Psalms 78:17
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Psalms 78:17 (KJV)
Context
Psalm 78 is a historical psalm attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians in King David’s time. It recounts Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, emphasizing the importance of passing down God’s faithfulness and teachings to future generations. In verse 17, the psalmist highlights the Israelites’ continued rebellion during their wilderness journey. Despite witnessing God’s miracles and provisions, they repeatedly sinned and provoked the Most High.
Meaning
The Hebrew phrase underlying “sinned yet more” carries the sense of adding sin to sin, indicating a pattern of escalating disobedience. This was great ingratitude; having already sinned, they might have been expected to sin less, but instead they sinned more and more. The verse immediately follows the account of God providing water from the rock (Psalm 78:15-16), showing that their sin occurred right after a miraculous provision. The wilderness setting is significant: they were in a place of immediate dependence on God, having been brought out of Egypt but not yet entered Canaan. Their sin included distrusting God, murmuring against Moses, and refusing to attend to God’s voice. The verse uses the title “Most High” (Elyon), emphasizing that their rebellion was against the sovereign God.
Biblical connections
The broader context of Psalm 78 shows that this was not an isolated incident but part of a series of provocations; verse 40 asks, “How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!” The New Testament connection is that the rock that provided water was a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), making their rebellion against God’s provision a rejection of the spiritual rock. The warning is to not harden hearts as the fathers did in the provocation at Meribah (Exodus 17:2-7; Psalm 95:8).
Application
Repeated Sin: The verse reminds us of the Israelites’ repeated sins. It serves as a warning against falling into the cycle of sin and disobedience. As believers, we should learn from their example and strive to grow in obedience and faithfulness to God.
Provoking God: The Israelites’ actions were described as provoking the Most High. When we persistently rebel against God’s commands or disregard His guidance, we can provoke Him. This verse prompts us to reflect on our actions and attitudes, ensuring we honour and reverence God in all that we do.
Wilderness Experience: The wilderness was a crucial period in the Israelites’ journey. It was a time of testing, refining, and dependence on God. This verse teaches us that even in challenging seasons or wilderness experiences in our lives, we should not lose sight of God’s faithfulness. Instead, we should trust and obey Him, knowing that He is with us and will provide for our needs.
Importance of Teaching: Psalm 78 as a whole emphasises the importance of passing down the knowledge of God’s faithfulness and teachings to future generations. This verse reminds us of the consequences of failing to do so. We should be diligent in teaching the next generation about God’s character, His Word, and His works, to prevent them from repeating the mistakes of the past.
Reflection
The lesson for readers is to take heed of sinning as they did, lest they be shut out of the everlasting rest as Israel was shut out of Canaan. Even in our own wilderness seasons, we are called to remember God’s past faithfulness and respond with trust and obedience, not with murmuring or unbelief.
