Psalms 78:31
The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
Psalms 78:31
Verse 31 presents the consequence: “The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.” The language is stark: divine wrath as a corrective measure against persistent sin. The “fattest” and “chosen men” load meaning—leaders and those blessed with status suffered as part of communal judgment. The psalm’s intent is to awaken memory: repeated disobedience undermines the community’s vitality and covenant life. In the wilderness narrative, many who had seen God’s works still refused to trust, and God’s discipline targeted those who embodied arrogance or leadership used to oppress or mislead. The verse highlights mercy’s limits in the face of unrepented disobedience and reveals that God’s holiness requires corrective action even amid manifested blessings.
This verse deepens the doctrine of divine justice within mercy. God’s wrath signals that refusal to align with God’s ways has real, costly consequences—even for those who occupy privileged positions. It reinforces the truth that blessings without a corresponding people’s repentance contribute to moral decay. Theologically, it points to the necessity of communal accountability and the seriousness with which God views idolatry, corruption, and pride within leadership. It also foreshadows the biblical pattern that God does not tolerate systemic sin indefinitely; discipline can be a mercy that preserves the covenant community by purifying it. The verse invites believers to reflect on how leadership and privilege must be exercised in humility and fidelity to God.
Consider how power and privilege can lead to complacency or moral blind spots. This verse invites leaders and influential people to examine their motives, practices, and accountability structures. If you hold a position of influence, invite feedback, confess faults, and repair harm. In everyday life, beware of moral complacency when life goes well: practice honest self-examination, confessing areas of pride or neglect of others. When you read about God’s discipline, remember it’s meant to restore and renew rather than to condemn beyond hope. Use these moments to recommit to acts of justice, mercy, and humility in your own sphere—family, workplace, church—so that blessing leads to grace-filled leadership rather than self-aggrandizement.
Cross-References: Numbers 14:26-38; 2 Samuel 6:6-8; Hebrews 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 10:6; Revelation 3:19