Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Teach Your Children Well

Psalm 78: 1-11 (November 9, 2008)

1) The Text


1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, 3things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. 4We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. 5He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; 6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, 7so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; 8and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. 10They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. 11They forgot what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them.

2) The Context

As the second longest psalm in the Bible, Psalm 78 addressed fidelity as a witness to the next generation. It was written by Asaph, a Levite in the court of King David, who was both a music leader and a teacher. Psalm 78 is a wisdom psalm that relays the history of Israel in a theological fashion. The first section speaks about generational witness (78:1-11). The full Psalm highlights two things; 1) the repeated disobedience and ingratitude of the Israelites, and 2) the recurring and unfailing mercy of God to the disobedient nation. In this Psalm we have a story taken from the realm of man, filled with events that illustrate important spiritual truths to us.

3) Interpretation

God’s Command (in verse 5). There are two things to notice from this verse. First, we see that God has revealed himself – “He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel.” We start here because this is the foundation; this is absolutely basic to any instruction of our children; God Has spoken. If God had not spoken, if he had not revealed himself, then we would be left in darkness and confusion, and would have nothing to teach our children. The fact that He has spoken and revealed Himself gives content to any instruction of our children.

Second, we look at what He has spoken. God has spoken by “establishing a testimony and appointing a law.” Briefly, what is this? “Testimony” and “Law” take us back to Exodus 31:18 where we read that Jehovah “gave unto Moses two tables of testimony, two tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” What was written on these tables was the “ten commandments.” Psalm 78 takes us back to Mt. Sinai and the Covenant made with Israel there. God promised to be the God of His people, to be their Friend, and God told them that they would be His special and peculiar people. As His peculiar people, they were given the law of God, representing their part in His covenant with them. Should they break the law, they would be violating the covenant. This does not mean that the covenant with them was conditional, but that now as His covenant people, an obligation was placed on them. Notice that the Ten Commandments do not start with commandments, but they start like this, “I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” They begin with a testimony of God’s grace and power, of what He has done for His people. He saved them with a mighty and outstretched arm before He gave them the law. And so, when Asaph refers to the testimony of God, he means not only that God has told us what to do, but that God testifies to us of what He has done, and what our response should be. He gives command to us to teach it to our children.

Asaph’s Example (in verses 1-4). Asaph obeys the command of God in verse 5 and makes known the will and works of God to the next generation. Asaph gives good practical instruction to us with regard to teaching our children. First, notice that Asaph says we must stop and give time and attention to God’s Word. This has to be done regularly so that they learn to pay attention in order to hear God’s Word. Second, notice the content of Asaph’s instruction in verse 4 and in the rest of the Psalm. It is not only the law of God, the demands of God, but it is His praises, strength and wonderful works. Asaph teaches the praises and strength of God by showing His wonderful works. This is the focus of the Psalm. He simply teaches and applies the history of Israel, showing them the sinfulness of Israel, the grace of God, and warning them against those sins. The Bible stories illustrate the truths we must know about God. They show His mighty works, His praises, and His strength. They show our sins, and God’s grace over against sin. They warn and admonish against falling into the same sins. They show that the way of joy and peace for the children is to walk in obedience.

Third, notice Asaph’s method. He engages his audience in this Psalm by putting questions in their minds. Asaph engages his audience and presses home two great truths. We are left wondering at the amazing wickedness of man, and the amazing grace of God, and asking, how can these things be? This is penetrating instruction. It pushes the reader and listener to examine his own heart and the sin there, and to marvel at the grace of God. Fourth, on verses 1-4, we should notice Asaph’s resolve and willingness. “We will not hide them, but show them . . .” (verse 4). He says that if we don’t teach and show all these things to our children, then, not only are we failing to do something, but we are actively hiding these things from our children. We are depriving them of something.

The Purpose with regard to our Children (in verses 6-8). Now we want to look at the purpose of this instruction with regard to our children. There are three things that God gives as the purpose of teaching our children. The first goal is in verse 6, that they might have knowledge of God. This is basic to any covenant relationship with God. Yes, we must love God, yes we must serve God, but we cannot do this unless we know Him first. The second aim is that the children might come to put their hope in God (verse 7a). True knowledge of God should lead to hoping and trusting in Him. What begins in the head goes to the heart. We teach with the goal not only of head knowledge, but of heart faith, with the goal of our young people loving the truth they learn and putting their trust in God; believing Him. Then thirdly, the goal of teaching our children is their obedience (verses 7b-8). Teaching our children has to do with how they act as well as their knowledge and feelings.

Teaching children is a command, a calling. It comes not only to parents, but to the whole church.
4) Thought Exercise

How have you tried to pass along your faith?
How has God worked through you in your efforts?

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