Psalms 78:42
They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights not just a general forgetting, but a specific failure to recall the day of deliverance, emphasizing that this singular, momentous event—the exodus from Egypt—was what their hearts grew cold towards. This points to a deeper failure than just poor memory; it’s a spiritual amnesia that overlooks the very foundation of their identity as God's redeemed people.
This psalm recounts the history of Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and God's persistent mercy, using past events as a lesson for the present generation. It focuses heavily on the wilderness period, detailing God's mighty deeds and Israel's constant complaining and sin. This specific verse highlights their failure to remember the powerful deliverance from Egypt, a pivotal moment that should have shaped their entire perspective.
The verse speaks of forgetting God's 'hand' and 'the day' of deliverance. What's the difference, and why does the psalmist highlight both?
This verse points to a profound spiritual amnesia that plagued ancient Israel. It's not just about forgetting a single event, but a deeper, twofold failure:
Forgetting God's 'Hand'
Forgetting 'The Day'
Together, these omissions paint a picture of a people who no longer saw God as powerful and personally involved, nor remembered the defining act that set them apart.
Psalm 78 uses Israel's history as a lesson. But what happens when that history becomes just a story, not a living reminder?
The psalmist, Asaph, is writing this psalm with a specific purpose: to teach the next generation. He laments that Israel's past was not being passed down as a vibrant testimony to God's faithfulness, but was fading into mere historical accounts.
The Danger of Abstract History
Understand the original words
‘ōz · Hebrew Noun
The ability to bring about an effect, often associated with God's sovereign strength and ability to intervene in history to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
pādāh · Hebrew Verb
The act of setting someone free from bondage, debt, or slavery, typically through the payment of a price. In Scripture, it is a primary image for God's deliverance of His people from oppression or sin.
This psalm reflects on Israel's history, highlighting a recurring pattern of God's mighty acts of deliverance met by the people's persistent forgetfulness and disobedience. Verse 42 specifically laments their failure to remember the foundational event of the Exodus and God's power displayed in it, even amidst their subsequent struggles in the wilderness and the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, culminating in the destruction of Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea.
c. 1446-1406 BC— this verse
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites journey through the desert for 40 years, experiencing God's provision and judgment for their disobedience.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites enter and begin to conquer the Promised Land, driving out its inhabitants.
Period of the Judges (c. 1400-1050 BC)
Cycle of Disobedience and Deliverance
Israel repeatedly falls into idolatry and is oppressed by surrounding nations, only to be delivered by God through various judges.
This passage directly recounts the 'day when he delivered them from the enemy' that Psalm 78:42 laments was forgotten, detailing God's powerful intervention at the Red Sea.
Deuteronomy 8:2-3This verse serves as a reminder from Moses to the Israelites about remembering their journey and God's provision, directly addressing the theme of forgetting God's deliverance and power that is central to Psalm 78:42.
Nehemiah 9:16-17This passage echoes Psalm 78's historical review, specifically mentioning the 'miracles' and 'deliverance from Egypt' that the people later forgot, highlighting the recurring pattern of forgetfulness and God's steadfastness.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5The Apostle Paul explicitly draws parallels between Israel's wilderness experiences and the Corinthian believers' faith journey, warning them against repeating Israel's mistakes of forgetting God's power and provision, just as noted in Psalm 78:42.
Joshua 24:6-7This historical account recalls God's deliverance from Egypt and the pursuit by the Egyptians, reminding Joshua's audience of the specific 'day' of salvation they should not forget, aligning with the verse's core message.
ellicottPsalms 78:42: "They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy."
(42) The reminiscence of the plagues that follows is not a complete enumeration, and does not proceed in the order of the historic narrative.
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 verse highlights not just a general forgetting, but a specific failure to recall the day of deliverance, emphasizing that this singular, momentous event—the exodus from Egypt—was what their hearts grew cold towards. This points to a deeper failure than just poor memory; it’s a spiritual amnesia that overlooks the very foundation of their identity as God's redeemed people.
This psalm recounts the history of Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and God's persistent mercy, using past events as a lesson for the present generation. It focuses heavily on the wilderness period, detailing God's mighty deeds and Israel's constant complaining and sin. This specific verse highlights their failure to remember the powerful deliverance from Egypt, a pivotal moment that should have shaped their entire perspective.
This psalm recounts the history of Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and God's persistent mercy, using past events as a lesson for the present generation. It focuses heavily on the wilderness period, detailing God's mighty deeds and Israel's constant complaining and sin. This specific verse highlights their failure to remember the powerful deliverance from Egypt, a pivotal moment that should have shaped their entire perspective.
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Forgetting Leads to Repeating
c. 1050 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Samuel anoints Saul as the first king of Israel, followed later by David, marking a new era of national leadership.
"They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe," — The verse highlights not just a general forgetting, but a specific failure to recall the day of deliverance, emphasizing that this singular, momentous event—the exodus from Egypt—was what their hea…
