“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
Psalm 78 opens with a didactic superscription identifying it as a maskil (wisdom teaching) of Asaph, signaling that the psalm functions as religious instruction for the covenant community. The opening address—"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching"—establishes the psalmist as a wisdom teacher transmitting accumulated tradition to the next generation. The phrase "incline your ears to the words of my mouth" employs the rhetoric of wisdom instruction found in Proverbs, suggesting that what follows is not merely recitation of history but theological interpretation aimed at shaping faith and practice. This psalm will use historical narrative as a vehicle for wisdom teaching, demonstrating how God's persistent faithfulness contrasts with Israel's repeated faithlessness.
Church Fathers on Psalms 78:1
1. This Psalm does contain the things which are said to have been done among the old people: but the new and latter people is being admonished, to beware that it be not ungrateful regarding the blessings of God, and provoke His anger against it, whereas it ought to receive His grace....The Title thereof does first move and engage our attention. For it is not without reason inscribed, “Understanding of Asaph:” but it is perchance because these words require a reader who does…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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