Psalms 78:40

“Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, etc.] Sin is the cause of wrath, which is compared to fire kindled by the breath of the Almighty, and is intolerable; this shows that the offence must be very great, as to incense the Lord against a people he had chosen above all others to be his peculiar people; as well as it was an aggravation, of their sin, so highly to provoke the Lord, whom they had vouched to be their God. There may be appearances of wrath for sin against those who are the Lord’s people in the highest and best sense. Insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance; the people of Israel, whom he had chosen for his inheritance, and were his portion, and the…”

“How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness - Margin, Or, rebel against him. The Hebrew word may have the signification in the margin. The idea is, that they were perverse and rebellious; that they excited his displeasure, and gave occasion for his anger. See Psalms 78:17. And grieve him in the desert - The word here rendered grieve means (1) to work, to fashion; (2) to suffer pain, to travail, to be afflicted; and then, (3) to cause one to suffer pain, or to afflict. The meaning here is that the conduct of the Hebrews was such as was suited to cause pain - as the conduct of a disobedient and rebellious child is. return to 'Top of Page'”

“78:40-55 The Israelites rebelled even though the Lord had rescued them from powerful plagues.”

“How oft: Psa 78:17, Psa 95:8-10, 106:14-33; Num 14:11; Deu 9:21, Deu 9:22 provoke him: or, rebel against him grieve: Isa 7:13, Isa 63:10; Eph 4:30; Heb 3:15-17 Psalms 78:41”