Psalms 78:1 «Maschil of Asaph. » Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Maschil of Asaph] Ode didasealiea Asaphi. The six first verses are proemial, wooing attention from the dignity, difficulty, antiquity, certainty, &c., of the matter in this psalm discoursed on, containing an abstract of the whole Pentateuch, and acquainting us with the ancient way of preaching, which was a historical narration of the miraculous mercies that God had from time to time conferred upon his people, their hateful abuse of his benefits, and their punishments thereupon. This is to be seen in various psalms, in St Stephen's sermon, Acts 7:1,60, and St Paul's, Acts 13:1,52, et est sane valde venerandum istud sanctae antiquitatis monumentum, This is a very venerable monument of holy antiquity, and teacheth us the right use of history, quae dicta est παρα το ισταναι τον ρουν, saith Plato.
Ver. 1. Give ear, O my people, to my law] i.e. To my doctrine, which hath its name in Hebrew from darting it into the soul; and these are the psalmist's words in God's name, calling for utmost attention.
Incline your ears, &c.] Lay them close to my lips, that no parcel of this sacred language fall to the ground by your default. Eνωτιζεσθε, Aurizate, auribus haurite, Receive it into your ears; yea, draw up the ears of your mind to the ears of your bodies, that one sound may pierce both, Act 2:14 Isaiah 55:3. "Hear, and give ear; be not proud; for the Lord hath spoken it," Jeremiah 13:15 .