Psalms 78:56-71
56-57. a deceitful bow--which turns back, and so fails to project the arrow (2Sa 1:22; Ho 7:16). They relapsed. 58. Idolatry resulted from sparing the heathen (compare Psa 78:9-11). 59-60. heard--perceived (Ge 11:7). abhorred--but not utterly. 61. his strength--the ark, as symbolical of it (Psa 96:6). 62. gave--or, "shut up." his people--(Psa 78:48; 1Sa 4:10-17). 63. fire--either figure of the slaughter (1Sa 4:10), or a literal burning by the heathen. given to marriage--literally, "praised"--that is, as brides. 64. (Compare 1Sa 4:17); and there were, doubtless, others. made no lamentation--either because stupefied by grief, or hindered by the enemy. 65. (Compare Psa 22:16; Is 42:13). 66. And he smote ... part--or, "struck His enemies' back." The Philistines never regained their position after their defeats by David. 67-68. tabernacle of Joseph--or, "home," or, "tribe," to which-- tribe of Ephraim--is parallel (compare Re 7:8). Its pre-eminence was, like Saul's, only permitted. Judah had been the choice (Ge 49:10). 69. Exalted as-- high palaces--or, "mountains," and abiding as--the earth. 70-72. God's sovereignty was illustrated in this choice. The contrast is striking--humility and exaltation--and the correspondence is beautiful.
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