The Folly of Ignoring God's Counsel in Psalm 78

Psalm 78:10 states, "They didn't keep God's covenant, and refused to walk in his law" ^[1]. This verse is part of a larger passage that recounts the history of Israel's rebellion against God. The psalmist reflects on the nation's repeated failures to follow God's commands, highlighting the consequences of ignoring divine counsel.

The literary context of Psalm 78 is a historical review of Israel's relationship with God, from the Exodus to the time of the psalmist. The psalm is structured around the contrast between God's faithfulness and Israel's unfaithfulness. The surrounding verses emphasize Israel's stubbornness and rebellion against God, with verse 8 describing them as "a stubborn and rebellious generation" ^[5]. The psalmist's purpose is to warn future generations against following the same path of disobedience.

Historically, Psalm 78 is often associated with the period of the divided monarchy, although its exact date and authorship are uncertain. The psalm's themes and language suggest a context of national reflection and repentance, possibly during a time of crisis or judgment ^[1].

The key terms in Psalm 78:10 are "covenant" and "law." The covenant refers to God's solemn agreement with Israel, outlining the terms of their relationship. The law, or Torah, represents God's instructions for Israel's behavior. The Hebrew word for "covenant" (בְּרִית, berit) carries significant weight, as it signifies a binding agreement between God and his people ^[1]. The refusal to "walk in his law" indicates a deeper rejection of God's authority and guidance.

The major exegetical decision in interpreting Psalm 78:10 involves understanding the nature of Israel's disobedience. The verse implies that Israel's failure to keep the covenant and follow God's law was a deliberate choice, rather than a result of ignorance or forgetfulness. This interpretation is supported by other passages in the psalm, such as verse 56, which states, "Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn't keep his testimonies" ^[2].

The range of interpretations for Psalm 78:10 includes various understandings of Israel's disobedience and its implications. John Gill's commentary, representing a Baptist/Reformed tradition, emphasizes the stubborn and rebellious nature of the Israelites, warning against similar disobedience in future generations ^{[5, 6]}. Calvin's Institutes, reflecting a Reformed perspective, highlights the importance of acknowledging one's own wickedness in the face of calamity, rather than blaming God ^[7].

The theme of ignoring God's counsel in Psalm 78 has functioned significantly in tradition. It has been used to caution against the dangers of self-will and stubbornness, as seen in Torrey's Topical Textbook ^[4]. The psalm's emphasis on the consequences of disobedience has also been applied in various theological discussions, including those on the nature of divine justice and human responsibility ^{[8, 9]}.

In the broader biblical context, the folly of ignoring God's counsel is a recurring theme. Proverbs 1:7 notes that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," while Psalm 14:1 declares that "the fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" ^[3]. Isaiah 27:11 similarly warns that those outside God's covenantal care are foolish to turn away from him ^[10].

The New Testament also reflects on the consequences of ignoring God's counsel. In Acts 13:48, Luke records that "as many as were ordained to eternal life believed," highlighting the role of divine election in human response to God's word ^[11].

Sources

Psalms “They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law. -- Psalms 78:10”
Psalms “Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies; -- Psalms 78:56”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fools — All men are, without the knowledge of God -- Tit 3:3. Deny God -- Ps 14:1; 53:1. Blaspheme God -- Ps 74:18. Reproach God -- Ps 74:22. Make a mock at sin -- Pr 14:9. Despise instruction -- Pr 1:7; 15:5. Hate knowledge -- Pr 1:22. Delight not in understanding -- Pr 18:2. Sport themselves in mischief -- Pr 10:23. Walk in darkness -- Ec 2:14. Hate to depart from evil -- Pr 13:19. Worship of, hateful to God -- Ec 5:1. Are Corrupt and abominable. -- Ps 14:1. Self-sufficient. -- Pr 12:15; Ro 1:22. Self-confident. -- Pr 14:16. Self-deceivers. -- Pr 14:8. Mere profess”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:8: And might not be as their fathers,.... This chiefly respects the Jews in Christ's time: though it also is an admonition to them in succeeding ages, and especially in the latter day, when they shall be instructed, called, and converted; and even to us, to whom the Gospel is preached, on whom the ends of the world are come, not to be disobedient, as the Jewish fathers were, and to take care we do not fall after the same example of unbelief; this opens the whole scope and general design of the psalm; see Co1 10:6, a stubborn and rebellions generation; as the generation”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 78:10: They kept not the covenant of God,.... Either the covenant of circumcision, which was neglected during their travels through the wilderness, Jos 5:5 or the covenant made with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, Exo 24:7 and this is to be understood not of the children of Ephraim only, but of the Israelites in general, who in many instances broke the covenant, and were not steadfast in it, Psa 78:37; see Gill on Jer 31:32. and refused to walk in his law; the law of God, which was given forth by him, by the disposition of angels, through the hands of a mediator, Mos”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 41: with punishment, there is good reason why they should hear these rebukes from the mouth of God. If they obstinately persist in their vices, let them learn in their calamities to accuse and detest their own wickedness, instead of charging God with cruelty and injustice. If they have not manifested docility, let them, under a feeling of disgust at the sins which they see to be the cause of their misery and ruin, return to the right path, and, with serious contrition, confess the very thing of which the Lord by his rebuke reminds them”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 78: been caught in a difficulty, have recourse to evasion; he only intimated that the procedure of divine justice is too high to be scanned by human measure, or comprehended by the feebleness of human intellect. The Apostle, indeed, confesses that in the divine judgments there is a depth in which all the minds of men must be engulfed if they attempt to penetrate into it. But he also shows how unbecoming it is to reduce the works of God to such a law as that we can presume to condemn them the moment they accord not with our reason. Ther”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 34: how, in a common operation, he is exempt from all guilt, and can justly condemn his own ministers. Hence a distinction has been invented between doing and permitting because to many it seemed altogether inexplicable how Satan and all the wicked are so under the hand and authority of God, that he directs their malice to whatever end he pleases, and employs their iniquities to execute his Judgments. The modesty of those who are thus alarmed at the appearance of absurdity might perhaps be excused, did they not endeavour to vindicate t”
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 27:11: 27:11 The people were outside of God’s covenantal care; they foolishly turned away from him.”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: example in Luke, when the Jews and Gentiles in common heard the discourse of Paul and Barnabas. Though they were all instructed in the same word, it is said, that “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed,” ( Acts 13:48 ). How can we deny that calling is gratuitous, when election alone reigns in it even to its conclusion? 3. Two errors are here to be avoided. Some make man a fellow-worker with God in such a sense, that man’s suffrage ratifies election, so that, according to them, the will of man is superior to the counsel ”

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