The introduction calls special attention to the teaching that is about to be put forth, which it declares to be traditional ( Psalms 78:3 ), and, further, to be the sort of instruction which God had especially commanded to be given to his people by their teachers ( Psalms 78:5 , Psalms 78:6 ) for their edification ( Psalms 78:7 , Psalms 78:8 ). read more
The psalm is, as the title also declares, one of "instruction." It seeks to keep the people faithful to David and his house, and to check their tendency to place themselves under the leadership of the tribe of Ephraim, by recalling the whole course of God's dealings with Israel in the past, from the time of the sojourn in Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom. It also seeks to keep them faithful to God, by showing how all their past calamities and sufferings had arisen out of... read more
Whole psalm: Warnings against unbelief. I. ITS PURPOSE . 1 . To warn Ephraim; not to taunt and exult over him, but to warn. This psalm seems to belong to the period of the disruption. Ephraim, with the other northern tribes, had broken away from Judah and from the worship of God, and this psalm seems designed, by its recital of their old sins and the consequences thereof, to warn them against like sin in the future (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:1-22 .). 2 . To warn Judah. If... read more
The Divine object of revelation. In this paragraph we have stated the object which God had appointed Israel to fulfil—to receive his Law and truth, that they might transmit them to posterity, and that they and their posterity might be brought to a living trust in God, and obedience to his will. Suggests— I. GOD HAS MADE THE FULLEST REVELATION OF HIMSELF AND HIS WILL TO MANKIND IN JESUS CHRIST . 1 . He has gloriously revealed his character in Christ ... read more
We will not hide them from their children. They shall still be handed down in the same way. We of this generation will still continue the practice of handing down, by word of mouth, to the next generation, how God has dealt with Israel. Asaph's psalms were written, it must be remembered, to be recited in the services of the sanctuary. Showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord ; i.e. the actions for which he deserves praise. And his strength, and his wonderful works that... read more
Religious education. The first eight verses of this psalm have much to say upon this great question. Upon— I. ITS AUTHORITY . "He commanded our fathers" ( Psalms 78:5 ; cf. Deuteronomy 6:1-25 .). That which reason, conscience, and experience would alike teach, the authority of God confirms by direct command. And it is at our peril that we neglect this. The sanctions that accompany the command have not to wait for the future life for their fulfilment; they are visible everywhere... read more
Our mission to the coming generation. The interest of the Old Testament in children is seldom worthily recognized. The Divine confidence is felt in Abraham on this singular ground, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment" ( Genesis 18:19 ). The meaning of the most significant rite of the Mosaic system—the Passover—was to be carefully explained to the "children." The command is... read more
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel. The "testimony" and the "law" are the whole series of commands given by God to his people, beginning with the directions concerning circumcision in Genesis ( Genesis 17:10-14 ), and terminating with the last precept in Deuteronomy ( Deuteronomy 32:46 ). They may include also the teachings of God through history. These he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children (see Exodus 12:26 ,... read more
That the generation to come might know them. "The generation to come" is the next generation, that immediately following those to whom the command was directly given. Even the children which should be born. Their actual sons and daughters. Who should arise and declare them to their children. The first generation were to hand the knowledge on to the second, the second to the third, and so on. This is the way in which the hulk of human knowledge actually passes on. Not much is learnt... read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:7
Verse 7 7.That they might set their hope in God. Here the Psalmist points out the use to which the doctrine which he had stated should be applied. In the first place, the fathers, when they find that on the one hand they are instrumental in maintaining the pure worship of God, and that on the other, they are the means of providing for the salvation of their children, should, by such a precious result of their labors, be the more powerfully stirred up to instruct their children. In the second... read more