Dark Sayings of Old in Psalm 78 are Meant for Our Instruction Today

Listening to sound teaching is paramount. Leaning into truth is life-giving. Parables. Dark sayings. Truth has been given to us as a trust. We will not hide God’s deeds. Remembering and rehearsing his faithfulness is so very important. Relaying the glorious deeds of God to the next generation is at the heart of discipleship.

“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old…that our fathers have told us. We will not hide…the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” Psalm 78:1-4

God established a story, a testimony, in the beginning. The people of Israel provided the context. He taught them. They were to teach their children. Generation after generation. Life-giving truth taught and then reached all the way down the ages to you and me. Truth even for children yet unborn.

“…so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments…” Psalm 78:7

Future generations are to learn from past generations. Do not be like your stubborn and rebellious forebears. Set your hope in God, do not forget his works, but keep his commandments. God set history in motion and then entered it to provide wisdom, instruction, and examples. Beware of but learn from those who are not steadfast and faithful.

“They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.” Psalm 78:10-11

History is filled with bad examples. We are to learn from those cautionary stories. Ignorant people of the past are mirrors held up before our eyes. We need to see the errors that promise to repeat themselves if we rely upon our own devices.

The psalmist reminds the people of how the sea was divided so that they could pass through it. He reminds them that a cloud and a fire led them. A rock was split in the wilderness.

And yet, the people kept sinning.

“Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.” Psalm 78:17

Bad examples to warn us. They demanded food and tested God. The demanded but they doubted. They even taunted by reminding God that water gushed but doubted his ability to provide bread.

Story after story is recounted in Psalm 78 and the caution is given, “In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe” (Psalm 78:32). And so pain and terror continued; then his people turned and sought him.

“They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.” Psalm 78:35

It’s a good thing I am not God. I would have given up on us. We are obstinate and ignorant. We remember God and then quickly forget him. We are not dependable or believable. Our hearts are not steadfast toward him. We are not faithful to our covenant.

“Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.” Psalm 78:38

O the kindness of God! He is compassionate toward mere flesh. He restrains himself. We rebel, we provoke, and we test; he performs wonders. Rivers to blood. Swarms of flies. Locusts. Hail. Destroying angels. Firstborn. Wilderness care.

“Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid…” Psalm 78:52-53

Psalm 78 is a shining example of how God’s macro-story is sovereignly governing every micro-story. He is nurturing his people patiently. He even drives out nations so that they can take hold of their covenant land. Guiding. Nurturing. Leading.

And yet, they continue to test him. Treacherous. Deceitful. Idols. And lovingly, he delivers them over to their enemies. For their own good. To get their attention.

To get our attention.

He patiently walks with us though we utterly reject his ways. He is masterfully governing history. Dark sayings are meant for our own good. In dark times lean on dark sayings. Mysterious. But true. Painful, yes, but from our Shepherd’s heart. He guides us graciously with his skillful hand marked by his steadfast love from his upright heart.

“With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” Psalm 78:72