Psalms 78:17-20
Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that Israel's sins weren't just isolated incidents but a deepening pattern of rebellion. It emphasizes that their provocations in the wilderness, despite God's constant provision and miracles, reveal a deep-seated refusal to trust Him, making their transgressions particularly grievous.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their consistent grumbling and disobedience even after experiencing God's mighty acts. Following the miraculous provision of water from rocks, the people continued to sin by rebelling against God in the desolate wilderness, where they were entirely dependent on Him for survival. Their repeated provocations stemmed from a deep lack of faith and a desire for more than God provided.
You'd think being in the middle of nowhere, utterly dependent on God, would make people cling to Him. But for Israel, the wilderness was a place of intense rebellion.
The psalmist highlights the wilderness as a place where Israel’s sin was especially egregious. This wasn't just a geographical location; it was a spiritual crucible.
A Place of Divine Provision
God had just performed incredible miracles to rescue them from Egypt. He provided water from rocks and guided them with pillars of cloud and fire. This was a constant, undeniable display of His power and care.
A Test of Faith
Instead of fostering deeper trust, this extreme dependence became the very stage for their faithlessness. Their grumbling and demands, as we see in later verses, showed they hadn't truly internalized God’s deliverance or His character.
The verse says they "sinned still more." This isn't just a little slip-up; it's a pattern of escalating defiance against the Almighty.
The phrase "sinned still more" is crucial. It tells us that Israel's rebellion wasn't a static state but a dynamic, worsening condition.
The Nature of Aggravated Sin
Their sin was aggravated by several factors:
Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark, violate God's law, or fall short of His standard of holiness. It denotes an act of disobedience that separates one from God's presence.
marah · Hebrew Verb
An act of active resistance or defiance against legitimate authority; in a biblical context, it refers to a wilful breach of the covenantal relationship with God.
Elyon · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A title for God (El Elyon) emphasizing His supremacy, sovereignty, and distinctness above all creation and all other supposed deities.
nasah · Hebrew Verb
To put God to the test or to try His patience; it implies a lack of trust in God's character and providence despite past evidence of His power.
This psalm highlights how the Israelites' sinful rebellion in the wilderness, despite God's consistent provision and miracles, demonstrates a deep-seated pattern of ingratitude and disbelief that tragically repeated throughout their history.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea for them to cross on dry ground.
c. 1446 BC
Journey into the Wilderness
Immediately after the Exodus, the Israelites began their journey through the Sinai desert, a harsh and barren land.
c. 1446 BC
Water from the Rock at Rephidim
The Israelites, thirsty and grumbling, demanded water. God instructed Moses to strike a rock, from which abundant water flowed.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Complaints and Provocation in the Wilderness
Despite God's provision of water, the Israelites continued to sin, expressing discontent and testing God's power by demanding food and meat.
This passage directly describes the 'lusting' and discontent that arose among the Israelites in the wilderness, echoing the 'sinning more' and 'provoking' mentioned in Psalm 78.
Exodus 16:1-3This passage shows an earlier instance of Israelite grumbling and sinning in the wilderness, even after experiencing God's provision, illustrating the ongoing pattern of rebellion that Psalm 78 highlights.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3This passage reminds Israel of their wilderness journey and God's provision, serving as a contrast to their sinful behavior described in Psalm 78 and emphasizing the spiritual lessons they were meant to learn.
Hebrews 3:16-19The author of Hebrews explicitly connects the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness, as recounted in psalms like Psalm 78, to their failure to enter the promised rest, showing the severe consequences of such provocation.
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…
ellicottPsalms 78:17: "And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness."
(17) They sinned yet more and more .—This implies the discontent which had already shown itself before the miraculous supply of water.
The verse highlights that Israel's sins weren't just isolated incidents but a deepening pattern of rebellion. It emphasizes that their provocations in the wilderness, despite God's constant provision and miracles, reveal a deep-seated refusal to trust Him, making their transgressions particularly grievous.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their consistent grumbling and disobedience even after experiencing God's mighty acts. Following the miraculous provision of water from rocks, the people continued to sin by rebelling against God in the desolate wilderness, where they were entirely dependent on Him for survival. Their repeated provocations stemmed from a deep lack of faith and a desire for more than God provided.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, highlighting their consistent grumbling and disobedience even after experiencing God's mighty acts. Following the miraculous provision of water from rocks, the people continued to sin by rebelling against God in the desolate wilderness, where they were entirely dependent on Him for survival. Their repeated provocations stemmed from a deep lack of faith and a desire for more than God provided.
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This illustrates a dangerous spiritual trajectory: when sin isn't met with genuine sorrow and change, it tends to escalate, becoming more brazen and deeply entrenched.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
A term for the deity of Israel, referring to the one true God who is the Creator, Sustainer, and covenant-keeper of His people.
yeshimon · Hebrew Noun
A desolate, uninhabited place; biblically, it is often a place of testing, provision, and divine encounter where humans are stripped of worldly supports and forced to rely entirely on God.
shulchan · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for God's ability to provide sustenance and bounty. It reflects the covenantal care God promises to those who walk in obedience.
nakah · Hebrew Verb
To smite or strike with physical force; in Scripture, it is often used for God's exercise of power, whether in judgment or to miraculously open sources of provision.
c. 1446 BC
God Sends Manna and Quail
In response to their sinful demands, God sent manna (bread from heaven) and quail to satisfy their hunger, yet many continued to distrust Him.
c. 1446 BC
Divine Wrath and Judgment
God's anger was kindled against Israel for their disbelief and repeated provocations, leading to judgment and consequences for their actions.
"Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the…" — The verse highlights that Israel's sins weren't just isolated incidents but a deepening pattern of rebellion. It emphasizes that their provocations in the wilderness, despite God's constant provision…
