And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
Psalm 78 recounts the rich blessings God bestowed on Israel and the people's poor return for those benefits, and this verse belongs to that account of unfaithfulness and its consequences. The strength and glory delivered into captivity and into the enemy's hand are God's presence among His people at the tabernacle at Shiloh, the sign of His strength and glory. Their loss means the withdrawal of divine protection, the forsaking of the tabernacle, the triumph of the enemy, and the giving of the people over to the sword in the period of the judges. It describes Israel's loss of divine protection and subjection to nations Israel could otherwise have subdued.
The captivity came because Israel constantly worked against a good God through disobedience, idolatry, rebellion, and forsaking Him, bringing upon themselves the sure result of their own course. Though they repented under rebuke and chastisement, they fell again under temptation, self-indulgence, and self-gratification. So He withdrew His protection and strength and allowed them to be defeated and taken captive.
Even when His strength and honor were allowed to fall into enemy hands in judgment for transgression, God did not withdraw His loving-kindness or let His faithfulness fail. The verse reveals God as a Father who in judgment still pleads earnestly with the erring transgressor as no earthly parent can, following the impenitent with tender invitations. He remembers them still with yearning heart and kindled compassions, and refuses to execute the fierceness of His anger to destroy them because He is God and not man.
Psalm 78 recounts the rich blessings God bestowed on Israel and the people's poor return for those benefits, and this verse belongs to that account of unfaithfulness and its consequences. The strength and glory delivered into captivity and into the enemy's hand are God's presence among His people at the tabernacle at Shiloh, the sign of His strength and glory. Their loss means the withdrawal of divine protection, the forsaking of the tabernacle, the triumph of the enemy, and the giving of the people over to the sword in the period of the judges. It describes Israel's loss of divine protection and subjection to nations Israel could otherwise have subdued.
The captivity came because Israel constantly worked against a good God through disobedience, idolatry, rebellion, and forsaking Him, bringing upon themselves the sure result of their own course. Though they repented under rebuke and chastisement, they fell again under temptation, self-indulgence, and self-gratification. So He withdrew His protection and strength and allowed them to be defeated and taken captive.
Even when His strength and honor were allowed to fall into enemy hands in judgment for transgression, God did not withdraw His loving-kindness or let His faithfulness fail. The verse reveals God as a Father who in judgment still pleads earnestly with the erring transgressor as no earthly parent can, following the impenitent with tender invitations. He remembers them still with yearning heart and kindled compassions, and refuses to execute the fierceness of His anger to destroy them because He is God and not man.