Psalms 78:39
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Psalms 78:39
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God's remembrance of their "flesh" and fleetingness isn't just a comment on human weakness, but a key to understanding His mercy. He didn't deal with them as He might have, knowing they were so fragile and temporary, like a passing breeze that leaves no trace.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated failures and God's persistent faithfulness. Despite God's amazing acts, from delivering them out of Egypt to providing for them in the wilderness, the people constantly rebelled and tested Him. This verse explains why God didn't utterly destroy them, even in their persistent unfaithfulness.
Ever felt like God doesn't 'get' how hard things are? This verse reveals He does remember our limitations, and it changes how He treats us.
The psalmist tells us God 'remembered that they were but flesh.' This wasn't just a passive observation; it was an active consideration that shaped God's actions.
Understanding 'Flesh'
When God 'remembers' our flesh, it means He factors in these realities. It’s the divine perspective that sees our struggles, our inherent weaknesses, and our propensity to fail. This remembrance leads to His compassion and forbearance, not judgment.
Think about how quickly seasons change or a strong wind blows through. The Bible uses a similar image for human life – but why does that matter to God?
The verse powerfully describes human existence as 'a wind that passes and comes not again.' This imagery speaks volumes about the brevity and transient nature of our time on earth.
The Wind Metaphor
Understand the original words
basar · Hebrew Noun
Human nature in its fragility, mortality, and weakness. It highlights the contrast between the eternal, unchanging Creator and the finite, transient nature of human beings.
This verse reflects on God's enduring mercy towards the Israelites during their long, often faithless journey through the wilderness. Despite their repeated sins, God remembered their human frailty—their short, fleeting lives—and tempered His judgment accordingly, a profound reminder of His compassionate nature towards us.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, demonstrating His power and faithfulness.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wilderness Wanderings
Following the Exodus, the Israelites journeyed through the desert for 40 years, marked by repeated acts of rebellion and God's persistent mercy.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After the wilderness generation died off, the new generation entered and began conquering the Promised Land.
c. 1350-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Israel experienced cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance under various judges, highlighting ongoing unfaithfulness.
This verse echoes the idea of human frailty, stating God's Spirit will not contend with mankind forever because 'they too are flesh.' It highlights the inherent weakness and mortality that God considers in His dealings.
Job 14:1-2Here, Job reflects on the brevity and fragility of human life, comparing it to a flower that quickly withers or a shadow that disappears. This resonates with the psalmist's description of humanity as fleeting and transient.
Psalm 103:13-16This psalm beautifully describes God's compassion, likening His remembrance of our frailty to a father pitying his children. It uses imagery of grass and flowers that bloom and then wither to illustrate our short-lived existence, similar to Psalm 78:39.
James 4:14James directly compares human life to a 'mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes,' reinforcing the theme of life's transience and unpredictability, much like the 'wind that passes away.'
clarkePsalms 78:39: "For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again."
He remembered that they were but flesh - Weak mortals. He took their feeble perishing state always into consideration, and knew how much they needed the whole of their state of probation; and therefore he bore with them to the uttermost. How merciful is God! A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again - I believe this to be a bad translation and may be productive of error; as if when a…
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…
God's remembrance of their "flesh" and fleetingness isn't just a comment on human weakness, but a key to understanding His mercy. He didn't deal with them as He might have, knowing they were so fragile and temporary, like a passing breeze that leaves no trace.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated failures and God's persistent faithfulness. Despite God's amazing acts, from delivering them out of Egypt to providing for them in the wilderness, the people constantly rebelled and tested Him. This verse explains why God didn't utterly destroy them, even in their persistent unfaithfulness.
The psalmist is recounting Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated failures and God's persistent faithfulness. Despite God's amazing acts, from delivering them out of Egypt to providing for them in the wilderness, the people constantly rebelled and tested Him. This verse explains God didn't utterly destroy them, even in their persistent unfaithfulness.
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God's awareness of this fleeting existence fuels His mercy. He doesn't deal with us as if we have endless time or boundless resources. Instead, He acts with urgency and grace, knowing that our opportunity to know Him and be transformed is limited to this present 'wind-like' existence.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David, a man after God's own heart, was established as king, ushering in a period of greater national stability and centralized worship.
"He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again." — God's remembrance of their "flesh" and fleetingness isn't just a comment on human weakness, but a key to understanding His mercy. He didn't deal with them as He might have, knowing they were so fra…