“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, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:1-8, ESV)
In Psalm 78, the psalmist Asaph issues a solemn charge to God’s people. It is a divine imperative to pass the faith to the next generation. Failure in this task risks producing another “stubborn and rebellious generation” whose hearts wander from the Lord. Success produces God’s blessings not only on the generation that follows Him but upon the whole land.
Asaph teaches a practical method for fulfilling this most important of callings. Notice the deliberate order he follows in the Psalm:
1. First, share the testimony.
Asaph begins by calling attention to what has been “heard and known,” personal and generational experiences of God’s faithfulness: “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us” (v. 3). He commits not to hide these from the children but to proclaim “the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (v. 4).
A testimony is powerful because it is personal and credible. It answers the question, “What has God done in your life (or in the life of His people)?” It is not abstract theology but lived reality containing stories of deliverance, provision, mercy, and divine power. In sharing the faith with a new generation and with people who do not yet know God, this remains the essential starting point. Before quoting verses or outlining doctrines, share the stories of God authentically. People are often drawn first by authentic stories of transformation, not polished arguments.
2. **Follow with a Story (Parable) That Illustrates Principles
Asaph declares, “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old” (v. 2). The remainder of Psalm 78 unfolds as a historical narrative, a parable-like retelling of Israel’s wilderness rebellions, God’s repeated acts of rescue, and the people’s forgetfulness. These “dark sayings” show the folly of unbelief, the patience of God, and the danger of a divided heart.
Put yourself in the stories, live them and experience them anew. This makes the truth memorable and relatable both to you and to those you share them with. Jesus would later master this same method, teaching profound kingdom realities through everyday stories. When witnessing to the lost, this step is crucial. After sharing your personal testimony, connect it to broader biblical stories or illustrations that reveal God’s character and our human need. A well-chosen story or analogy bridges the gap between “what happened to you” and “what this means about God and life.” It invites the listener to see themselves in the narrative and grasp deeper truths.
3. Conclude with the Law (Clear Commands and Expectations)
Only after testimony and parable does Asaph reference the established “testimony” and “law” in Israel (v. 5). God commanded the fathers to teach these things so future generations would “set their hope in God... keep his commandments” (vv. 6-7).
The law here represents God’s clear revelation—His standards, promises, and instructions. It flows naturally from the stories and is grounded in the character and deeds of God already recounted. In evangelism, this corresponds to presenting the gospel call: repentance, faith in Christ, and obedience to His Word. Prematurely hammering rules or doctrines without relational context or illustrative stories often leads to resistance or even open hostility. But when rooted in testimony and parable, the call to respond carries weight and urgency. It moves the heart from curiosity to conviction.
Applying the Pattern in Witnessing Today
This three-fold pattern Testimony → Parable/Story → Law is a God-ordained model for reaching the lost and discipling believers. It mirrors how the gospel itself comes to us: God’s people testify to what they have seen and heard; the Scriptures unfold the grand story of redemption (with Jesus as the ultimate parable of grace); and we are called to repent and believe, walking in obedience.
-In personal conversations: Begin with your story. Move to a biblical illustration (the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, or the Exodus). End with the clear invitation to trust Christ and follow Him.
-In family and church settings: Intentionally tell the next generation both your stories and the Bible’s stories. Ground them in Scripture’s commands so they “set their hope in God.”
-In a forgetful culture: Like ancient Israel, we live among people prone to stubbornness and rebellion. Our task is urgent: proclaim the glorious deeds so the coming generation does not repeat the failures of the past.
May we, like Asaph, resolve: “We will not hide them from their children.” As we follow this pattern, we participate in God’s generational work of building a faithful people who remember, believe, and obey.
