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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:1-8

These verses, which contain the preface to this history, show that the psalm answers the title; it is indeed Maschil?a psalm to give instruction; if we receive not the instruction it gives, it is our own fault. Here, I. The psalmist demands attention to what he wrote (Ps. 78:1): Give ear, O my people! to my law. Some make these the psalmist's words. David, as a king, or Asaph, in his name, as his secretary of state, or scribe to the sweet singer of Israel, here calls upon the people, as his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:1

Give ear, O my people ,.... The Jews were Christ's people, he descending from their fathers according to the flesh; they were his own, to whom he came, though rejected by them; they were his nation and people that delivered him up into the hands of the Romans; see Romans 9:4 thus it is usual with persons to call those, who are of the same nation with them, their people, Esther 7:3 and especially for kings to call their subjects so; see 1 Chronicles 28:2 , and such was Christ; he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:2

I will open my mouth ,.... Speak freely, boldly, and without reserve, Ephesians 6:19 , so Christ opened his mouth, Matthew 5:2 , in a parable ; not that what follows in this psalm was such, but what were delivered by our Lord in the days of his flesh, who spake many parables; as of the sower, and of tares, and of the grain of mustard seed, and many others, and without a parable he spake not, and so fulfilled what he here said he would do, Matthew 13:34 . I will utter dark... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:3

Which we have heard and known ,.... The change of number from "I" to "we" have made some think that the disciples of Christ are here introduced speaking; but there is no need to suppose that, since our Lord uses the same form of speech, John 3:11 , and our fathers have told us ; this may not only regard the Jewish ancestors, from whom our Lord descended according to the flesh, and so refer to the following account of the wonderful things done for the people of Israel; but also the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:1

Give ear, O my people - This is the exordium of this very pathetic and instructive discourse. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:2

In a parable - Or, I will give you instruction by numerous examples; see Psalm 49:1-4 ; (note), which bears a great similarity to this; and see the notes there. The term parable, in its various acceptations, has already been sufficiently explained; but משל mashal may here mean example, as opposed to תורה torah , law or precept, Psalm 49:1 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:3

Which we have heard and known - We have heard the law, and known the facts. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:1

Verse 1 1.Give ear, O my people! to my law. From the close of the psalm, it may with probability be conjectured, that it was written long after the death of David; for there we have celebrated the kingdom erected by God in the family of David. There also the tribe of Ephraim, which is said to have been rejected, is contrasted with, and set in opposition to, the house of David. From this it is evident, that the ten tribes were at that time in a state of separation from the rest of the chosen... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 78:3

Verse 3 3.What we have heard and known. There seems to be some discrepancy between what the Psalmist had stated in the commencement, when he said that he would speak of great and hidden matters, and what he now adds, that his subject is a common one, and such as is transmitted from one age to another by the father to the son. If it was incumbent upon the fathers to recount to their children the things here spoken of, these things ought, of course, to have been familiarly known to all the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 78:1

Give ear, O my people, to my law; rather, to my teaching. Hat-torah—torah with the article—is "the Law;" but torah alone is any teaching or instruction. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Dr. Kay regards the words of Psalms 78:1 as "God's own words," read more

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