Asaph was a sweet singer of Israel. In 2 Chronicles 29:30, he is also referred to as “Asaph the seer,” indicating his role in receiving and conveying divine messages. He is credited with writing Psalms 12, 50, 73-83. He calls people to listen to God’s Law.
In Revelation 2-3, Jesus says to us seven times, “Let him that has an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Holy Spirit’s goal is to help us hear the prophetic words of Jesus.
“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...” Psalm 78:1-2
The root word for, “parable” (מָשָׁל) means to rule. In this case, a reigning principle for people to observe. [1] The word for “dark saying” (חִידָה) refers to a riddle or maxim. [2]
“A maxim is a concise, memorable statement that expresses a general truth or serves as a rule of conduct. It is designed to offer practical wisdom and guide how you should behave in daily life.” [3]
“...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 the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.” Psalm 78:3-4
In Psalm 78, the Lord urges loving parents to teach their children His praises. Keep them mindful of the testimonies of the Lord. Otherwise, they will be ill-prepared to overcome the arrogance, lies and lusts that are in the world.
In Psalm 78, the Lord urges parents to teach their children of His strength and wonderful works! They need to know that God loves them, wants to help them, and that He is all powerful. They need to be taught of His grace and forgiveness. The world will not teach them these things.
We should teach our children about God because we love them.
“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, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children...” Psalm 78:5-6
In Deuteronomy 6:7, the Lord says to parents concerning His laws, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Teach them along life’s path as Jesus taught His disciples. Fathers, as the priests of the family, are to teach their children right from wrong, so that every step of the way, the child can identify the right path to take.
“...that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:7-8
The main trajectory that the Lord wants for our children is transformation into His likeness. The Lord will transform them when they come to abide in fellowship with Him and His Word.
The sinful world wants our children to conform to its image. The devil hits them from every angle to destroy their faith in God.
The Lord says to teach our children to hope in Him. Remember Him! Be faithful to God!
“The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God. They refused to walk in His Law and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.” Psalm 78:9-11
The descendants of Joseph via his son Ephraim had the tools to win the war, but not the closeness with God as their forefather Joseph had. Without a foundation in the testimonies of the Lord, and ignorant of His Law, they made disastrous decisions. Psalm 78:9-11 likely refers to the time when the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant and slew the corrupt sons of Eli. After a long digression, Asaph returns to this topic in verse 61. [4]
The tribe of Ephraim was renowned for having valiant men. Joshua was from Ephraim’s tribe. But after they became proud against the Lord, they broke covenant with Him. The turning of their backs on God led to the turning of their backs in battle. [5]
“Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock and caused waters to run down like rivers.” Psalm 78:12-16
Here, the Lord encourages parents to teach their children about the miracles that God has done for His people. In Revelation 1:9, John speaks of experiencing tribulation “for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” God’s Word contains many magnificent testimonies.
The Lord led them by a pillar of a cloud during the day. A cloud, rightly positioned, provided shade for them from the sun. He led them by a pillar of fire by night, thus, providing warmth for them during the cold wilderness nights. The pillar of fire may have also scared the wild beasts away from their camp. [6]
The Lord furnished fresh water for them out of a rock. Out of dry hard rocks streams like rivers flowed as though out of a great depth. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul refers to this miracle as being symbolic of Jesus Christ from whom streams of the Holy Spirit flow in this spiritually dry world. Paul wrote, “All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
“But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: they said, ‘Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?’ Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious. So, a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.” Psalm 78:17-22
God blessed them. They rebelled against Him. They severely tried God’s patience. They demanded meat. They wanted to indulge their flesh. They challenged God to give them meat, and, if he did not, they would say it was because He could not. They asked, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” They had manna, but they wanted meat.
Is anything too hard for God? No, all things are possible with God.
In Numbers 11:1, a fire of the Lord burnt among them. God is a consuming fire. Those that will not believe in the power of God’s mercy shall feel the power of His wrath. They trusted not in the salvation He had begun to work for them. If they had, they would not have questioned its progress. [7]
“Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven.” Psalm 78:23-24
The Lord had given them undeniable proofs of His power, not only on earth beneath, but in heaven above. God, who has the key of the clouds, opened the doors of heaven, and that is more than opening the windows. [8]
To all who by faith do ask, seek, and knock, doors shall be opened. God is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him. He not only keeps a good house but keeps an open house. [9]
“Men ate angels’ food. He sent them food to the full.” Psalm 78:25
Yes, men as well as women, boys and girls ate angel bread. The weakest stomach could digest it, yet it was so nourishing that it was strong meat for strong men. [10]
Did they question God’s power? Yes, so He demonstrated that He could produce food in the wilderness. Though the winds seem to blow where they list, yet, when He pleased, He could make the winds His caterers of daily cuisine.
In Psalm 78:1-25, the Lord calls us to teach our children to trust in the Lord’s ability to provide for them regardless of their circumstances. God’s goal is to bring them into the Promised Land.
[1] Strong’s Hebrew & Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament
[2] Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon)
[3] Miriam-Webster Dictionary
[4] Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
[5] Matthew Henry’s Commentary, see also 1 Samuel 4:10-11
[6] Matthew Henry’s Commentary (edited)
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
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