Psalms 78:22

KJV

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

KJV (with Strong's)

Because they believed {H539}{H8689)} not in God {H430}, and trusted {H982}{H8804)} not in his salvation {H3444}:

Complete Jewish Bible

because they had no faith in God, no trust in his power to save.

Berean Standard Bible

because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.

American Standard Version

Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 78:22 encapsulates the profound spiritual failure of ancient Israel during their wilderness wanderings, identifying their persistent unbelief and distrust in God's redemptive power as the root cause of their prolonged suffering and exclusion from the Promised Land. Despite witnessing countless divine miracles and provisions, the people repeatedly demonstrated a fundamental lack of faith in God's character and His ability to deliver on His promises, leading to severe consequences and serving as a timeless warning against spiritual apathy and doubt.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 78 is a sweeping historical psalm, a *maskil* or instructional poem, attributed to Asaph. It meticulously recounts Israel's history from the Exodus through the establishment of the Davidic monarchy, serving as a didactic narrative for future generations. Preceding [Psalms 78:22](/psalms/78-22 "Psalms 78:22 - Israel's Unbelief") are vivid descriptions of God's miraculous provisions in the wilderness, including the manna from heaven ([Psalms 78:24](/psalms/78-24 "Psalms 78:24 - Manna from Heaven")) and water from the rock ([Psalms 78:15-16](/psalms/78-15-16 "Psalms 78:15-16 - Water from the Rock")). Despite these overwhelming displays of divine power and faithfulness, the people continued to test God, grumble, and doubt His capabilities, particularly regarding His ability to provide food in the wilderness. [Psalms 78:22](/psalms/78-22 "Psalms 78:22 - Israel's Unbelief") acts as a concise summary statement, pinpointing the underlying spiritual condition—their profound lack of belief and trust—that fueled their rebellious actions and invited divine judgment. It sets the stage for the subsequent verses which detail the consequences of their unbelief, such as the sending of quail and the subsequent plague.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The psalm reflects the historical period of the Exodus and the forty-year wilderness wandering, a foundational narrative for Israel's identity. During this time, the Israelites were a nomadic people, entirely dependent on divine provision in a harsh, barren environment. Their journey was marked by a series of tests and divine interventions, designed to teach them reliance on Yahweh. Culturally, the covenant relationship established at Sinai ([Exodus 19](/exodus/19 "Exodus 19 - The Covenant at Sinai")) demanded exclusive loyalty and trust in God as their deliverer and provider. The failure to trust in God's "salvation" (deliverance) directly challenged the core of this covenant. Their grumbling and desire to return to Egypt ([Numbers 14:1-4](/numbers/14-1-4 "Numbers 14:1-4 - Israel's Rebellion")) illustrate a deep-seated distrust in God's plan and power, preferring known slavery over unknown freedom with God. This historical context underscores the gravity of their spiritual failure, as it occurred despite direct, undeniable evidence of God's presence and power.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of Psalm 78 is the **contrast between God's enduring faithfulness and Israel's recurring faithlessness**. The psalm serves as a powerful reminder of the **consequences of unbelief**, demonstrating how a lack of trust in God's character and promises leads to spiritual stagnation and divine discipline. It highlights the **importance of remembering God's works** and teaching them to future generations ([Psalms 78:3-7](/psalms/78-3-7 "Psalms 78:3-7 - Teaching Future Generations")), lest they repeat the mistakes of their ancestors. The narrative implicitly emphasizes **divine patience and long-suffering** in the face of human rebellion, yet it also clearly articulates that there are limits to God's forbearance, and persistent unbelief will incur judgment. This psalm, therefore, functions as a profound theological reflection on the nature of faith, the dangers of spiritual amnesia, and the unwavering character of God even amidst human failure, echoing the New Testament's warning about the [peril of unbelief](/hebrews/3-19 "Hebrews 3:19 - The Consequences of Unbelief").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Believed not (Hebrew, _ʼâman'_):** The root אָמַן (`ʼâman'`) signifies firmness, stability, trustworthiness, and reliability. When negated, as here, it points to a fundamental lack of conviction, a failure to stand firm in reliance upon God's character and promises. It's more than intellectual assent; it's a failure to find God reliable or to establish one's life upon Him as a secure foundation. This is the root from which "Amen" derives, meaning "so be it," expressing affirmation and certainty. Their failure to `'âman` meant they did not find God to be "Amen" in their lives.
* **Trusted not (Hebrew, _bâṭach'_):** The Hebrew verb בָּטַח (`bâṭach'`) conveys the idea of leaning on, feeling secure, or having confidence in someone or something. It implies a practical, experiential reliance—a sense of safety and security found in the object of trust. The negation here indicates that despite God's mighty acts, the Israelites did not practically lean on Him for their daily needs or future, nor did they feel secure in His care. Their lack of `bâṭach` manifested in grumbling, fear, and a desire to return to Egypt, rather than resting in God's protective and providing hand.
* **His salvation (Hebrew, _yᵉshûwʻâh'_):** The noun יְשׁוּעָה (`yᵉshûwʻâh'`) refers to deliverance, help, welfare, or victory. It encompasses God's acts of rescue and provision, both physical (e.g., deliverance from Egypt, provision of manna) and spiritual. The Israelites failed to trust in God's active, ongoing deliverance, despite having experienced it profoundly. This term is rich with implications for God's redemptive work, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance found in the person of Jesus, whose name (Yeshua) is derived from this root.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because they believed not in God":** This clause identifies the foundational spiritual deficiency. It's not merely a lack of intellectual acknowledgment of God's existence, but a profound failure to place their faith and conviction *in* Him. This "not believing" implies a rejection of God's revealed character, His power, and His promises, despite overwhelming evidence. It speaks to a heart condition of skepticism and doubt, a refusal to commit their trust to the One who had proven Himself faithful.
* **"and trusted not in his salvation":** This second clause elaborates on the first, specifying the practical manifestation of their unbelief. Their lack of trust was directed specifically at God's capacity and willingness to deliver them from their immediate circumstances and to fulfill His long-term promises. Despite being delivered from Egypt, provided for in the wilderness, and promised a land flowing with milk and honey, they did not lean on His redemptive acts or anticipate His future provision. This reveals a deep-seated insecurity and a failure to rest in God's comprehensive plan for their welfare and ultimate victory.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 78:22 primarily employs **Cause-and-Effect** and **Repetition** to underscore its message. The verse itself functions as a cause for the subsequent divine judgments detailed in the psalm, clearly stating that Israel's unbelief and distrust were the direct reasons for God's displeasure and the withholding of blessings. The parallel structure of "believed not in God" and "trusted not in his salvation" uses **Synonymy** and **Parallelism** to reinforce the central idea of faithlessness. While not strictly a literary device, the verse also exemplifies **Conciseness**, distilling a complex spiritual failure into a potent, memorable statement. The psalm as a whole is a **Historical Narrative**, using the past to instruct the present, and this verse is a key interpretive lens through which to understand the entire historical account presented by Asaph.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 78:22 serves as a stark theological declaration, establishing unbelief and distrust as cardinal sins that sever the covenantal relationship and impede divine blessing. It underscores that true faith is not merely intellectual assent but a profound, active reliance on God's character and His redemptive power. The Israelites' failure to believe in God and trust in His salvation highlights the enduring tension between human responsibility and divine sovereignty, demonstrating that while God is faithful to His promises, human faithlessness can prevent the experience of His full blessings. This verse resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative, emphasizing that faith is the fundamental posture required for a right relationship with God and for entering into His rest.

* [Hebrews 3:19](/hebrews/3-19 "Hebrews 3:19 - Consequences of Unbelief")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential to Please God")
* [Romans 11:20](/romans/11-20 "Romans 11:20 - Standing by Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 78:22 offers a timeless mirror for self-examination, challenging believers to honestly assess the depth of their own faith and trust in God. Just as the Israelites doubted God's ability to provide in the wilderness, we often struggle to fully trust Him with our daily needs, financial security, health challenges, or uncertain futures. This verse calls us beyond a superficial acknowledgment of God to a profound, active reliance on His character, His promises, and His comprehensive "salvation" in every area of our lives. It reminds us that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent but a practical leaning into God, a confident expectation of His faithfulness even when circumstances seem dire. By learning from Israel's costly mistakes, we are exhorted to cultivate a resilient, unwavering trust that enables us to experience the fullness of God's provision and guidance, rather than being hindered by the spiritual paralysis of doubt and unbelief.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life do you find it most challenging to fully trust God's provision or "salvation"?**
* **How does your daily life reflect a deep-seated belief in God's character and promises, or does it reveal underlying patterns of distrust?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a more profound and consistent trust in God, especially when facing uncertainty or difficulty?**
* **How might a lack of trust in God's "salvation" (deliverance) manifest in your attitudes or actions today?**

### FAQ

**What does "salvation" mean in Psalms 78:22, and how does it relate to the New Testament concept?**

Answer: In Psalms 78:22, "salvation" (Hebrew: `yᵉshûwʻâh`) primarily refers to God's acts of deliverance, rescue, and provision in a comprehensive sense. For the Israelites in the wilderness, this included their miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage, the daily provision of manna and water, protection from enemies, and the promise of a land of their own. It encompassed all the ways God actively intervened to secure their welfare and future. While it includes physical deliverance, it also carries the broader sense of God's redemptive work for His people. In the New Testament, this concept of `yᵉshûwʻâh` finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. His name, Yeshua, is derived from the same Hebrew root, signifying "Yahweh saves." Therefore, the New Testament concept of salvation, while encompassing eternal spiritual deliverance from sin and death through Christ's atoning work, also includes His ongoing provision, protection, and guidance for believers, echoing the comprehensive `yᵉshûwʻâh` that the Israelites failed to trust in. The ultimate salvation is found in [Jesus Christ](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World"), who delivers us from the power and penalty of sin.

**Why did the Israelites, after witnessing so many miracles, still "believe not" and "trust not"?**

Answer: The Israelites' persistent unbelief, despite witnessing extraordinary miracles like the parting of the Red Sea ([Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Parting of the Red Sea")) and the daily manna, stemmed from a deep-seated spiritual issue—a hardened heart and a lack of genuine faith. Their unbelief was not due to a lack of evidence, but a refusal to internalize that evidence and allow it to transform their hearts and actions. This resistance often arose from fear, a desire for immediate gratification, a longing for the perceived security of their past life in Egypt, and a failure to remember God's past faithfulness. Their trust was often conditional, based on immediate circumstances rather than God's unchanging character. The psalm itself attributes this to their "stubborn and rebellious heart" ([Psalms 78:8](/psalms/78-8 "Psalms 78:8 - A Rebellious Generation")), highlighting a spiritual blindness and unwillingness to fully surrender to God's will and way, a pattern that the New Testament also warns against in passages like [Hebrews 3](/hebrews/3 "Hebrews 3 - Warning Against Unbelief").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 78:22, with its indictment of Israel's profound unbelief and distrust in God's salvation, powerfully foreshadows the necessity of faith in the ultimate "salvation" offered through Jesus Christ. The Israelites failed to trust in God's temporal deliverance and provision, leading to their exclusion from the earthly Promised Land. This historical failure serves as a poignant type, pointing to the greater spiritual reality that without faith in Christ, humanity remains excluded from God's eternal rest and true salvation. Jesus is the ultimate `yᵉshûwʻâh`, the very embodiment of God's deliverance, whose name means "Yahweh saves." Where Israel failed to believe God's promises and trust in His power to save them from physical perils, believers are now called to place their trust in Christ's completed work on the cross, which delivers them from the far greater peril of sin and eternal death ([Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief for Salvation")). His sacrifice is the definitive act of God's salvation, providing a new covenant grounded not in human obedience and trust, which consistently failed, but in divine grace received through faith ([Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8-9 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith")). Thus, [Psalms 78:22](/psalms/78-22 "Psalms 78:22 - Israel's Unbelief") stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of unbelief, driving us to embrace the perfect and complete salvation found only in the person and work of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 3:18

And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Hebrews 3:19

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Deuteronomy 1:32

Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

Hebrews 3:12

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

1 John 5:10

¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Jude 1:5

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.