kingship and worship in Zion was intended for all.
Background Situation for Psalm 78
The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon.
Participants in Psalm 78
There are 6 participants/characters in Psalm 78:
| Asaph |
| David's flock |
| The latest generation (vv. 4, 6) |
| The latest generation's children (v. 6) |
| Israel/Jacob (vv. 71-72) |
| YHWH |
| "YHWH" (vv. 4, 21) |
| "God" (אֵל) (vv. 7, 8, 18, 19) |
| "God" (אֱלֹהִים) (vv. 7, 10, 19, 22, 31, 35, 59) |
| "the Most High" (עֶלְיוֹן) (v. 17) |
| "God, the Most High" (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן; אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן) (vv. 35, 56) |
| "their rock" (v. 35) |
| "their redeemer" (v. 35) |
| "the holy one of Israel" (v. 41) |
| "the Lord" (אֲדֹנָי) (v. 65) |
| The ancestors |
| "the ancestors" (vv. 3, 5, 8) |
| "Ephraimites" (v. 9) |
| "Israel" (v. 59) |
| "his [God's] people/inheritance" (v. 62) |
| "tent of Joseph / clan of Ephraim" (v. 67) |
| The ancestors' ancestors |
| "their ancestors" (v. 12, 57) |
| "his [God's] people" (vv. 20, 71) |
| "Jacob/Israel" (vv. 21, 71) |
| Egyptians |
| The Canaanite nations |
| The Philistines |
| David |
| "David" (v. 70) |
| "his [God's] servant" (v. 70) |
| Judah (v. 68) |
- The psalmist is identified as Asaph (which may refer to one of the "sons of Asaph"—see the phrase-level note—though not necessarily) begins reciting the psalm in first person singular, before joining the chorus of the community of the righteous in the latest generation.
- David's flock is identified those who submit to his rule. At the beginning of the psalm this consists of the latest generation, both Asaph('s descendant) and his group as well as the addressee of the psalm (see the notes on accompanying the text table), who are to proclaim the teaching of the psalm, while also receiving it and passing it on to their children. At the end of the psalm, both Jacob, God's people, and Israel, God's inheritance, are marvelously identified with this group as being shepherded by David.
- YHWH is referred to by a multitude of different divine names, as listed in the participant set, while also characterized as Israel's rock and redeemer (v. 35).
- As is characteristic of Psalms 78–80 as a whole, the antagonists of the psalm are the community's ancestors.[1] In contrast to the mention of Judah in v. 68, the ancestors are largely referred to by generic names which encapsulate the entire nation, such as "Jacob" and "Israel," or those associated with Shiloh as a locality, such as "Ephraim" and "Joseph." Despite playing the role of antagonist, to which the latest generation should aspire not to be like, a "stubborn and rebellious generation" (v. 8), they also never cease to be YHWH's people (vv. 20, 58; see also the 3ms suffixes in vv. 28, 62-64).
- The foreign nations play a subservient role of displaying God's miraculous acts for his people throughout their history—primarily in Egypt throughout the Exodus event (vv. 42-53), but also in the conquest of Canaan (v. 54) and the defeat of the Philistines (v. 66). In the latter instance, the vessel of punishment for his people (vv. 60-64) in turn receive their own justice (vv. 65-66).
- Following the rejection of Joseph/Ephraim (v. 67) as the center of covenant administration, and the choice of Judah and Zion (v. 68), David is further chosen as the shepherd who will lead the renewed community (vv. 70-72).
- ↑ See Ray 2023.