Reading: Psalms 78-80
For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments (Ps. 78:5-7).
Our God is a God of love (I John 4:8). He cares deeply about every person that ever has been or will be born (Ps. 100:5). God knows much better than we do ourselves that no one lives in a vacuum. For better or worse, we are all affected by the actions and choices of those around us. We are also profoundly affected by the legacy of those that came before us. God works through each generation to provide for the needs of the next. Here in the 78th Psalm, we find Him working through the person of Asaph.
Asaph was a Levite who served as a singer/song leader for Tabernacle and Temple worship during the time of David and Solomon (I Chr. 6:31-39; II Chr. 5:12). Here in the 78th Psalm, we find that he has used his musical gift to serve the Lord in an extraordinary way. God had commanded, And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 6:6-7). Yet over the centuries that had elapsed since that time, God’s people had not been as diligent as they should have been about following that command. Whole generations had been lost to ignorance and idolatry, with only a faithful remnant remaining. Under David’s rule, many had returned to worshiping the one true God but were still sorely lacking in their knowledge of His Word. Asaph took that opportunity to compose a musical Maschil (a lesson) to deepen their understanding of the will of the Lord.
Asaph began by summarizing the history of the nation of Israel from the time of her formation by God up until the time of David. He knew that for the people to understand their re- sponsibilities to God, they needed to know all that God had done for them and come to terms with how Israel as a nation had responded. Asaph was not telling them about the failures of their ancestors to explain or excuse their current behavior, nor was he expecting them to make amends for what had happened in the past. He was simply providing them with the information they needed to wholeheartedly serve the Lord.
We hold the same responsibility for educating future gen- erations as did Asaph. As we share our testimony, we are honor-bound to share it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. We bring glory to God by allowing others to see the difference He has made in our lives. We never know when the lessons we have learned from our personal sins and failures will allow someone else to avoid the same mistakes.
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (I Cor. 10:11).
Thought for Today: Earnestly teaching God’s Word should not only kindle the faith of the student but also reinforce the faith of the teacher.
Christ Revealed: As the true Shepherd (Ps. 80:1). Christ is the Good Shepherd and the Door through which one must enter to be saved. He alone is The Way to heaven (John 10:9,11; 14:6).
Word Studies: 78:15 clave = split; 78:34 inquired early = sought diligently; 79:4 derision = ridicule; 80:3 Turn us again = Restore us; 80:8 a vine = Israel; 80:12 hedges = wall or fences; 80:18 quicken = revive.
Pray for Staff: Gilbert Palafox • Country: Spain (47,737,941) Southwestern Europe • Major Languages: Castillian Spanish, Catalan • Religious Freedom • 94% Catholic; 6% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to reveal and cleanse any hidden sins in your life (Ps. 19:12).
Optional Reading:II Thessalonians 2