Psalm 78:26 - I Will Open My Mouth in Parables

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Context

I Will Open My Mouth in Parables
…25Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. 26He stirred the east wind from the heavens and drove the south wind by His might. 27He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.…

Cross References

Exodus 16:13
That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.Numbers 11:31-32
Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp. / All that day and night, and all the next day, the people stayed up gathering the quail. No one gathered less than ten homers, and they spread them out all around the camp.John 6:31-33
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” / Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”Nehemiah 9:20-21
You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst. / For forty years You sustained them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.1 Corinthians 10:3-4
They all ate the same spiritual food / and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.Psalm 105:40
They asked, and He brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.Exodus 16:4
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.Numbers 11:9
When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.John 6:49-51
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. / This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. / I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”Deuteronomy 8:3
He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Exodus 16:35
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.Numbers 11:6
But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”John 6:58
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”Deuteronomy 29:5
For forty years I led you in the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.

Psalm 135:7
He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Numbers 11:31
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.

blow.

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Psalm 78

He stirred the east wind from the heavens
The east wind in biblical literature often symbolizes judgment or divine intervention. In the context of Psalm 78, it refers to God's miraculous provision of quail for the Israelites in the wilderness, as described in Exodus 16 and Numbers 11. The east wind is associated with God's power and control over nature, as seen in the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). The phrase "from the heavens" emphasizes the divine origin of this wind, indicating that it is not a natural occurrence but a direct act of God. This aligns with the biblical theme of God as the sovereign ruler over creation, who commands the elements to fulfill His purposes.

and drove the south wind by His might
The south wind, in this context, complements the east wind to bring about the quail, demonstrating God's ability to use natural forces to achieve His will. The south wind is typically warm and gentle, contrasting with the often harsh east wind, showing the balance and precision in God's actions. The phrase "by His might" underscores God's omnipotence, highlighting that it is by His strength and authority that these winds are directed. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's might, as seen in passages like Job 26:14 and Isaiah 40:26, where God's power is evident in His control over the universe. The provision of quail can also be seen as a type of Christ, who is the true bread from heaven, as Jesus explains in John 6:31-35, providing spiritual sustenance to His people.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The central figure in this verse, demonstrating His sovereign power over nature.

2. East Wind
Often associated with God's judgment or provision in the Bible, symbolizing His control over creation.

3. South Wind
Represents another aspect of God's command over the natural world, used here to fulfill His purposes.

4. Heavens
The realm from which God commands the winds, indicating His supreme authority.

5. Israelites in the Wilderness
The broader context of Psalm 78 recounts God's provision and guidance for the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty Over Nature
God commands the winds, demonstrating His ultimate authority over the natural world. This should remind us of His power and control over all aspects of our lives.

Provision in the Wilderness
Just as God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness, He is faithful to provide for our needs today. Trust in His provision, even when circumstances seem dire.

Response to Complaints
The Israelites' complaints led to God's provision of quail. This teaches us to bring our needs to God in prayer rather than grumbling, trusting in His timing and methods.

Symbolism of the Wind
The wind symbolizes the unseen yet powerful work of God. We should be attentive to the ways God is moving in our lives, even when we cannot see the full picture.

Faith in God's Power
Recognizing God's power over creation should bolster our faith, encouraging us to rely on Him in every situation, knowing He is capable of doing the impossible.

(26) East wind . . . south wind.--Probably the very winds that brought the flights of quails, and not merely poetical details. (See Smith's Biblical Dictionary, art. "Quails.")

Verse 26. - He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. Here, again, tradition seems to speak. The narrative in the Pentateuch has only, "There went forth a wind from the Lord" (Numbers 11:81). Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

He stirred
יַסַּ֣ע (yas·sa‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

the east wind
קָ֭דִים (qā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6921: The fore, front part, the East

from the heavens
בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם (baš·šā·mā·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and drove
וַיְנַהֵ֖ג (way·na·hêḡ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5090: To drive forth, lead, carry away, to proceed, to sigh

the south wind
תֵימָֽן׃ (ṯê·mān)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8486: South, south wind

by His might.
בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ (bə·‘uz·zōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5797: Strength, might

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Psalm 78:26 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 78:26 He caused the east wind to blow (Psalm Ps Psa.)