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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Psalms 78:1 - 78:11
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
A Review of Israel's History as a Source of Consolation.
Maschil of Asaph, a didactic poem, intended to instruct the children of Israel in the wonderful ways of the Lord and to warn them against apostasy.
The Introduction
v. 1. Give ear, O my people, to my law, the religious teacher calling attention to his instruction which he is now about to begin; incline your ears to the words of my mouth, in the attitude of most careful attention.
v. 2. I will open my mouth in a parable, in proverbial sayings; I will utter dark sayings of old, make statements which would appear as oracles or riddles if unexplained, or if the application to present conditions were omitted,
v. 3. which we, the people of the older generation, have heard and known, and our fathers have told us, this being the custom in Israel, according to God's command, Deu_6:6-7; Deuteronomy 20-25.
v. 4. We will not hide them from their children, by refusing to hand them down by word of mouth and by written record, showing to the generation to come, the children which are now growing up, the praises of the Lord, the acts of His government which redound to His glory, and His strength, in its various manifestations, and His wonderful works that He hath done.
v. 5. For He established a testimony in Jacob, setting it up to be observed in the midst of His people, and appointed a Law in Israel, laying it down as a rule of life, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children, Deu_4:9;
v. 6. that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and, in turn, declare them to their children;
v. 7. that they might set their hope in God, making Him the one foundation of their trust, and not forget the works of God, all the miracles by which He manifested Himself, but keep His commandments, observing all that He had ordered,
v. 8. and might not be as their fathers, the reference being chiefly to those of the wilderness journey, a stubborn, faithless, disloyal, and rebellious generation, Exo_32:9; Deu_21:18; a generation that set not their heart aright, did not direct it to the service of God alone, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God, was not faithful toward Him.
v. 9. The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, fully equipped for battle, turned back in the day of battle; although this tribe possessed the privileges, and therefore should have fulfilled the duties, of the first-born, by being leaders of the nation in everything that was good, its members showed their leadership rather in apostasy from God.
v. 10. They kept not the covenant of God, they were backsliders almost from the start, permitting idolatry within their coasts almost immediately after the conquest of Canaan, and refused to walk in His Law;
v. 11. and forgat His works and His wonders that He had showed them, not heeding the impressive lessons connected with the guidance of the Lord. So much is said, by way of introduction and summary, to prepare the way for the warning contained in the remainder of the hymn.