Psalm 78 (77):66Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He struck down His foes from behind (Psalms 76:66): those who reveled in their ability to seize His Ark, for they were defeated from the rear. 1 Samuel 5:6 This appears to illustrate the punishment that awaits those who gaze back at what lies behind; as the apostle reflects, they ought to regard it as refuse. (Phlp. 3:8) For those who accept God's covenant while clinging to former vanities resemble the adversarial nations that placed the captured Ark of the Covenant beside their idols. Yet these former things, regardless of intentions, ultimately crumble, for all humanity is like grass, and the splendor of mankind is akin to the flower of the field.

You will strike down Your adversaries. This speaks to the defeat of the people of Ashdod and Ashkelon 'in their strongholds,' leading them to send the Ark of the Covenant away from among them.

The Lord awoke from sleep. By administering these tribulations, He revealed to their adversaries the justification for His actions. He struck down His foes, subjecting them to eternal disgrace. As if in a dream, He momentarily set aside His forbearance and delivered a decisive blow to the nations, rendering them subjects of scorn among all. The Prophet discerns the affliction related to the saddles, as the record also recounts (1 Sam. 5:9). This is further foretold in prophecy, indicating, ‘Strike back Thy adversaries,’ which refers to the specific part of the body afflicted by the plague. The Prophet labeled the dream as forbearance; the sound of the wine as indignation, highlighting that it is inherent to God and justice to administer punishment upon those who violate His commands.

You shall strike down your adversaries. In Scripture, the term struck is frequently employed in place of slain; however, it often conveys the idea of punishment, as in this instance. He struck the Philistines in their strongholds, as recorded in history; for the sake of decency, it is noted: backward, behind. He bestowed upon them a lasting disgrace. Here, He refers to the injuries they sustained on the backs of their bodies as a disgrace. Wherever they carried the tabernacle of the covenant, the residents suffered from sores.

Some are struck by God's hand to move forward; these individuals gain from the discipline, compelled by divine correction to adhere to the truth. In contrast, those who are pushed back resist the discipline, similar to Pharaoh, who faces everlasting shame, as the chastening of the wicked and the exposure of their shortcomings fail to lead them to repentance. It is also possible that the term 'in the rear' suggests a reference to the affliction of the lower body.

Some interpret these words as referring to the Israelites, while others consider them in relation to their adversaries. For those who support the first interpretation, it is not surprising that the Israelites are viewed as adversaries of God; as Isaiah contends, “Woe to the strong in Israel: for My fury will not cease against them, and I will not cease to judge My enemies” (Isaiah 1:24). Nonetheless, since the Prophets derive their teachings about the Israelites from Moses, and their language aligns closely with his ideas, the perspective that applies this passage to the Philistines is also quite valid. This is particularly true as the Prophet references the song of Moses, which indicates that God did not punish His people without also conquering their foes (Deuteronomy 32:27).

This Psalm, authored by David and rich in prophetic insight, was entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the vocalists, to proclaim it for the comprehension of all, highlighting the countless blessings bestowed by God Almighty upon the ungrateful people of Israel. It reprimands them for their ingratitude while instructing others to express gratitude for the profound and inexpressible love of God, particularly as revealed through Christ the Lord, who trusts in His name. In this psalm, David communicates as if expressing the sentiments of Christ to the Christian faithful, urging them to embrace the teachings of the Gospel (Chrysostom, Theodoret, Athanasius).