Psalm 78 (77):57Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They became, as he states, a distorted bow, or as some records indicate, a corrupted bow (Psalms 76:58). This concept becomes clearer when he continues, saying, ‘And they have provoked Him to anger with their high places’ (Psalms 77:59). This indicates that they turned to idolatry. Thus, the bow was not perverted in honor of the Lord, but rather in opposition to Him, who commanded the same people, You shall have no other gods but Me (Exodus 20:3). Therefore, the bow symbolizes the inclinations of the heart. This idea is ultimately expressed more explicitly as he states that their idols provoked Him to wrath.

They turned away and refused, just like their ancestors. Just as their forebears in the desert rejected the Savior and created a calf for themselves, they too abandoned God and established young women, offering sacrifices to them.

They withdrew and refused, just as their ancestors had done before them. They mirrored the iniquity of their forebears, and upon witnessing their punishment, they failed to learn from it. They became like a faulty bow. A well-crafted bow is capable of sending arrows directly at their mark, yet if the bow is bent in any manner, it cannot direct the arrows accurately. In the same way, they, having forfeited their clarity of thought, did not appropriately utilize the blessings bestowed upon them, transforming opportunities for goodness into occasions for adversity.

And they tested and repulsed God Most High, failing to uphold His testimonies. They strayed from Him and rejected His commandments, just as their forefathers had. The individuals who entered the promised land were the offspring of those whose remains, as mentioned earlier, had perished in the wilderness. Their heirs also provoked and displeased the Lord, as recorded in the book of Judges: ‘After them there arose another generation, which knew not the Lord, neither the works of the Lord, which He did unto Israel: then began the children of Israel to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and began to serve the Baals’ (Judges 11:10-11). By testimonies, He refers to divine declarations.

The prophet transitions from the generation that wandered in the wilderness to the one that succeeded them, highlighting the values that their ancestors imparted. What did they turn away from? The sacred agreement with God, established through Moses at Mount Sinai and reaffirmed by Joshua in the Promised Land during its conquest. They failed to stay loyal to Him, becoming like a bent bow that cannot properly launch an arrow; similarly, the disobedient people of Israel were unable to lead righteous lives. They provoked God's wrath with their high places and stirred His jealousy through their idols.

In this passage, the prophet admonishes the Israelites once more for their continual rebellion against God, despite the great privileges they have received. Their cruelty has led them to completely reject the yoke of obedience. The term ‘tempted’ has been previously discussed, and the prophet expands upon this by emphasizing that His revelations were disregarded. These final statements vividly illustrate the blatant and serious disobedience of the Israelites, who, fully aware of their responsibilities and possessing the law, chose not to obey God. The law is referred to as ‘obedience’ because God had taken this people under His guidance, much like individuals establish mutual agreements through known laws.

This Psalm attributed to David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so he could proclaim it for everyone’s understanding. It reflects on the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful lineage of the Jews, admonishing them for their lack of gratitude and teaching others the importance of being thankful for the immeasurable compassion of God, especially as manifested through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, David speaks as if representing Christ, urging the Christian faithful to pay attention to the law of the Gospel. The teachings of this psalm, while relevant to the Jewish people, are now particularly suited for the followers of Christ: the old covenant serves as a foreshadowing of the new.