Psalm 78 (77):64Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He artfully articulated the reasons for His rejection of His dwelling among men, emphasizing that He resided among them. If they were deemed unworthy of His presence, then why should He not dismiss the tabernacle, which was not established for His own sake, but rather for those He now regarded as unworthy? He allowed their strength and glory to fall into the hands of their adversaries. The Ark, which they believed rendered them unbeatable and led to their pride, is referred to as their virtue and beauty. In the end, after they had lived poorly and boasted of the Lord’s temple, He sent a warning through the prophet, declaring, "See what I have done to Shiloh, where my dwelling was" (Jer. 7:12). He brought devastation upon His people with the sword, showing disdain for His heritage (Ps.

The priestesses will meet their end by the sword. Elijah will recognize the offspring of the priests. Their widows will not be grieved, for they succumbed during the time of devastation, experiencing the same fate as their husbands, and are not permitted the customary tears that accompany mourning for the deceased.

Some were thrown into the flames, while others did not exhibit the customary mourning; each individual was preoccupied with their own misfortunes. The priests, Eli's sons, who carried the holy altar, were killed, serving as a stark reminder that those who walk in wickedness can expect no divine protection.

The sacrificial leaders perished by the sword. Ophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, who accompanied the ark, met their demise. And their grieving widows will find no solace. It is declared that they will not be lamented, rather than stating they were not lamented. For they too faced death or were taken captive, leaving the forsaken cities devoid of mourners for them.

This serves as an indictment that heightened the severity of the penalty for the Jews, as the priests faltered regarding the word of God; this was the downfall by the sword. Moreover, there was no one to grieve for the widows, as the Jewish teachers showed no compassion, not only toward the young women but also toward the bereaved. The prophet refers to young women as those souls who have only recently begun to stray, while widows symbolize those who have long since transgressed and have lost the reverence for God, which was essential for their standing under the law.

In this context, another type of defeat is highlighted, which took place during the time of High Priest Eli. Through the passage of the Ark, God revealed to the Israelites that His grace would be withdrawn from them, an affirmation made evident by this act. The divine anger, represented here as fire, consumed all that was finest among the Israelites. Sacred Scripture recounts that in Shiloh, up to thirty thousand of Israel’s select young men fell victim to the sword of their adversaries (1 Kings 4:10; 1 Sam. 4:10). This defeat is further illustrated by the lack of young men, leading to the unmarried women remaining without husbands. It is also important to note that the priests, whom God had chosen to protect, perished alongside their fellow countrymen. The silence of the widows, as indicated in the Hebrew text, can be interpreted in two ways: either they succumbed to grief prematurely, or they were taken captive and prohibited from mourning their losses.

This Psalm of David, rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the choir, to proclaim to all regarding the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful lineage of the Jews. It serves to reprimand them for their ingratitude while encouraging others to express gratitude for the profound and ineffable kindness of God, particularly as it has been revealed through Christ the Lord, who believes in His name. In this psalm, the prophet David speaks as if representing Christ to the Christian faithful, urging them to pay attention to the commandments of the Gospel. The teachings of this psalm may have once resonated with the Jews; however, they now hold significance for the followers of Christ: the ancient law serves as a foreshadowing of the new covenant.