Psalm 78 (77):17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Despite this, they, as a perverse and resentful generation, continued to sin against Him (Ps. 77:17): specifically, by failing to believe. This unbelief is the very sin that the Spirit convicts the world of, as the Lord states, “Verily, in sin, because they have not believed in Me” (John 16:9). They have troubled the Most High with a drought, which other translations refer to as a place without water, a more faithful rendering from the Greek indicating nothing but dryness. Was this drought experienced in a barren wilderness, or was it within themselves? Although they drank from the rock, their physical thirst was not quenched, as their minds remained parched and devoid of the fruits of righteousness.

Yet this did not cleanse their hearts from deceit; they remained burdened by the malady of ungratefulness. Despite receiving numerous blessings, they chose to test the might of God, and in their time of hunger, instead of asking for their needs, they grumbled against God, questioning His authority.

They multiplied their transgressions against Him. As their wrongdoings are widely recognized through the writings of Moses, it is stated that they added to their offenses. Listen to how they sinned. They transgressed against the Almighty in a desolate land, meaning in a place devoid of water. The nature of their sin is earlier articulated in the description of them as "a stubborn and rebellious generation" (Psalms 77:8).

The prophet reprimands the people of Israel for a serious transgression; despite witnessing miraculous acts, they failed to turn away from their past iniquities, instead compounding them with further wrongdoing. Not only did they sin, but they did so "before Him," meaning they sinned against the One who performed those wonders. Consequently, the prophet states, "they provoked the Most High in a barren land." In what manner did they provoke Him? Not through thirst or by demanding water, but by blaspheming and insulting the Generous One. This is why the sites of miraculous events were designated with names such as the Water of Controversy (Num. 20:13) and Temptation and Blasphemy, where they tested God by questioning, "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Ex. 17:7). These sentiments echo the declarations of Moses, the lawgiver, conveyed in similar terms. The subsequent verses of the psalm corroborate this, stating, "and they tested God in their hearts, asking for food to satisfy their souls."

The prophet has succinctly illustrated the uninterrupted sequence of God's blessings and underscored the depth of His love for the descendants of Abraham. However, he now points out that these ungrateful beings, deeply indebted to their Benefactor, unjustly rebelled against Him due to their cruel nature. Initially, he accuses them of compounding their sins, which caused deep sorrow to Him. The description of this sorrow will be elaborated in the following verse. The term “bitterly” indicates that their transgressions were significant, and their wickedness unbearable. Furthermore, the setting amplifies the severity of their sin, for it occurred in the wilderness, a place where God's manifestations were made evident daily, and where their very necessities should have encouraged obedience.

This Psalm attributed to David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, to proclaim it for the comprehension of all regarding the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful lineage of the Jews. It admonishes them for their ingratitude and teaches all others to express gratitude for the immeasurable compassion of God, particularly as exemplified through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, the prophet David addresses Christian believers on behalf of Christ, urging them to pay attention to the law of the Gospel. While the teachings may have once applied to the Jews, today they resonate with the faithful in Christ: the old covenant serves as a precursor to the new.