John Calvin Commentary Psalms 78:3

"Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us." — Psalms 78:3 (ASV)

What we have heard and known. There seems to be some discrepancy between what the Psalmist had stated in the beginning, 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 is transmitted from one age to another by the father to the son.

If it was the duty of the fathers to recount to their children the things spoken of here, these things should, of course, have been familiarly known to all the people, indeed, even to those who were most uneducated and had the weakest understanding. Where, then, it may be asked, are the enigmas or dark sayings he just mentioned?

I answer that these things can easily be reconciled. Although the psalm contains many things that are generally known, he illustrates them with all the splendor and richness of language, so that he may more powerfully affect people's hearts and gain greater authority for himself.

At the same time, it should be observed that however high the majesty of the Word of God may be, this does not prevent its benefits or advantages from reaching even the unlearned and infants. The Holy Spirit does not invite and encourage such people to learn from it in vain—a truth we should carefully note.

If God, accommodating Himself to the limited capacity of people, speaks in a humble and plain style, this manner of teaching is despised as too simple. But if He rises to a higher style to give greater authority to His Word, people, to excuse their ignorance, will pretend it is too obscure.

Since these two vices are very prevalent in the world, the Holy Spirit so moderates His style that the sublimity of the truths He teaches is not hidden even from those with the weakest understanding, provided they have a submissive and teachable disposition and bring with them an earnest desire to learn.

The prophet's aim is to remove all doubt from the mind regarding his sayings. For this purpose, he resolves to present nothing new, but only subjects that had long been well known and received without dispute in the Church. Accordingly, he not only says we have heard, but also we have known. Many things are carelessly spread that have no basis in truth; indeed, nothing is more common than for people's ears to be filled with fables. Therefore, it is not without reason that the prophet, after speaking of the things he had heard, also refers to undeniable testimony to confirm their truth. He adds that the knowledge of these subjects had been communicated to the Jews by their fathers.

This does not mean that what is taught in the home is always flawless. However, it is obvious that a more favorable opportunity is provided for imposing forgeries as truth upon people when things are brought from a distant country. What should be primarily observed is that not all fathers are spoken of here indiscriminately, but only those who were chosen to be God’s special people, to whom the care of divine truth was entrusted.