Lessons From God’s Past Judgment
May 22, 2021
Commentary
Having briefly referred to the plagues in Egypt (v. 12), the author now describes some of them in greater detail. The death of the first-born was the last and worst of the plagues of Egypt, and that which perfected the deliverance of Israel. If gentler methods would have done the work, this would have been prevented: but it is here largely described (vv. 49-51).
First, The anger of God was the cause of it (v. 50). Wrath had now come upon the Egyptians; Pharaoh’s heart having been often hardened after less judgments had been softened. God now stirred up all his wrath; for He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger. This He cast upon them and did not spare, and they could not flee out of his hands (Job 27:22). His anger was weighed with the greatest exactness in the balances of justice; for the path of his anger is always weighed.
Secondly, The angels of God were the instruments employed in this punishment (v. 49): He sent evil angels among them, not evil in their own nature, but in respect to the errand upon which they were sent. They had orders, not to kill all, but the first-born only. Good angels become evil angels to sinners. Those that make God their enemy must never expect the holy angels to be their friends.
Thirdly, The judgment itself was very severe (v. 51): He spared not their soul from death, but suffered death to ride in triumph, which cut life off immediately; for He smote all the first-born in Egypt. Because Israel was precious in God’s sight, He made a way for his own people to go forth like sheep, not knowing whither they went, and guided them in the wilderness, as a shepherd guides his flock, with care and tenderness, (vv. 52-58).
Application
The psalmist makes it evident in this passage that it is essential that I listen to the voice of history. When God speaks I need to listen and then act on what He says or I can expect judgment.
Psalms 78:45– 58 (NET)
45 He sent swarms of biting insects against them, as well as frogs that overran their land.
46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.
48 He rained hail down on their cattle, and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.
49 His raging anger lashed out against them. He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.
50 He sent his anger in full force. He did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.
51 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.
52 Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
53 He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.
54 He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land that his right hand acquired.
55 He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.
56 Yet they challenged and defied God Most High, and did not obey his commands.
57 They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.
58 They made him angry with their pagan shrines, and made him jealous with their idols.