Asaph wrote Ps 78 to recount God’s dealings with Israel in the Exodus, the wilderness journey, and their establishment in the land of Canaan. However, he wrote that this Psalm is a parable, Ps 78:2. That’s because this history doctrinally applies to the Second Advent of Jesus. That’s the purpose of the parable.
Thus, Asaph calls these historical events, “dark sayings of old”. Prov 1:6 and Ps 49:4 mention dark sayings and Num 12:8 refers to dark speeches. These seem strange ways to characterize the words of God, Ps 119:105. However, they are “dark sayings” because they are like the mysteries of Matt 13:10-13. They can only be understood by those who believe them and by the light God sheds on them, 1 Cor 2:9-16.
God’s historical dealings with Israel reflect how he is going to deal with them in the Tribulation and eventually deliver them when he returns. Since most of Israel will be “in the dark” concerning these scriptures because of their unbelief, only a remnant will be saved, Rom 11.
The specific purpose of the parable is found in Ps 78:7-8. Asaph has five things that he wants Israel to keep when they read and believe this psalm. These five things can be spiritually applied to us, Rom 15:4, 1 Cor 10:11. Asaph wants them:
To keep their hope set in God, Ps 78:7. They must hope in God rather than in their pride, their self-sufficiency, their allied nations, or their false “Messiah”. They must hope in God even when it looks like God is against them. Likewise, our hope is in the Lord. We cannot put our hope in anyone or anything else.
To keep their memories of God’s work fresh in their minds, Ps 78:7. In trials and trouble, it is easy to forget all that God has done in our lives, Mk 6:44-52. Had the disciples remembered the miracle of the loaves they would not have been so amazed when Jesus walked on the water and caused the wind to cease. It’s good for us to keep a record of answered prayers and a journal of the times God has “come through” for us. That way we don’t despair when times get tough.
To keep them resolved to obey God and not rebel, Ps 78:7-8. The first king that Israel had was a good man and a skillful soldier. Yet, he had a flaw that cost him dearly. He feared men. In 1 Sam 15:22-23, he testified that he had obeyed God when, in fact, he had disobeyed God and stubbornly rebelled against him. We are just like Saul in many respects. We have a little rebellious kid living in us who is resolved to stubbornly rebel against God. We must resolve to keep God’s commandments and not rebel.
To keep their hearts right with God, Ps 78:8. The trouble is that we have the capacity to love other things more than God. We can love the world, or pleasures, or even ourselves. First and foremost, we must love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first commandment.
To keep their spirits stedfast with God, Ps 78:8. It’s easy to wane in our love for God if our spirits are not stedfast with God. Just like Israel kept turning back to the world and away from God, we can backslide, as well. “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love”. We must keep our spirits stedfast with God. Paul finished his course and he finished it with joy. We must be committed to hold fast to the end. We must be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”, 1 Cor 15:58.
Conclusion: The purpose of the parable Asaph wrote is doctrinally aimed at helping the Jews endure through the Tribulation. However, the spiritual purpose of the parable is to help us keep our hope set in God, our memories of God’s work fresh in our minds, our hearts right with God, and our spirits stedfast with God. And another purpose of the parable is to keep us resolved to obey God and not rebel.