Psalms 78:45
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Psalm doesn't just list the plagues; it highlights how God sent them, emphasizing His active role in judgment, not just as a passive observer of events. The Hebrew word for "sent" carries a sense of deliberate dispatching, showing these weren't random occurrences but targeted divine action.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's amazing acts of deliverance. The psalmist shifts from recounting Israel's wilderness struggles to detailing the plagues God sent upon Egypt, highlighting how the Egyptians, like Israel later, forgot God's power. This specific verse describes two of those plagues: swarms of flies and then frogs, illustrating God's judgment against those who oppressed His people.
Ever wondered why God's judgment in Scripture often involves natural disasters or plagues? It wasn't just random chaos.
Nature's Power, God's Purpose
This verse, and the larger context of Psalm 78, reminds us that God isn't distant from the world He created. In fact, He uses it as a tool.
The psalm emphasizes Israel's repeated failure to remember God's past deeds. What does that sting like?
A Cycle of Forgetting and Suffering
Psalm 78 is a lament over Israel's spiritual amnesia. They experienced God's incredible power firsthand, yet repeatedly turned away.
Psalm 78 recounts Israel's history, framing the plagues of Egypt not just as divine judgments, but as powerful signs and wonders meant to be remembered and taught, highlighting the recurring theme of God's faithfulness met by Israel's forgetfulness and rebellion.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of slavery in Egypt, are miraculously led out of the land by God's mighty hand.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Plagues of Egypt
Before the final Exodus, God inflicts ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to break Pharaoh's will and demonstrate His power.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Wandering Begins
Following their escape from Egypt, the Israelites begin a forty-year journey through the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
After the wilderness wandering, under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites conquer and settle in the land of Canaan.
c. 1046 BC
This passage directly describes the plague of flies sent upon Egypt, detailing the destructive nature of these insects as seen in Psalm 78.
Exodus 8:5-6This passage recounts the plague of frogs, similar to the mention in Psalm 78, highlighting God's power to use even lowly creatures for judgment.
Numbers 11:31-32This passage describes God sending quails, another instance of God using creatures in a powerful and unexpected way to affect Israel, mirroring the divine power seen with the plagues.
Revelation 16:13This New Testament passage speaks of 'unclean spirits like frogs' coming from the mouth of the dragon, showing how the imagery of plagues can be used symbolically for spiritual devastation.
clarkePsalms 78:45: "He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them."
He sent - flies - and frogs - See on Exodus 8:6 (note), and Exodus 8:24 (note).
poolePsalms 78:45: "He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them."
Devoured them; or, destroyed them ; which they might do by their cruel and numerous stings, for these flies were doubtless extraordinary in their nature and quantity, and poisonous and hurtful qualities. And the like is to be thought concerning the frogs here following, which also might destroy the people by infecting the air with their stink, and corrupting their meats and drinks.
The Psalm doesn't just list the plagues; it highlights how God sent them, emphasizing His active role in judgment, not just as a passive observer of events. The Hebrew word for "sent" carries a sense of deliberate dispatching, showing these weren't random occurrences but targeted divine action.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's amazing acts of deliverance. The psalmist shifts from recounting Israel's wilderness struggles to detailing the plagues God sent upon Egypt, highlighting how the Egyptians, like Israel later, forgot God's power. This specific verse describes two of those plagues: swarms of flies and then frogs, illustrating God's judgment against those who oppressed His people.
This psalm recounts Israel's history, emphasizing their repeated unfaithfulness despite God's amazing acts of deliverance. The psalmist shifts from recounting Israel's wilderness struggles to detailing the plagues God sent upon Egypt, highlighting how the Egyptians, like Israel later, forgot God's power. This specific verse describes two of those plagues: swarms of flies and then frogs, illustrating God's judgment against those who oppressed His people.
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"He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them." — The Psalm doesn't just list the plagues; it highlights how God sent them, emphasizing His active role in judgment, not just as a passive observer of events. The Hebrew word for "sent" carries a sen…
