Psalms 78:59

“When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel.”

1. Context: The book of Psalms is a collection of poetic songs and prayers written by various authors, including King David. Psalm 78 is attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians in David’s time. It is a historical psalm that recounts the rebelliousness and faithlessness of the Israelites throughout their history.

2. Historical Background: The psalmist refers to God’s anger and abhorrence towards Israel. This refers to various instances in Israel’s history when they provoked God with their disobedience and idolatry. Despite God’s faithfulness and the many miracles He performed on their behalf, the Israelites repeatedly turned away from Him.

3. Divine Response: The verse indicates that God heard the disobedience and rebellion of Israel, and as a result, He became angry and abhorred them. This response reflects God’s righteous judgment against sin and His holiness. God’s anger is not a fickle or impulsive emotion but arises from His perfect justice and righteousness.

4. Lessons and Application:

• a. Consequences of disobedience: The verse reminds us that there are consequences for disobedience and rebellion against God. God is patient and long-suffering, but He also punishes sin. It serves as a warning that continuous disobedience and rebellion can lead to God’s displeasure and discipline.
• b. God’s faithfulness and our response: Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remained faithful to His covenant promises. This verse highlights the importance of responding to God’s faithfulness with gratitude, obedience, and reverence. We should not take God’s mercy and grace for granted but strive to honor Him with our lives.
• c. Repentance and restoration: While this verse speaks of God’s anger, it is not the end of the story. Throughout Israel’s history, we see God’s willingness to forgive and restore His people when they turned back to Him in repentance. It is a reminder that even when we face the consequences of our actions, God is ready to forgive and restore us if we humbly seek Him.
• d. Our relationship with God: This verse calls us to examine our own lives and evaluate our relationship with God. Are we living in obedience to His commands? Are we honoring Him with our actions and attitudes? It is a reminder that our actions have consequences and that God desires a genuine, faithful relationship with us.