Psalms 78:15
He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrasing "as from the deep" doesn't just mean a large amount of water, but suggests God tapped into hidden, subterranean reservoirs, emphasizing that His provision came from sources beyond human sight or understanding. This highlights His power to draw life-giving resources from the seemingly barren earth, a profound miracle meant to foster trust.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite His provision. The psalmist emphasizes how God miraculously supplied water from rocks in the wilderness, both early in their journey and later, to underscore His steadfast care even when Israel grumbled and rebelled. This miraculous provision is presented as a testament to God's power and faithfulness, contrasting sharply with Israel's persistent lack of trust.
Imagine walking for days in a scorching desert, the sun beating down, your throat parched, and hope dwindling. What would it feel like to see water gushing from solid rock?
This verse points to two incredible miracles during Israel's journey through the wilderness:
Divine Intervention:
God didn't just create a small spring; He split rocks to provide water. This wasn't a natural phenomenon, but a supernatural act of provision. The commentators note that this likely refers to two distinct occasions: once at Rephidim (Exodus 17) and again near Kadesh (Numbers 20). In both instances, God used Moses as an instrument, but the power was entirely His.
Abundant Supply:
Not only did the water appear, but it flowed "abundantly as from the deep." This imagery suggests an inexhaustible source, like an underground ocean bursting forth. It was more than enough to sustain the entire nation and their livestock, highlighting God's limitless ability to meet desperate needs.
Water is essential for life. But in Scripture, it often symbolizes something even more vital. What does this life-giving water from stone point to?
The provision of water from the rock was not just about physical survival; it was a profound picture of God's grace and Christ's work:
Christ, the Living Water:
Ancient interpreters saw this rock as a symbol of Christ. Just as Moses struck the rock and water flowed, Christ was 'struck' (suffered and died) for our sins, and from His pierced side, the 'living water' of the Holy Spirit and God's grace flows abundantly to us.
God's Unfailing Provision:
This miracle serves as a powerful reminder that God can bring life and sustenance even from the most unlikely and barren places. When we feel spiritually dry or overwhelmed by the 'wilderness' of life, we can remember that God's grace is a deep, inexhaustible reservoir, available to all who turn to Him.
Understand the original words
midbar · Hebrew Noun
The barren, uncultivated, and desolate region where the Israelites wandered. It functions in Scripture as a place of testing, dependency on God, and refinement of faith.
tehom · Hebrew Noun
The vast, subterranean reservoirs of water in the ancient Near Eastern cosmology. When associated with God’s provision, it represents the immeasurable, life-sustaining resources of the Creator that are available even in the driest conditions.
The psalmist recalls two distinct miracles of water from rocks during the wilderness wanderings, highlighting God's consistent provision even when the people grumbled and doubted.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites leave Egypt
Following the plagues and Passover, the Israelites are miraculously led out of slavery in Egypt by God through Moses. This marks the beginning of their journey into the wilderness.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Water from the Rock at Rephidim
During their journey, the Israelites, facing severe thirst, grumble against Moses. God commands Moses to strike a rock in Rephidim, from which water abundantly flows, providing drink for the people and their livestock.
c. 1406 BC
Water from the Rock at Kadesh
Near the end of their forty years of wandering, the Israelites again face a severe water shortage. God instructs Moses to speak to a rock at Kadesh, but Moses, in anger, strikes it twice. Water still flows, but God expresses displeasure with Moses' actions.
c. 1000 BC
David established as King
The psalm's reference to David's reign suggests it was composed after his ascension, likely looking back on Israel's history from the perspective of a unified kingdom.
This passage describes the first instance where God provided water from a rock in the wilderness at Rephidim, directly paralleling the event mentioned in Psalm 78:15.
Numbers 20:1-13This account details the second miraculous provision of water from a rock (or cliff) at Kadesh, which Psalm 78:15 also likely references with its plural 'rocks'.
1 Corinthians 10:4This New Testament passage explicitly states that the Israelites drank from 'a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ,' drawing a profound theological connection between the physical water from the rock and Christ's provision.
Psalm 105:41This psalm also recounts God opening rocks and causing water to flow in the wilderness, reinforcing the theme of God's provision for Israel during their journey as a central part of their history.
Deuteronomy 8:15This verse reminds Israel that God led them through the 'great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions,' highlighting the harsh environment where such miraculous provision was not just helpful, but life-sustaining.
cambridgePsalms 78:15: "He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths."
15, 16 . He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink as out of the depths abundantly: And he brought forth streams out of a cliff. Two different words are used, with reference to the two occasions upon which the Israelites were miraculously supplied with water: first in Rephidim at the beginning of their journey when Moses was commanded to smite ‘the rock’ ( Exodus 17:6 ), and secondl…
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…
The phrasing "as from the deep" doesn't just mean a large amount of water, but suggests God tapped into hidden, subterranean reservoirs, emphasizing that His provision came from sources beyond human sight or understanding. This highlights His power to draw life-giving resources from the seemingly barren earth, a profound miracle meant to foster trust.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite His provision. The psalmist emphasizes how God miraculously supplied water from rocks in the wilderness, both early in their journey and later, to underscore His steadfast care even when Israel grumbled and rebelled. This miraculous provision is presented as a testament to God's power and faithfulness, contrasting sharply with Israel's persistent lack of trust.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, highlighting their repeated unfaithfulness despite His provision. The psalmist emphasizes how God miraculously supplied water from rocks in the wilderness, both early in their journey and later, to underscore His steadfast care even when Israel grumbled and rebelled. This miraculous provision is presented as a testament to God's power and faithfulness, contrasting sharply with Israel's persistent lack of trust.
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Why does the Psalmist remind us of these ancient events? What's the purpose of recounting miracles from the distant past?
Psalm 78 is a maschil, a teaching psalm. Asaph, the author, uses Israel's history, including these dramatic water miracles, as a teaching tool for his generation (and ours):
A Mirror to Faithlessness:
The psalm contrasts God's powerful acts of faithfulness and provision (like splitting rocks) with Israel's persistent 'ingratitude' and 'unthankfulness.' The history is presented not just as a record of miracles, but as a warning against repeating their patterns of disobedience and forgetting God's goodness.
God's Steadfast Mercy:
Even when Israel grumbled and tested God in the wilderness, He provided. This demonstrates God's deep commitment and mercy, which endures despite human failings. The historical account urges listeners to learn from the past, to remember God's mighty deeds, and to cultivate trust and obedience rather than repeating the mistakes of their ancestors.
"He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep." — The phrasing "as from the deep" doesn't just mean a large amount of water, but suggests God tapped into hidden, subterranean reservoirs, emphasizing that His provision came from sources beyond human…
