Psalms 78:11-12
They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is that forgetting God's works isn't just a lapse in memory; it's a failure to let those wonders shape their lives. Their forgetfulness wasn't just about historical facts, but a practical, active disregard that led them away from trusting and obeying God.
This psalm is a historical lesson, reminding the people of God's mighty deeds and their ancestors' persistent faithlessness. After calling for attention and explaining the importance of passing down God's history (v. 1-7), the psalm details the people's repeated failures, exemplified by the tribe of Ephraim (v. 8-11). This verse serves as a bridge, directly stating the core problem: their ancestors' ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's powerful acts in their history, which the psalm will then recount.
Have you ever 'forgotten' something that had a huge impact on your life? In Psalm 78, forgetting God's works isn't just a memory lapse. It has serious consequences.
This verse speaks of a deep, practical forgetting. It's not about not recalling historical events; it's about failing to let those events shape your life and your trust in God.
Forgetting with the Heart, Not Just the Head
When the Bible talks about forgetting God's works, it often means more than just a lack of historical knowledge. It means a failure to live in light of those acts. It's like knowing a friend saved your life but then acting as if they never did anything for you.
God's 'wonders' aren't just magic tricks; they are powerful demonstrations of His character and purpose. What does it mean that Israel forgot these?
Psalm 78 highlights that the 'wonders' God performed weren't random occurrences. They were deliberate acts meant to reveal His power, His faithfulness, and His desire to have a relationship with His people.
Wonders as Divine Credentials
Understand the original words
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 long after the events it recounts, probably during or after the exile, serving as a powerful reminder that forgetting God's past acts of deliverance and faithfulness leads to present disobedience and future calamity.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Red Sea Crossing
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea to allow their escape and destroying the pursuing Egyptian army.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following their deliverance, the Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years, experiencing God's provision of manna and water, but also their own repeated disobedience and grumbling.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After Moses' death, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River and begins the conquest of the Promised Land, overcoming various Canaanite kingdoms.
c. 1375 BC - 1045 BC
Period of the Judges
A cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance characterizes this era. Israel repeatedly falls into idolatry and is oppressed by neighboring nations, only to be rescued by divinely appointed judges.
This passage shows the immediate grumbling and forgetting of God's deliverance, just days after the Red Sea crossing, mirroring the quickness of forgetting described in Psalm 78:11.
Deuteronomy 8:11-14This passage is a direct warning against forgetting the Lord and His mighty deeds after being delivered and prospering, highlighting the consequence of forgetting God's works as seen in Psalm 78:11.
Joshua 24:31This verse speaks of Israel serving the Lord all their days, contrasting with the forgetfulness and subsequent rebellion described in Psalm 78, implying the opposite of forgetting.
Nehemiah 9:17This passage recounts Israel's history, explicitly mentioning their forgetting God's wondrous works and setting up a leader to return to Egypt, underscoring the persistent theme of forgetting found in Psalm 78.
1 Corinthians 10:11Paul uses Israel's history as a warning to the early church, directly referencing their 'falls' and 'wanderings' as examples not to be forgotten, echoing the cautionary nature of Psalm 78:11 and its historical context.
cambridgePsalms 78:11: "And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them."
11 . And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had shewed them (R.V.).
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…
What's easy to miss here is that forgetting God's works isn't just a lapse in memory; it's a failure to let those wonders shape their lives. Their forgetfulness wasn't just about historical facts, but a practical, active disregard that led them away from trusting and obeying God.
This psalm is a historical lesson, reminding the people of God's mighty deeds and their ancestors' persistent faithlessness. After calling for attention and explaining the importance of passing down God's history (v. 1-7), the psalm details the people's repeated failures, exemplified by the tribe of Ephraim (v. 8-11). This verse serves as a bridge, directly stating the core problem: their ancestors' ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's powerful acts in their history, which the psalm will then recount.
This psalm is a historical lesson, reminding the people of God's mighty deeds and their ancestors' persistent faithlessness. After calling for attention and explaining the importance of passing down God's history (v. 1-7), the psalm details the people's repeated failures, exemplified by the tribe of Ephraim (v. 8-11). This verse serves as a bridge, directly stating the core problem: their ancestors' ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's powerful acts in their history, which the psalm will then recount.
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When the psalm refers to God's "wonders," it's pointing to the extraordinary acts that set Israel apart and demonstrated His sovereignty:
The psalm's lament is that Israel, having seen these profound interventions, still chose to forget. This suggests that remembering God's wonders isn't just a passive recalling, but an active engagement with who God is and what He has done for us.
c. 1045 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul is anointed as the first king of Israel, followed by David, marking a significant shift in Israel's national and political structure.
Post-Exilic Period (likely after 538 BC)— this verse
Davidic Kingdom recalled
The psalm reflects on Israel's history, highlighting the contrast between God's faithfulness and Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, culminating in the establishment of David's kingdom as a point of reference.
"They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan." — What's easy to miss here is that forgetting God's works isn't just a lapse in memory; it's a failure to let those wonders shape their lives. Their forgetfulness wasn't just about historical facts, bu…
