Psalms 78:34

34. When he slew them, then The “when” and “then” are emphatic words. If we give a more uniform rendering to ו , ( ve,) “then,” “and” “but,” in the English version, so as to preserve its relation to the contingent particle, אמ , ( eem,) when, if, we get a clearer contrast between the character of God and that of his people as given Psalms 78:34-39. Thus: When he slew them, then they sought him, Then they turned and early sought God, Then they remembered that God is their rock, Then [they remembered] God Most High, their redeemer, Then they enticed him with their mouth; Then with their tongue they did lie unto him; Then their heart was not established with him; Then they were not steadfast in his covenant: But he, being merciful, purged their iniquity, And destroyed them not, And many a time he turned his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath, And he remembered that they were flesh, A wind going that will not return.

Their repentance, being extorted by the pressure of their judgments, and not by conviction and godly sorrow for sin, was insincere, fickle, and false, and wrought out no reformation of life or true obedience. God, therefore, could govern them only with the rod and with terror.