Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 78

Give ear, O my people - This is not an address of God, but an address of the king or ruler of the people, calling their attention to an important subject; namely, his right to rule over them, or showing why the power had been vested in him.

To my law - The word law here seems to mean what he would say, as if what he should choose to say would have the force and authority of law. What follows is not exactly law in the sense that it was a rule to be obeyed; but it is something that is authoritatively said, and should have the force of law.

Incline your ears ... - Be attentive. What is to be said is worthy of your particular regard. Compare the notes at Psalms 5:1.

I will open my mouth in a parable - See the notes at (Psalms 49:4). The word “parable” here means a statement by analogy or comparison; that is, he would bring out what he had to say by a course of reasoning founded on an analogy drawn from the ancient history of the people.

I will utter dark sayings of old - Of ancient times; that is, maxims, or sententious thoughts, which had come down from past times, and which embodied the results of ancient observation and reflection. , where the word rendered “dark sayings” is explained. He would bring out, and apply, to the present case, the maxims of ancient wisdom.

Which we have heard and known – Which have been communicated to us as certain truth.

And our fathers have told us – That is, we have heard and known them by their telling us; or, this is the means by which we have known them. They have come down to us by tradition from ancient times.

We will not hide them from their children - From their descendants, however remote. We of this generation will be faithful in handing down these truths to future times. We stand between past generations and the generations to come. We are entrusted by those who have gone before us with great and important truths—truths to be preserved and transmitted in their purity to future ages.

That trust committed to us we will faithfully discharge. These truths shall not suffer in passing from us to them. They shall not be hindered in their progress; they shall not be corrupted or impaired.

This is the duty of each successive generation in the world. Each generation receives, as a trust from past generations, the result of their thoughts, their experience, their wisdom, their inventions, their arts, their sciences, and the records of their deeds. Their duty is to hand these down unimpaired to future ages, combined with all that they themselves may invent or discover that may be useful or advantageous to the generations following.

Showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord - The reasons why he should be praised, as resulting from his past deeds—and the ways in which it should be done. We will maintain and transmit to future times the pure institutions of religion.

And his strength - The records of his power.

And his wonderful works that he has done - In the history of his people, and in his many and varied interpositions on their behalf.

For he established a testimony in Jacob — He ordained or appointed that which would be for a “witness” for him; that which would bear testimony to his character and perfections; that which would serve to remind them of what he was, and of his authority over them. Any law or ordinance of God is thus a standing and permanent witness regarding his character, showing what he is.

And appointed a law in Israel — That is, He gave law to Israel, or to the Hebrew people. Their laws were not human enactments, but were the appointments of God.

Which he commanded our fathers ... — He made it a law of the land that these testimonies should be preserved and faithfully transmitted to future times. See (Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19). They were not given for themselves only, but for the benefit of distant generations also.