Asaph, the author of this and many psalms, was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship music, specifically serving as a chief musician and singer in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) in Jerusalem. He was known for playing the cymbals to “raise sounds of joy” and was considered a “seer” who prophesied through music. (Wikipedia) Psalm 78 has 70 verses in it and it will take me some time to deal with it. We can know from the first verse that it is meant to be a teaching tool – let us pray that by God’s Grace we will learn much! (1 Chronicles ch 16). So, let us read well and think clearly, praying that we will get the lessons which Asaaph was teaching!
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth! – he tells us what he wants us to do! Listen carefully!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us. – He tells us what he is going to do. He’s not going to try to teach new philosophies; he is going to remind us of our history and talk in parables. What does he mean by ‘dark sayings? I wonder if as a person well taught in the pre-prophetic Jewish scriptures he had understood the beginnings of God’s plan of salvation, which he wanted to share with his audience. Something like what Jesus did walking along the Emmaus road talking with Cleopas and his friend (Lk 24)
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done. – sadly many parents these days fail to give their children not even a basic understanding of God’s dealing with us through history. It seems as if the responsibility has been given to teachers and the media, who often have a very warped idea of what is godly and good!
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments; – This is so plain and obviously not what is happening in the West these days. God is the Creator but a fact denied by pseudo-science; God is the true Answer to Life but His reality is denied or verbalized with lives lived as if it is not true. Example is a much better teacher than words although words are very necessary!
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God. – Asaph was outspoken in his condemnation of his present time! How do you assess our generation as to teaching our children about God’s part in history and his right to have demands on our living?
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Prayer: Please write Your Truth on my mind and may it come out of my finger tips, my feet and my mouth. In all my living may I be obedient to You, my Father God.