Psalms 78:1

1 The learning of Asaph. My people, perceive ye my law; bow your ear into the words of my mouth. (The teaching of Asaph. My people, listen ye to my teaching; bow down your ear to the words of my mouth.)

Psalms 78:1 Meaning and 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 Romans 9:5 ) ( John 1:11 ) ( 18:35 ) thus it is usual with persons to call those, who are of the same nation with them, their people, ( Esther 7:3 Esther 7:4 ) ( Jeremiah 9:1 Jeremiah 9:2 ) and especially for kings to call their subjects so; see ( 1 Chronicles 28:2 ) ( 29:14 ) , and such was Christ; he was King of the Jews, though they would not have him reign over them; and therefore he here speaks as one having royal authority, and requires attention to him, and obedience to his word, which he calls his law:

to my law;
meaning neither the moral nor the ceremonial law, but the doctrine of the Gospel, or law of faith, called the Messiah's law, ( Isaiah 2:3 ) ( 42:4 ) ( Romans 3:27 ) . This is the doctrine which he as man received of his Father, and which he taught and delivered to his disciples, and which concerns himself, his person, office, and grace, and is sometimes called the doctrine of Christ, ( 2 John 1:9 ) ,

incline your ears to the words of my mouth;
the several doctrines of the everlasting Gospel preached by him, which were words of wisdom and of grace, of righteousness and eternal life, of peace, pardon, and everlasting salvation: these ought to be heard and diligently attended to; the matter contained in them requires attention; the office Christ bears demands it of men; all that have ears to hear should hear; all Christ's sheep do hear his voice, understand it, and act according to it: hear ye him was the instruction of Moses, and the direction of Christ's heavenly Father, ( Deuteronomy 18:15 ) ( Matthew 17:5 ) , and great is the danger such incur who hear him not, but neglect and despise his word, ( Hebrews 2:2 Hebrews 2:3 ) ( 12:25 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Poal) (tw asaf) , Sept. "ipsi Asaph", Pagninus, Montanus; "tradita Asapho", Piscator.

Psalms 78:1 In-Context

1 The learning of Asaph. My people, perceive ye my law; bow your ear into the words of my mouth. (The teaching of Asaph. My people, listen ye to my teaching; bow down your ear to the words of my mouth.)
2 I shall open my mouth in parables; I shall speak perfect reasons from the beginning (I shall speak perfect reasoning from the old days).
3 How great things have we heard, and we have known those; and our fathers told to us. (What great things we have heard, and we have known; and our fathers told us.)
4 Those be not hid from the sons of them; in another generation. And they told the praisings of the Lord, and the virtues of him; and his marvels, which he did. (We will not hide these things from their sons and daughters; yea, from the generations to come. We shall tell out the praises of the Lord, and his strength, or his power; and the marvellous deeds which he did.)
5 And he raised witnessing in Jacob; and he setted law in Israel. How great things commanded he to our fathers, to make those known to their sons; (And he raised up a testimony in Jacob; and he set a law in Israel. He commanded to our fathers to make these things known to their sons and daughters;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.