Psalm 78:1 “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:”
To “Give ear” and “incline your ears” is to intently focus our hearing and mind upon our Lord’s “law” and “the words of” His “mouth”. Matthew tells us that this Psalm was written in prophecy of Jesus Christ: “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34-35). The “words of” His “mouth” are referred to as His “law” because the “words” He spoke are Sovereignly Authoritative, and they do not change. Our Lord is not fickle like men; the things He spoke in Biblical times are just as true and applicable now as they were when He spoke them. People change and change their opinions about things, but not our Lord. The strong underlying message to us is to not be swayed from “the words” of our Lord’s “mouth”. He declared, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28). Paul put it this way, “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). And we are given this exhortation: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1). When people do NOT “Give ear” and “incline” their “ears to the words of” our Lord’s “mouth”; they fail personally, families fail, businesses fail, nations fail, etc. Jeremiah delivered this message to failing Israel: “But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.” (Jeremiah 22:5). Let us take heed to “hear” and obey the Word of God!