Psalms 78:18

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

And they tempted {H5254}{H8762)} God {H410} in their heart {H3824} by asking {H7592}{H8800)} meat {H400} for their lust {H5315}.

in their hearts they tested God by demanding food that would satisfy their cravings.

They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.

And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.

Commentary on Psalms 78:18

Psalm 78 is a historical psalm, recounting Israel's journey from Egypt through the wilderness, highlighting God's faithfulness and Israel's repeated rebellion. Verse 18 specifically points to a critical moment of disobedience during their wilderness wanderings.

Context

This verse refers to the Israelites' behavior after God had miraculously delivered them from Egyptian bondage and was providing for them in the desert. Despite witnessing incredible miracles and receiving daily sustenance in the form of manna, the people often complained and rebelled. This particular verse alludes to their craving for different food, specifically meat, which is detailed in the book of Numbers.

Key Themes

  • Tempting God: The phrase "tempted God in their heart" signifies a challenging or testing of God's power, patience, or willingness to provide. It wasn't merely a request but an internal disposition of unbelief and dissatisfaction, putting God to the test. This act stems from a lack of trust in His sovereign provision and good character.
  • Ungodly Desire (Lust): Their request for "meat" was not born out of true necessity but "for their lust." The Hebrew word for "lust" here, ta'avah (תַּאֲוָה), denotes a strong, often excessive, or ungodly craving. It contrasts sharply with a humble request born of need. This craving led them to reject God's daily provision (Exodus 16:3, Numbers 11:4) and instead pursue selfish desires, showing a profound discontentment.
  • Consequences of Discontent: While God did provide them with quail in abundance, He also sent a severe plague among them because of their greedy craving (Numbers 11:33). This illustrates that God sometimes gives people what they desire, not as a blessing, but as a consequence of their sin and a lesson in the emptiness of ungodly cravings.

Linguistic Insight

The word "tempted" (Hebrew: nasu - נָסוּ) means to test, to try, or to prove. When applied to God, it often implies a provocative challenge to His nature or promises, stemming from unbelief. The word "lust" (Hebrew: ta'avah - תַּאֲוָה) indicates an intense craving or desire, which in this context, is clearly negative, pointing to gluttony and dissatisfaction with God's provision.

Reflection and Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. It challenges us to examine our own desires and motivations. Are our prayers and requests driven by genuine need and trust in God's wisdom, or by selfish cravings and a lack of contentment with what He has already provided? To "tempt God in our heart" means to doubt His goodness or sufficiency, even when we articulate requests. We are called to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and contentment, trusting that God knows what is best for us and provides according to His perfect will, rather than our fleeting or ungodly desires. As Jesus taught, we should not tempt the Lord our God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Numbers 11:4

    ¶ And the mixt multitude that [was] among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

  • Deuteronomy 6:16

    Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:9

    Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

  • Psalms 106:14

    But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

  • Psalms 106:15

    And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:6

    ¶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

  • Psalms 95:9

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

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