Psalm 78:56-58
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Despite all God's incredible acts of deliverance and provision, the people "tested and rebelled" against Him, revealing a deep-seated unfaithfulness. The word for "testimonies" refers to God's commands, which are meant to bear witness to His will; by not keeping them, Israel actively disregarded God's very character and guidance.
Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God faithfully led Israel into the Promised Land and established them there, the people unfortunately repeated their pattern of unfaithfulness during the period of the judges. Despite God's continued provision and protection, they repeatedly turned to idolatry and disobeyed His commands. This verse highlights their persistent rebellion against God, even after experiencing His power and faithfulness so profoundly.
Even after experiencing God's incredible faithfulness, the Israelites kept pushing Him too far. What does it mean to 'test' God, and how do we do it today?
The verse states the Israelites 'tested and rebelled against the Most High God.' This wasn't just a casual mistake; it was a deliberate act of challenging God's authority and goodness.
The Nature of Testing God
This happened despite God’s profound acts of deliverance and provision, showing a pattern of ingratitude and disbelief that marked their journey.
God gave His people specific instructions, but they chose to ignore them. What are 'testimonies,' and why is keeping them so crucial?
The verse continues, '...and kept not his testimonies.' God's 'testimonies' are His commands, His laws, His revealed will. They serve as witness to who God is and what He requires.
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The Cost of Disobedience
Understand the original words
nasah · Hebrew Verb
A verb meaning to put to the test, to prove, or to try. In a biblical context, it often refers to humans doubting God's power or character, thereby putting Him to the test.
marah · Hebrew Verb
To act in open resistance against authority. Biblically, it describes the willful defiance of God’s established covenant or commands.
Elyon · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A title for God emphasizing His supremacy, sovereignty, and transcendence over all creation.
edut · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for God’s revealed laws, warnings, and decrees that bear witness to His nature and requirement for His people.
bagad · Hebrew Verb
To behave unfaithfully or act with treachery. It often implies a breach of trust, particularly in the context of covenant relationship or marriage.
ka'as · Hebrew Verb
To incite, irritate, or goad someone to emotional reaction. In Scripture, it is frequently used to describe human behavior that moves God to righteous indignation.
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Sites of unauthorized worship, typically built on elevated ground, often associated with pagan practices and the setting up of idols that competed with the worship of Yahweh.
pesel · Hebrew Noun
A human representation of a deity. Biblically, these are inanimate objects or images that are sinful to worship because they replace the true God and cannot save.
qin'ah · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting God’s intense, protective, and exclusive love for His covenant people, which is ignited when His people offer the devotion rightfully His to false gods.
This verse speaks to a recurring theme in Israel's history: their tendency to test and rebel against God's authority, even after experiencing His deliverance and receiving His commands, particularly during the tumultuous period of the Judges.
c. 1406 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites under Joshua crossed the Jordan River and began conquering the land of Canaan, eventually dividing it among the twelve tribes.
c. 1400 BC - 1046 BC— this verse
Period of the Judges
This era was marked by cycles of Israel's disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and God raising up judges to deliver them. The verse reflects the persistent unfaithfulness during this time.
c. 1046 BC
Saul Anointed King
Following the period of the Judges and the Ark's capture, the people desired a king. Samuel anointed Saul, marking the transition to a monarchy.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
David, from the tribe of Judah, was eventually established as king over Israel, ushering in a golden age for the nation and establishing Jerusalem as its capital.
This passage directly follows the conquest of the land and describes the Israelites immediately falling into idolatry, testing and provoking God, mirroring the unfaithfulness described in Psalm 78:56.
1 Corinthians 10:9The New Testament directly echoes the Old Testament warning, applying the wilderness sin of 'testing Christ' to believers, highlighting the recurring danger of testing God with our disobedience.
Hebrews 3:16-17This passage links the Israelites' rebellion and testing of God in the wilderness to their hardening of hearts and eventual exclusion, emphasizing the grave consequences of repeatedly provoking God.
Nehemiah 9:16-17In their confession, the people acknowledge their ancestors' pride and rebellion against God's law, directly aligning with the idea of not keeping God's testimonies mentioned in Psalm 78:56.
Psalm 106:13-14This psalm recounts a similar history of rebellion, stating that the people 'soon forgat his works' and 'provoked him at the Red sea,' showing a pattern of testing God after His mighty acts.
cambridgePsalms 78:56: "Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:"
56 . Yet &c.] Yet they tempted and rebelled against God the Most High. In spite of all God’s goodness to them, they persisted in their old unfaithfulness. Cp. Psalm 78:17-18; Psalms 40, 41 . God the Most High is not El Elyôn , as in Psalm 78:35 ; but Elôhîm Elyôn , the equivalent of Jehovah the Most High , Psalm 7:17 ; Psalm 47:2 . his testimonies ] His commandments, regarded as bearing witness to His…
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…
Despite all God's incredible acts of deliverance and provision, the people "tested and rebelled" against Him, revealing a deep-seated unfaithfulness. The word for "testimonies" refers to God's commands, which are meant to bear witness to His will; by not keeping them, Israel actively disregarded God's very character and guidance.
After God faithfully led Israel into the Promised Land and established them there, the people unfortunately repeated their pattern of unfaithfulness during the period of the judges. Despite God's continued provision and protection, they repeatedly turned to idolatry and disobeyed His commands. This verse highlights their persistent rebellion against God, even after experiencing His power and faithfulness so profoundly.
After God faithfully led Israel into the Promised Land and established them there, the people unfortunately repeated their pattern of unfaithfulness during the period of the judges. Despite God's continued provision and protection, they repeatedly turned to idolatry and disobeyed His commands. This verse highlights their persistent rebellion against God, even after experiencing His power and faithfulness so profoundly.
"Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with the…" — Despite all God's incredible acts of deliverance and provision, the people "tested and rebelled" against Him, revealing a deep-seated unfaithfulness. The word for "testimonies" refers to God's comman…
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Last reviewed October 2026
