Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 78:1-8

"Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know [them], even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell [them] to their children, That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments, And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God." — Psalms 78:1-8 (ASV)

These are called dark and deep sayings because they require careful examination. The law of God was given with a specific instruction to teach it diligently to their children, so that the church may endure forever, and also so that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God.

The works of God greatly strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostasy; those who do not set their hearts right will not be steadfast with God.

Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, must not obey sinful orders or copy sinful examples.