Psalms 78:57

But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

But turned back {H5472}{H8735)}, and dealt unfaithfully {H898}{H8799)} like their fathers {H1}: they were turned aside {H2015}{H8738)} like a deceitful {H7423} bow {H7198}.

They turned away and were faithless, like their fathers; they were unreliable, like a bow without tension.

They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow.

But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

Commentary

Psalms 78:57 from the King James Version continues a lengthy historical psalm that recounts God's faithful dealings with Israel and their persistent rebellion. This particular verse sharply summarizes Israel's spiritual decline, highlighting their backsliding and unreliability.

Context

Psalm 78 is a didactic psalm, meaning it serves to teach lessons from history. It meticulously chronicles God's miraculous acts, from the Exodus and the journey through the wilderness to the establishment in the Promised Land. Despite God's consistent provision and patience, the psalm repeatedly exposes Israel's tendency to forget His works, provoke Him, and break His covenant. Verse 57 serves as a poignant summary of this recurring cycle, following descriptions of their idolatry and ungratefulness in the land God gave them (see also Psalms 78:56).

Key Themes

  • Unfaithfulness and Treachery: The phrase "dealt unfaithfully" is central, indicating a betrayal of trust and a departure from their covenant obligations to God. It underscores a deep spiritual dishonesty.
  • Generational Sin and Repetition: "like their fathers" emphasizes a tragic pattern of disobedience that persisted through generations. This suggests that the lessons of history were not learned, and the cycle of rebellion continued (compare Judges 2:19).
  • Spiritual Instability and Unreliability: The vivid metaphor "turned aside like a deceitful bow" powerfully illustrates Israel's wavering commitment. A bow that is unreliable or fails to shoot straight is useless and dangerous, symbolizing a people who could not be depended upon to uphold their end of the covenant with God.
  • Backsliding: The phrase "turned back" clearly signifies a regression from their initial commitment and progress in faith, moving away from God rather than towards Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dealt unfaithfully" is bagad (ื‘ึผึธื’ึทื“), which carries strong connotations of treachery, betrayal, and perfidy. It implies a deliberate breaking of trust, often in a covenant relationship. This highlights the severe nature of Israel's actions in God's eyes.

The imagery of the "deceitful bow" comes from the Hebrew qesheth r'miyah (ืงึถืฉืึถืช ืจึฐืžึดื™ึผึธื”). A "deceitful" or "treacherous" bow is one that is faulty, either slack, warped, or easily broken, causing the arrow to miss its mark or even recoil upon the archer. It's a powerful metaphor for someone who cannot be relied upon, whose promises are empty, or whose actions are inconsistent with their stated allegiance. This perfectly describes Israel's spiritual inconsistency and unreliability.

Practical Application

Psalms 78:57 serves as a timeless warning for all believers. We are prone to the same tendencies as ancient Israel:

  • Self-Examination: This verse calls us to examine our own hearts for areas where we might be dealing unfaithfully with God, perhaps by neglecting His commands, compromising our beliefs, or giving in to spiritual apathy.
  • Breaking Cycles: Just as Israel repeated the sins of their fathers, we must be vigilant to break any generational or personal patterns of sin and disobedience in our lives. Understanding this history can help us avoid similar pitfalls (see Jeremiah 3:20 for a similar theme of treachery).
  • Steadfastness: The "deceitful bow" reminds us of the importance of steadfastness and integrity in our walk with God. Our faith should be firm and reliable, not wavering or inconsistent. We are called to be true to our commitment to Christ, allowing Him to strengthen us against spiritual instability.
  • Learning from History: The psalm encourages us to learn from the past failures of God's people, recognizing that God desires a people who are truly faithful and dependable.
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Cross-References

  • Hosea 7:16

    They return, [but] not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this [shall be] their derision in the land of Egypt.

  • Ezekiel 20:27

    ยถ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

  • Ezekiel 20:28

    [For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

  • Psalms 78:8

    And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation [that] set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

  • Judges 3:12

    ยถ And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

  • Judges 3:5

    And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:

  • Judges 3:7

    And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.