Psalm 78:1-72 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:9-39

In these verses, I. The psalmist observes the late rebukes of Providence that the people of Israel had been under, which they had brought upon themselves by their dealing treacherously with God, Ps. 78:9-11. The children of Ephraim, in which tribe Shiloh was, though they were well armed and shot with bows, yet turned back in the day of battle. This seems to refer to that shameful defeat which the Philistines gave them in Eli's time, when they took the ark prisoner, 1 Sam. 4:10, 11. Of this the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:40-72

The matter and scope of this paragraph are the same with the former, showing what great mercies God had bestowed upon Israel, how provoking they had been, what judgments he had brought upon them for their sins, and yet how, in judgment, he remembered mercy at last. Let not those that receive mercy from God be thereby emboldened to sin, for the mercies they receive will aggravate their sin and hasten the punishment of it; yet let not those that are under divine rebukes for sin be discouraged... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:4

We will not hide them from their children ,.... The children of the Jewish fathers, but faithfully publish and declare them, as Christ and his apostles did; or the children of God and Christ, their spiritual seed and offspring: showing to the generation to come ; and so in all successive ages, by the ministration of the word, and the Spirit attending it; see Psalm 22:30 , the praises of the Lord ; what he has done in predestination, redemption, and effectual calling, which is to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:5

For he established a testimony in Jacob ,.... So the law is called, being a testification of the divine will, Exodus 25:16 and the Scriptures, the writings of the Old Testament, which testify of Christ, his person, office, sufferings, and death, Isaiah 8:20 and particularly the Gospel, which is the testimony of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of his apostles, 2 Timothy 1:8 which bears witness to the love and grace of God in the salvation of men by Christ; to the dignity of Christ's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:6

That the generation to come might know them ,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:7

That they might set their hope in God ,.... And not in the creature, nor in any creature enjoyment; see Job 31:24 , the Lord is the only proper object of hope and confidence; Christ, who is truly God, is the hope of his people, and in him they place it, as they have great reason to do; since with him there is mercy, the mercy of God is proclaimed in him; and with him there is redemption, which includes the blessings of peace, pardon, and righteousness; and a plenteous one, a redemption... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:9-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 78:40-72

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 78:7

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