Psalms 78:1-25

Listen, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth [and be willing to learn]. I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples]; I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]— [Matt 13:34, 35] Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, But [we will] tell to the generation to come the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, And [tell of] His great might and power and the wonderful works that He has done. ¶For He established a testimony (a specific precept) in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach to their children [the great facts of God’s transactions with Israel], That the generation to come might know them, that the children still to be born May arise and recount them to their children, That they should place their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments, And not be like their fathers— A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not prepare its heart to know and follow God, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. ¶The sons of Ephraim were armed as archers and carrying bows, Yet they turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God And refused to walk according to His law; And they forgot His [incredible] works And His miraculous wonders that He had shown them. He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan [where Pharaoh resided]. He divided the [Red] Sea and allowed them to pass through it, And He made the waters stand up like [water behind] a dam. [Ex 14:22] In the daytime He led them with a cloud And all the night with a light of fire. [Ex 13:21; 14:24] He split rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant [water to] drink like the ocean depths. He brought streams also from the rock [at Rephidim and Kadesh] And caused waters to run down like rivers. [Ex 17:6; Num 20:11] ¶Yet they still continued to sin against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the desert. And in their hearts they put God to the test By asking for food according to their [selfish] appetite. Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare [food for] a table in the wilderness? “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out And the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide meat for His people?” ¶Therefore, when the LORD heard, He was full of wrath; A fire was kindled against Jacob, And His anger mounted up against Israel, Because they did not believe in God [they did not rely on Him, they did not adhere to Him], And they did not trust in His salvation (His power to save). Yet He commanded the clouds from above And opened the doors of heaven; And He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them the grain of heaven. [Ex 16:14; John 6:31] Man ate the bread of angels; God sent them provision in abundance.