What is the meaning of Psalm 78:45? He sent • The subject of the action is God Himself, underscoring His personal involvement and sovereign authority. • Psalm 78 recounts Israel’s history; here it pauses on the Exodus plagues to remind later generations that the Lord “performed His signs in Egypt” (v. 43). • By saying “He sent,” the text echoes Exodus 8:20 – 24, where the LORD explicitly issues the plague after Pharaoh hardens his heart. • This active verb shows the plagues were not random natural disasters but divinely directed judgments (cf. Psalm 105:26–27). swarms of flies • Exodus 8:21–24 describes dense clouds of biting insects filling Pharaoh’s palace, houses, and land. • Flies represented uncleanness and irritation; the infestation polluted daily life, worship, and even food supplies. • God targeted Egypt’s false gods, including Khepri, depicted with a fly-like beetle head, demonstrating their impotence (Exodus 12:12). • Psalm 105:31 repeats the same event, reinforcing its literal historicity. that devoured them • “Devoured” paints an image of relentless, consuming harassment. These were likely blood-sucking flies whose bites caused painful sores (contrast Isaiah 7:18). • The effect was physical misery, economic loss, and spiritual humiliation for Egypt—God dismantling their sense of security (Exodus 8:24). • The wording reminds Israel that rebellion carries real, tangible consequences (Numbers 33:4). and frogs • Exodus 8:2–6 records frogs swarming into houses, ovens, and beds. Their sheer numbers made normal life impossible. • Frogs were associated with the fertility goddess Heqt; their uncontrolled spread mocked that idol’s supposed power. • Psalm 105:30 parallels this memory, and Revelation 16:13 later uses frogs as an image of unclean spirits—fitting, given their connection to idolatry. that devastated them • “Devastated” conveys ruin and desolation. When the frogs died, “the land reeked” (Exodus 8:14), turning blessing into stench. • God’s judgment touched every level of Egyptian society, revealing that no one can withstand His righteous wrath (Exodus 8:9–10; 1 Samuel 4:8). • The devastation also set the stage for Israel’s deliverance, proving the LORD alone can save (Exodus 9:14; Romans 9:17). summary Psalm 78:45 recalls two of the Exodus plagues to highlight God’s undeniable, active judgment on Egypt and His faithful protection of His people. The flies and frogs were literal agents of divine discipline, exposing false gods, humbling a proud nation, and teaching future generations that the LORD alone has power to save or to strike. |
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