Psalm 78:10-11
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It's easy to read this as a simple statement of disobedience, but the text highlights their active "refusal" to walk in God's law. This implies a conscious choice and a stubborn will, not just a passive forgetting or stumbling. They actively turned away from God's way, making their breaking of the covenant a deliberate act of rebellion rather than a mere lapse.
They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This psalm is a historical lesson for the people of Israel, recounting their ancestors' repeated failures to trust and obey God. The psalmist highlights how, despite God’s mighty acts and faithfulness, the people constantly broke their covenant and turned away from His law. This verse specifically points to the persistent unfaithfulness that characterized Israel's journey, setting the stage for the detailed examples of their sin and God's subsequent discipline that follow.
Have you ever felt bound by a promise? For Israel, their relationship with God was sealed by a covenant, a sacred agreement with very specific terms.
The psalmist calls out Israel for 'not keeping God's covenant.' What does that mean?
A Two-Way Street
Covenants in the Bible aren't just one-sided promises. They are solemn agreements. For Israel, God's covenant at Sinai (detailed in Exodus) was a massive undertaking. He promised to be their God, their protector, their guide. In return, they promised to 'do all that the LORD has commanded' (Exodus 24:7).
The Core of the Failure
When the psalmist says they 'kept not the covenant,' he's pointing to the fundamental breach: they failed in their part of the deal. It wasn't just a forgotten detail; it was a rejection of the entire relationship God offered.
God's 'law' wasn't just a list of rules; it was the path He laid out for His people to live fully. But Israel chose a different direction.
The verse continues, 'and refused to walk according to his law.' This isn't just about breaking rules; it's about rejecting God's intended way of life.
More Than Just Rules
God's law (the Torah) was meant to guide them, to shape their lives and set them apart. It was a path for flourishing, for living in right relationship with God and each other.
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The Act of Refusal
To 'refuse to walk' implies a conscious decision. They weren't just stumbling or accidentally going off track. They actively turned away from the path God provided. This speaks to a stubbornness, a willful turning away from God's wisdom and guidance.
The psalmist notes a deep-seated issue: Israel 'forgot' God's mighty deeds. How does forgetting the past lead to breaking the covenant?
Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, meant to remind future generations of God's faithfulness and Israel's repeated failures. Verse 11 (which immediately follows our focus verse) states, 'And they forgot his works, and the wonders that he had done.'
Forgetting Fuels Disobedience
When people forget the incredible things God has done – His miracles, His deliverance, His consistent provision – they lose the motivation to obey. The gratitude and awe that should fuel their commitment to the covenant fade away.
Practical Atheism
This forgetting leads to what some might call 'practical atheism.' It's not necessarily denying God's existence, but living as if He isn't there, or as if His past actions have no bearing on the present. Without the memory of God's power and love, the 'law' (the instructions for living) seems burdensome and unnecessary.
Understand the original words
bərît · Hebrew Noun
A solemn, binding agreement or treaty between God and His people, establishing a formal relationship characterized by obedience on the human side and covenantal faithfulness on God's side.
tôrâ · Hebrew Noun
The authoritative instruction or direction of God, which serves as the standard for righteous living and the foundation for community life.
shakach · Hebrew Verb
To cease to call to mind, to be negligent in remembering, or to willfully ignore the actions and commands of God. In a biblical context, forgetting God is often synonymous with disobedience and a lack of faith.
maaseh · Hebrew Noun
Deeds or actions performed by God in history, often demonstrating His power, sovereignty, and faithfulness to His covenant people. These acts serve as evidence of His character and His presence in the lives of His people.
pela · Hebrew Noun
Extraordinary events or acts of power performed by God that transcend natural order, intended to demonstrate His divine authority and to evoke awe, faith, or judgment. They are signs designed to reveal God’s character and purposes to humanity.
This psalm was likely composed after the establishment of the monarchy, possibly during or after David's reign. It uses Israel's entire history, from the Exodus to the present, as a stark warning. The verse highlights a recurring theme: despite God's faithfulness, His people repeatedly failed to keep their end of the covenant, a pattern that led to national calamity and divine discipline.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a pivotal moment where God establishes His covenant with them at Mount Sinai.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
After receiving the Law, the Israelites are to enter the Promised Land but repeatedly disobey and grumble, showing a pattern of unfaithfulness.
c. 1406 BC
Entry into Canaan
The Israelites finally enter the Promised Land, beginning a new phase of their relationship with God under the covenant.
c. 1406-1077 BC
Period of the Judges
A time marked by cycles of Israel's disobedience, oppression by enemies, and God's deliverance through judges, illustrating their continued failure to uphold the covenant.
c. 1077 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul is anointed king, marking a shift towards a unified kingdom, though the underlying issues of covenant faithfulness persist.
c. 1010 BC
Davidic Kingdom Established
David becomes king, and Jerusalem is established as the capital, a time of spiritual and political flourishing, yet the psalm looks back at past failures.
Post-Davidic Kingdom— this verse
Asaph Composes Psalm 78
Likely written during or after the United Monarchy, this psalm reflects on Israel's history to warn a later generation about the consequences of breaking God's covenant and disregarding His law.
This passage describes the covenant God offered Israel at Sinai, emphasizing their obedience as a condition of being His special treasure, directly linking to the idea of keeping God's covenant mentioned in Psalms 78:10.
Deuteronomy 29:25Here, Moses prophesies that Israel's future disobedience and breaking of the covenant will lead to their destruction, highlighting the serious consequences of refusing to walk in God's law, as described in the psalm.
Judges 2:11-13This passage shows the Israelites immediately forsaking the Lord and serving other gods after entering the promised land, illustrating the pattern of refusing to walk in God's law that the psalmist is lamenting.
Jeremiah 31:32The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant, contrasting it with the old one that Israel broke, underscoring the persistent theme of covenant unfaithfulness throughout Israel's history.
Romans 10:3Paul speaks of the Jewish people in his day not submitting to the righteousness of God, showing how this historical pattern of rejecting God's law and covenant continued into the New Testament era.
clarkePsalms 78:10: "They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;"
They kept not the covenant; of God - They abandoned his worship, both moral and ritual. Thev acted like the Ephraimites in the above case, who threw down their bows and arrows, and ran away.
expositorsPsalms 78:1-72: "Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."
Psalm 78:1-72 THIS psalm is closely related to Psalm 105:1-45 ; Psalm 106:1-48 ; Psalm 107:1-43 . Like them, it treats the history of Israel, and especially the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, for purposes of edification, rebuke, and encouragement. The past is held up as a mirror to the present generation. It has been one long succession of miracles of mercy met by equally continu…
It's easy to read this as a simple statement of disobedience, but the text highlights their active "refusal" to walk in God's law. This implies a conscious choice and a stubborn will, not just a passive forgetting or stumbling. They actively turned away from God's way, making their breaking of the covenant a deliberate act of rebellion rather than a mere lapse.
This psalm is a historical lesson for the people of Israel, recounting their ancestors' repeated failures to trust and obey God. The psalmist highlights how, despite God’s mighty acts and faithfulness, the people constantly broke their covenant and turned away from His law. This verse specifically points to the persistent unfaithfulness that characterized Israel's journey, setting the stage for the detailed examples of their sin and God's subsequent discipline that follow.
This psalm is a historical lesson for the people of Israel, recounting their ancestors' repeated failures to trust and obey God. The psalmist highlights how, despite God’s mighty acts and faithfulness, the people constantly broke their covenant and turned away from His law. This verse specifically points to the persistent unfaithfulness that characterized Israel's journey, setting the stage for the detailed examples of their sin and God's subsequent discipline that follow.
"They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them." — It's easy to read this as a simple statement of disobedience, but the text highlights their active "refusal" to walk in God's law. This implies a conscious choice and a stubborn will, not just a pass…
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Last reviewed October 2026
