Psalms 78:11-13
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. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's so striking here is that "forgetting" wasn't just a passive lapse of memory. It was an active, practical failure to let God's past wonders shape their present lives and choices. This verse reveals that true remembrance isn't just recalling facts, but allowing those divine acts to cultivate trust and obedience in our hearts.
The psalmist begins by calling the people to listen and learn from God's law, emphasizing the importance of passing down the stories of His mighty deeds from one generation to the next. This verse highlights the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness, contrasting God's miraculous interventions with their tendency to forget and stray from Him, a pattern that would repeat throughout their history.
It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday, but what happens when we start to forget the incredible things God has done? This psalm dives deep into that very issue.
Psalm 78 is a call to remember and recount God's mighty acts. The psalmist is teaching the importance of passing down the history of God's faithfulness from one generation to the next.
The Danger of Forgetfulness
The phrase "forgot his works and his wonders" isn't just about a lack of historical knowledge. It's about a practical forgetfulness that impacts how we live.
The psalm emphasizes that God's works and wonders were not just random events; they were deliberate acts of love and power meant to establish trust and secure His people.
What’s the real harm in forgetting? This psalm reveals it's not just a minor oversight; it's the first step down a dangerous path.
The psalm makes a clear connection: forgetting God's works directly leads to disobedience and a turning away from Him.
The Slippery Slope
When we stop remembering what God has done, our foundation for trusting Him erodes. This makes us susceptible to:
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.
baqa · Hebrew Verb
Psalm 78 looks back over Israel's entire history, highlighting a recurring pattern of God's faithfulness met by His people's forgetfulness and disobedience, a cycle that continued even into the united monarchy.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through a series of powerful plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites journey through the Sinai desert for 40 years, experiencing God's provision (manna, water from rock) and their own frequent rebellions.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites enter and begin conquering the Promised Land, fulfilling God's promises.
c. 1375-1075 BC
Period of the Judges
A cycle of disobedience, oppression, and deliverance occurs as Israel is led by various judges.
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
This passage shows the immediate grumbling of the Israelites shortly after their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, highlighting how quickly they forgot God's powerful works.
Numbers 11:4-6This describes the Israelites' discontent and longing for the 'leeks and onions' of Egypt, demonstrating their forgetfulness of God's provision (manna) and their craving for the familiar comforts they had left behind.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3Moses reminds the Israelites that their wilderness experiences, including the humbling and provision of manna, were meant to teach them to rely on God's word, a lesson they often forgot.
Joshua 24:31This verse notes that Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and the elders who outlived him, implying that subsequent generations did not remember and thus failed to serve God in the same way.
Hebrews 3:7-12The author of Hebrews explicitly quotes and applies Psalm 78, warning believers not to harden their hearts and fall away like the Israelites who forgot God's deeds in the wilderness.
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 so striking here is that "forgetting" wasn't just a passive lapse of memory. It was an active, practical failure to let God's past wonders shape their present lives and choices. This verse reveals that true remembrance isn't just recalling facts, but allowing those divine acts to cultivate trust and obedience in our hearts.
The psalmist begins by calling the people to listen and learn from God's law, emphasizing the importance of passing down the stories of His mighty deeds from one generation to the next. This verse highlights the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness, contrasting God's miraculous interventions with their tendency to forget and stray from Him, a pattern that would repeat throughout their history.
The psalmist begins by calling the people to listen and learn from God's law, emphasizing the importance of passing down the stories of His mighty deeds from one generation to the next. This verse highlights the recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness, contrasting God's miraculous interventions with their tendency to forget and stray from Him, a pattern that would repeat throughout their history.
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The psalm contrasts God's consistent action with Israel's inconsistent response, showing that forgetting is a choice that has profound spiritual consequences.
To make a way, part, or split something. Used in a theological sense, it describes God’s miraculous power over the elements of creation, establishing a path for His people where none existed.
ned · Hebrew Noun
A mass of water or fluid piled up; in the context of the Red Sea, it refers to the miraculous barrier created by God that stood as a solid wall, allowing for the dry passage of the Israelites.
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king, establishing a unified monarchy over Israel.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David is chosen and eventually reigns as king, establishing Jerusalem as the capital and a golden age for Israel.
c. 975 BC— this verse
David's Reign Ends
The reign of King David concludes, setting the stage for the kingdom's future.
"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. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made…" — What's so striking here is that "forgetting" wasn't just a passive lapse of memory. It was an active, practical failure to let God's past wonders shape their present lives and choices. This verse rev…
