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Psalm 78:40
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
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.
40How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
41They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
Notice
“How often” marks Israel’s repeated rebellion in the wilderness, where their resistance to God brought grief to the one who had shown them mercy.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What does the word “grieved” add to your understanding of Israel’s rebellion in the desert?
Write on thisWhere, if anywhere, do you see a repeated refusal to heed God in your own life?
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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
Ephesians 4:30Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.Psalm 78 describes Israel grieving God; Ephesians warns believers against grieving the Holy Spirit of God.
Exodus 23:21Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don’t provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.Psalm 78 recalls rebellion against God; Exodus warns against provoking the one who bears God’s name.
Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them.Both passages join rebellion with grieving God, while Isaiah names his Holy Spirit and describes God turning against the rebels.
Ezekiel 6:9Those of you that escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed …Both passages describe the grief caused to God by his people’s departure from him.
Ezekiel 12:2“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a …Both passages name the people’s rebellion; Ezekiel describes it through eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.
Psalm 107:11because they rebelled against the words of God, and condemned the counsel of the Most High.Both psalms recount rebellion against God, with Psalm 107 naming rejection of his words and counsel.
Psalm 95:8–10Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,Both passages recall the wilderness, where Psalm 78 names rebellion and Psalm 95 warns against repeating hardened hearts.
Numbers 14:3Why does the LORD bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return …Psalm 78 names Israel’s wilderness rebellion; Numbers records the people questioning the LORD’s purpose and wanting to return to Egypt.
1 Kings 14:9but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods, molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me …Both passages describe rejection of God that affects him: grief in Psalm 78 and anger over idols in Kings.
Numbers 14:11The LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? How long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them?Psalm 78’s “How often” and the LORD’s “How long” in Numbers both mark the persistence of Israel’s resistance to God.
Hebrews 3:15–17while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”Psalm 78 recalls repeated rebellion; Hebrews warns its hearers against hardening their hearts as people did in the rebellion.
Psalm 106:32They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, so that Moses was troubled for their sakes;Both psalms recall the people provoking God, with Psalm 106 naming the waters of Meribah and the trouble brought upon Moses.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The God whom Israel grieved had shown them mercy and remembered their frailty. His compassion did not make their repeated rebellion a small thing.
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).