Psalm 78 (77):63Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He clearly articulated the reasons for rejecting His dwelling among humanity by stating that He chose to live among people. When they proved unworthy of His presence, it was only fitting that He dismiss the dwelling that He had not established for Himself, but rather for those He now viewed as unworthy. Moreover, He allowed their might and splendor to fall into the hands of their adversaries. The Ark, which they believed made them invulnerable and lifted them in pride, He referred to as their strength and beauty. In the end, when they lived unrighteously and proudly touted the temple of the Lord, He instilled fear in them through the prophet, declaring, "See what I have done to Shiloh, where my dwelling was" (Jer. 7:12).

And confine your people with strength. The prisoners perished, discovering no assistance from anyone, for their companions were consumed by flames.

Some were consumed by flames, while others did not express their customary sorrow, as each individual was preoccupied with personal challenges. The priests, Ophni and Phinehas, who tended to the most sacred altar, met their demise, learning through this very act that those who dwell in wickedness cannot expect God’s protection.

The account is not explicitly detailed in the historical record, but given the devastation of their cities and homes, it is evident that the young men who had not yet engaged in battle perished alongside their dwellings. Likewise, the young women who were seized and sold into servitude had no one to lament their suffering and demise, as their families and loved ones had either been killed or likewise taken into bondage.

The prophet refers to the youthful individuals as those knowledgeable in the law—the scribes and Pharisees—who held a strong conviction in the authority of the law. They were consumed by a burning passion—fuelled by their animosity towards us—because our justification was achieved apart from the burdensome law. Thus, Isaiah declared, ‘They that hate thy people shall see and be ashamed; fire shall devour thy enemies’ (Isaiah 26:11). The passage also notes, ‘And their maidens were not mourned for,’ highlighting that no one lamented for those who perished in sin.

In this passage, another form of defeat is pointed out, which transpired during the time of Elijah the high priest. Through the crossing of the Ark, God demonstrated to the Israelites that His grace would be withdrawn from them, a truth reinforced by this act. The divine wrath, symbolized here by the term fire, consumed all that was noble among the Israelites. The Sacred History recounts that in Shiloh, as many as thirty thousand of Israel's chosen youth fell to the enemy's sword (1 Kings 4:10; 1 Sam. 4:10). This defeat is exemplified by the lack of young men, leading to the condition of the virgins remaining unmarried. Furthermore, it is noted that the priests, whom God had particularly safeguarded, also fell alongside others. The Hebrew text suggests that the widows did not mourn, which can be interpreted in two ways: either they succumbed to grief before their time, or they were taken by their captors and forbidden to express sorrow.

This Psalm composed by David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he might convey its message for the comprehension of all regarding the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ingrate nation of the Jews. It serves to admonish them for their thanklessness and to instruct others to express gratitude for the incomprehensible mercy of God, particularly as revealed through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, the prophet David speaks as if representing Christ, urging Christian believers to pay attention to the tenets of the Gospel. The instruction contained within this psalm can be seen as applicable to the Jews, yet it holds true for the faithful in Christ: the old covenant serves as a shadow of the new.