The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Psalm 78 recounts God's rich blessings to His people and their poor return for all His benefits. Israel distrusted God to give food that would preserve health, despised the manna provided for their training and mission, and in discontent and unbelief craved flesh and demanded meat until He granted their desire despite warning. His wrath came upon them while the meat was still between their teeth, and slew the fattest and strongest and the chosen men, so that many thousands died and the eating brought disease and death. The slaying was His judgment and chastisement and curse upon rebellion and craving, showing that food granted against His restriction for their good could not bring the blessing obedience would have given. Their unrestrained appetite kept them from physical and mental strength and clear judgment and brought degeneracy and decay, warning against murmuring at God's requirements and choosing one's own way and appetite instead of received light.
Historical Setting and Meaning
This verse belongs to a psalm that recounts God's rich blessings to His people and their poor return for all His benefits. It records Israel's distrust of God to give the food that would best preserve health. They despised manna, angels' food that would have proved a blessing to them, though it was the food provided for their training and mission. In discontent and longing for Egypt's food, with unbelief and distrust of God's salvation, they rejected what He provided, craved flesh, and cried for meat until He granted their desire, despite warning. Their demand for meat was rebellion against the food He had provided.
God's wrath came upon them while the meat was still in their mouths, between their teeth, when they were filled and not yet estranged from their lust. It slew the fattest of them, the strongest and most distinguished, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. Many died, even many thousands, while eating the meat they had demanded, and eating it brought disease and death. The quail was granted because of their discontent, but the granted desire did not bring blessing.
The slaying was God's judgment, wrath, rebuke, chastisement and curse on rebellion, disobedience, and craving for flesh. It was the sure result of their own course in constantly working against a good God. The food He had restricted for their good did not bring the blessing obedience could have given. Their self-indulgence, self-gratification, and unrestrained appetite, and their refusal of the healthier provision He intended, kept them from physical and mental strength and clear judgment. That self-indulgence brought degeneracy and decay. The chastisement caused them to repent for a time, but afterward they fell again under temptation.
Warning and Spiritual Application
Israel's demand for flesh despite divine warning was rebellion, for their desire was granted yet judgment fell while the meat was still between their teeth and thousands died. That history stands as a warning against murmuring at divine requirements and disregarding light already received. To choose appetite and one's own way brings judgment rather than blessing.
Their complaining when trials came and forgetting the source of their strength is held up as an example not to follow. Those who possess Bible religion are connected with the source of all wisdom and power. Those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin and are sanctified through it will continually advance in the divine life and will not repeat that complaining.
Psalm 78 recounts God's rich blessings to His people and their poor return for all His benefits. Israel distrusted God to give food that would preserve health, despised the manna provided for their training and mission, and in discontent and unbelief craved flesh and demanded meat until He granted their desire despite warning. His wrath came upon them while the meat was still between their teeth, and slew the fattest and strongest and the chosen men, so that many thousands died and the eating brought disease and death. The slaying was His judgment and chastisement and curse upon rebellion and craving, showing that food granted against His restriction for their good could not bring the blessing obedience would have given. Their unrestrained appetite kept them from physical and mental strength and clear judgment and brought degeneracy and decay, warning against murmuring at God's requirements and choosing one's own way and appetite instead of received light.
Historical Setting and Meaning
This verse belongs to a psalm that recounts God's rich blessings to His people and their poor return for all His benefits. It records Israel's distrust of God to give the food that would best preserve health. They despised manna, angels' food that would have proved a blessing to them, though it was the food provided for their training and mission. In discontent and longing for Egypt's food, with unbelief and distrust of God's salvation, they rejected what He provided, craved flesh, and cried for meat until He granted their desire, despite warning. Their demand for meat was rebellion against the food He had provided.
God's wrath came upon them while the meat was still in their mouths, between their teeth, when they were filled and not yet estranged from their lust. It slew the fattest of them, the strongest and most distinguished, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. Many died, even many thousands, while eating the meat they had demanded, and eating it brought disease and death. The quail was granted because of their discontent, but the granted desire did not bring blessing.
The slaying was God's judgment, wrath, rebuke, chastisement and curse on rebellion, disobedience, and craving for flesh. It was the sure result of their own course in constantly working against a good God. The food He had restricted for their good did not bring the blessing obedience could have given. Their self-indulgence, self-gratification, and unrestrained appetite, and their refusal of the healthier provision He intended, kept them from physical and mental strength and clear judgment. That self-indulgence brought degeneracy and decay. The chastisement caused them to repent for a time, but afterward they fell again under temptation.
Warning and Spiritual Application
Israel's demand for flesh despite divine warning was rebellion, for their desire was granted yet judgment fell while the meat was still between their teeth and thousands died. That history stands as a warning against murmuring at divine requirements and disregarding light already received. To choose appetite and one's own way brings judgment rather than blessing.
Their complaining when trials came and forgetting the source of their strength is held up as an example not to follow. Those who possess Bible religion are connected with the source of all wisdom and power. Those who fully receive truth of heavenly origin and are sanctified through it will continually advance in the divine life and will not repeat that complaining.