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Psalm 78:34
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
32For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
33Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
34When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
35They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.
36But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Notice
“When he killed them” makes Israel’s return to God a troubling scene: people who had resisted his works began seeking him under lethal judgment.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you about the link between God’s judgment and Israel’s return in this verse?
Write on thisHow does the mention of flattery in verse 36 affect your reading of their return?
Write on thisWhat would seeking God with truthful words look like in your prayers today?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Hosea 5:15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”Both passages describe people seeking God in affliction, with Hosea naming acknowledgment of their offense as part of that return.
Psalm 63:1A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry …Both speak of seeking God earnestly, though Psalm 63 expresses thirst for God without describing lethal judgment.
Numbers 21:7The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents …Both describe Israel turning toward God under judgment; Numbers records their confession and request for Moses to pray.
Isaiah 26:9With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are on the earth, the …Both connect seeking God with his judgments, while Isaiah also speaks of the earth’s inhabitants learning righteousness.
Judges 3:15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children …Both describe Israel turning to God; Judges goes on to name Ehud as the savior God raised up.
2 Kings 13:4Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.Both describe seeking God amid suffering; Kings records God hearing Jehoahaz and seeing Israel’s oppression.
Judges 3:12–15The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had …Both settings describe God acting against Israel because of their sin, through death in the psalm and Eglon’s strength in Judges.
Jonah 1:6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”Both connect mortal danger with seeking divine help; Jonah records the ship master urging prayer rather than a completed return.
Numbers 22:34Balaam said to the LORD’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back …Both describe a response to divine opposition; Balaam addresses the LORD’s angel, confesses sin, and offers to go back.
Deuteronomy 1:45You returned and wept before the LORD, but the LORD didn’t listen to your voice, nor turn his ear to you.Both describe people returning toward God; Deuteronomy adds that the LORD did not listen to their weeping.
Judges 3:9When the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s …Both describe Israel seeking the LORD; Judges also records his response in raising up Othniel to save them.
Judges 4:3The children of Israel cried to the LORD, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and he mightily oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years.Both describe Israel seeking God amid suffering, though Judges names prolonged oppression as the cause of their cry.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. feeling distant from God. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
This account names God’s lethal judgment against Israel’s unbelief. It gives no warrant to label your suffering as punishment; even here, the people remembered God as their rock and redeemer.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).