Psalm 78 (77):52Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This leads to their rebellious outcry, "Why hast thou done these things unto us, when thou hast brought us out of Egypt, as if there were no tombs in Egypt?" (Ex. 14:11). Therefore, this hope signifies not an insensible people, but rather the divine protection that allowed the Israelites to dwell securely in the wilderness after their enemies were vanquished in the sea.

He then recounts further instances of divine favor and the people’s transgressions, which serve to highlight their ungratefulness. Even after inheriting the promised land, they persisted in their disobedience and hardness of heart, behaving as though they owed nothing to God. The city of the holy place is identified with the promised land, which God designated for His people and consecrated for Himself. Thus, the wickedness of the Israelites, who reintroduced the same abominations that had previously desecrated the land, becomes even more egregious. Was it not a profound abomination that the Israelites, aware of the reasons for the expulsion of the former inhabitants, shamelessly sullied it with the same or even worse sins, as if conspiring to invite upon themselves the wrath of God that they had already witnessed executed against others? Following this, the phrase, "in this mountain, which His right hand hath obtained," serves to remind the Israelites not to take credit for their acquisition of the land through their own efforts or strength, as it is also stated in another Psalm, "Not with their sword did they inherit the land, neither did their muscle save them, but Thy right hand, and Thy muscle, and the enlightenment of Thy countenance, because Thou didst favor them" (Psalms 43:4). This is immediately followed by an explanation: having declared, "Cast out the tongues from their face," He adds, "And I will divide them for an inheritance," demonstrating the manner of acquisition. It implies that neither the people of Israel were especially valiant to defeat their foes, nor were their adversaries so timid that they would submit, except through the power of God that overcame them.

The Savior requests that His people listen attentively, so they do not suffer the same fate as the previous Jewish people who disobeyed God. He instructs them to diligently examine the law of the Gospel and to receive prophecy with an open heart.

Despite their strength, the Jews faltered on the day of Christ's Passion due to their disbelief. Particularly disloyal to God was the tribe of Ephraim, which succumbed to the idolatry of the golden calf, dragging the other nine tribes into similar sin. Because of this betrayal, God stripped them of their valor; skilled archers, they grew fearful and retreated on the battlefield. Consequently, they were taken captive and dispersed among the Gentiles. Yet God, in His mercy, looked upon the Jews, recognizing their complete surrender to worldly wisdom and their lack of repentance. In His boundless compassion, He chose not to annihilate all the Jews in the wilderness but instead spared and showed mercy to them. Humanity, depicted as flesh, is subject to passions and decay. When the Spirit departs from man, it does not return until the second coming.