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Psalm 78:37
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
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.
37For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
38But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
39He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
Notice
An unfaithful heart stands behind the flattering words in this account, exposing the distance that can exist between speaking of God and keeping his covenant.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What difference do you see between remembering God as redeemer and remaining faithful to his covenant?
Write on thisWhere, if anywhere, might your words to God exceed your willingness to follow him?
Write on thisConnect
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
Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.Psalm 78 names a heart that is wrong before God; Psalm 51 asks God for a clean heart and right spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.Faithfulness is the shared concern: Psalm 78 records its absence, while Paul urges steadfast devotion to the Lord’s work.
Psalm 119:10With my whole heart I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.Both connect the heart’s allegiance to obedience, with Psalm 119 asking for help against wandering from God’s commandments.
Psalm 78:8and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with …Both verses describe the same failure within Israel’s history: hearts lacking loyalty and steadfastness toward God.
Acts 8:21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.Both passages pronounce the same grave judgment: a person’s heart can be wrong before God.
2 Chronicles 25:2He did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, but not with a perfect heart.Both texts distinguish outward conduct from the heart’s condition, though Chronicles records right actions and Psalm 78 records covenant unfaithfulness.
John 6:26Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.Both passages look beneath an outward response: Psalm 78 names an unfaithful heart, while Jesus names seeking him for bread.
Colossians 2:5For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.Steadfast faith is the shared thread, absent in Psalm 78’s account and a cause for rejoicing in Colossians.
2 Chronicles 12:14He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek the LORD.Both connect unfaithful conduct with the heart’s direction toward God, with Chronicles naming a failure to seek the LORD.
Hosea 10:2Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.Both identify a fault in the people’s hearts, linking divided or unfaithful allegiance with guilt before God.
Psalm 119:80Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed. KAPFPsalm 119 asks for a blameless heart toward God’s decrees, addressing the heart-level faithfulness missing in Psalm 78.
Deuteronomy 31:20For when I have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and filled themselves, and grown …Both name Israel’s breach of God’s covenant; Deuteronomy describes turning to other gods after receiving the land and its abundance.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The next verse speaks of God’s mercy toward these same people. Their unfaithfulness was real, and his forgiveness came from his own mercy.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 78:37. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
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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).