Psalm 78 (77):58Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This does not imply that God is envious of lifeless idols or demons, but rather that, in His desire for our salvation, He is zealous for us—much like a father caring for his children or a bridegroom for his beloved.

Instead, the opposite has occurred: while God has dedicated this commitment to them, the people, in disdain of His grace, willingly forsake it. God draws them close, yet they carelessly attempt to scatter. He promises to act as a father to them, but they reject the role of being His children. God illuminates the path to salvation, yet the people, straying away, willingly expose themselves to ruin. Consequently, the Prophet asserts that this nation has been wicked and malevolent throughout all generations. It is important to note, however, that his descendants are not condemned for their transgressions as harshly as for mirroring the actions of their forebears, enabling no one to use their example as a misguided justification for their own behavior. Using a fitting analogy, similar to one by Hosea in Hosea 7:16, he illustrates their folly. Just as archers with feeble and poorly drawn bows tend to miss their targets, the Prophet remarks, "They have turned into a corrupt bow," indicating they have become ineffective, failing to direct their arrows correctly. In essence, they have chosen a crooked path instead of the straight one, seeking to evade God's authority. Ultimately, he also describes their evasion or apostasy, stating, "And they angered Him in their hills, and in their statues they vexed Him." These words clearly indicate that the Israelites had clearly turned away from faith and obedience to God. Fully knowing that genuine worship cannot exist without God's Word, they scorned the law and turned to idolatry. Such behavior inevitably leads to disdain for the law, and those who prefer to follow their own wisdom over God's commands often descend into wickedness or gross superstition.

While this psalm's message initially applied to the Jews, it has now become pertinent to the followers of Christ: the old covenant serves as a reflection of the new. The Saviour calls His people to listen attentively, lest they suffer the same fate as the earlier Jewish nation, who did not heed God’s commands. The Saviour instructs them to diligently examine the Gospel and to receive the prophecy with heartfelt attention (Chrysostom, Theodoret).

Although the Jews were formidable, on the day of Christ's Passion, they faltered due to their disbelief. The tribe of Ephraim was particularly unfaithful to God, having fallen into the idolatry of the golden calf and leading the other ten tribes into sin. As a consequence of this betrayal, God stripped them of their courage. Though adept with a bow, they succumbed to fear and retreated in battle. As a result, they were taken captive and dispersed among the Gentiles (Theodoret). Despite witnessing their total devotion to earthly wisdom, which hindered their repentance, God showed mercy to the Jews. According to His immense compassion, He chose not to annihilate all the Jews in the wilderness but extended His mercy towards them. Flesh represents humanity, marked by passions and decay. The Spirit, having departed from humanity, will not return until the second coming.