TEXT : Psalm 78:5 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:  78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:  78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:  78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

 

THEME : TEACHING

 

Psalm 78 is a teaching Psalm. It shows us how a Christian is to conduct himself or herself. As with the rest of the Bible - God inspired the writer, in this case to recount part of Israel's history in escaping from Egypt. We must respect everything the Scriptures include in its writings. Remember, ALL Scripture is inspired, and it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. This is so the Christian may be "perfect." [2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.]

 

"This is rightly entitled an instructive Psalm. It is not a mere recapitulation of important events in Israelitish history, but is intended to be viewed as a parable setting forth the conduct and experience of believers in all ages. It is a singular proof of the obtuseness of mind of many professor that they will object to sermons and expositions upon the historical parts of Scripture, as if they contained no instruction ill spiritual matters: were such persons truly enlightened by the Spirit of God, they would perceive that all Scripture is profitable, and would blush at their own Jolly in undervaluing any portion of the inspired volume.

 

The unity is well maintained throughout, but, for the sake of the reader's convenience, we may note that Psa_78:1-8 may be viewed as a preface, setting forth the Psalmist's object in the epic which he is composing. From 9-41 the theme is Israel in the wilderness; then intervenes an account of the Lord's preceding goodness towards his people in bringing them out of Egypt by plagues and wonders, Psa_78:42-52. The history of the tribes is resumed at Psa_78:53, and continued to Psa_78:66, where we reach the time of the removal of the ark to Zion, and the transference of the leadership of Israel from Ephraim to Judah, which is rehearsed in song from Psa_78:67-72." [C.H. SPURGEON]

 

As Israel was told to teach their children [and each other], so are you. You must teach your children, and your friends and family and so forth. The repetition of the Bible - retold and recited out loud instructs all who hear it. When spoken repeatedly you [others] will not forget it. This not only gives wisdom and instruction, but insures you that you will not forget the Word[s] of God, His Laws, His warnings, His promises, His instructions etc. You and I have an innate tendency to forget what is right in the sight of God. You and I have the tendency to drift off the narrow path of righteousness. This is our "natural" tendency.

 

However, you must be aware of your need for the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and help you learn and not to forget. [Psa_119:18  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Eph 1:15  Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Eph 1:16  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,]

 

Thus, you need to pray that God will open your eyes and aid your memory never to forget His Word.

 

"That the generation to come might know them,.... Not only notionally, but spiritually and experimentally; which is the case, when human teachings are attended with the spirit of wisdom and revertion in the knowledge of divine truths; for the truths of the Gospel are unknown to men; the Gospel is hidden wisdom, the wisdom of God in a mystery; the Bible is a sealed book, the doctrines of it are riddles and dark sayings; the ministry of the word is the means of knowledge, which become effectual when attended with the Spirit and power of God: even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children; and so be transmitted from age to age: it is the will of God, that, besides private instructions, there should be a standing ministry kept up in all ages, to the end of the world; and he will have some that shall receive the Gospel, and profess his name; there has been and will be a succession of regenerate persons; instead of the fathers come up the children, a seed to serve the Lord, accounted to him for a generation; the seed and the seed's seed of the church, from whose mouth the word of God shall never depart; but they shall declare it one to another, by which means it shall be continued to the latest posterity, Psa_22:30." [JOHN GILL]

 

Instruction in the Word of God is of particular importance to children. As you read in 2 Timothy above, Timothy knew the Holy Scriptures - from a child. Thus, when he was exhorted by the Apostle Paul, Paul reminded him that he heard the Scriptures from childhood. You must instruct your children in the Word of God so when they are adults you might say the same as Paul - "you knew this from childhood." This will keep your children - and all others you teach, from sinning against God. Moreover, when they do [for all have sinned] they will be corrected by the Word of God on the inside through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

 

"These are called dark and deep sayings, because they are carefully to be looked into. The law of God was given with a particular charge to teach it diligently to their children, that the church may abide for ever. Also, that the providences of God, both in mercy and in judgment, might encourage them to conform to the will of God. The works of God much strengthen our resolution to keep his commandments. Hypocrisy is the high road to apostacy; those that do not set their hearts right, will not be stedfast with God. Many parents, by negligence and wickedness, become murderers of their children. But young persons, though they are bound to submit in all things lawful, must not obey sinful orders, or copy sinful examples." [MATTHEW HENRY]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "TEACH OTHERS THE WORD OF GOD!"

 

It is the will of God, and the hope of those who serve Him with all the heart, that the teaching of the Word of God will help raise a generation [or, perhaps, another generation] that will not rebel against the LORD. When a father or mother rebels against the LORD, as Israel did, it is a certainty the children will do far worse. Thus, the exhortation to teach children the Word of God. When the teaching of God's Word is done faithfully and properly the chances of raising a godly generation increase.

 

[Deu_4:9  Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Deu_5:31  But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. Deu_6:7  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. Deu_11:19  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.]

 

"And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation." There was room for improvement. Fathers stubborn in their own way, and rebellious against God's way, are sorry examples for their children; and it is earnestly desired that better instruction may bring forth a better race. It is common in some regions for men to count their family custom as the very best rule; but disobedience is not to be excused because it is hereditary. The leprosy was none the less loathsome because it had been long in the family. If our fathers were rebellious we must be better than they were, or else we shall perish as they did. "A generation that set not their heart aright." They had no decision for righteousness and truth. In them there was no preparedness, or willingness of heart, to entertain the Saviour; neither judgments, nor mercies could bind their affections to their God; they were fickle as the winds, and changeful as the waves. "And whose spirit was not stedfast with God." The tribes in the wilderness were constant only in their inconstancy; there was no depending upon them. It was, indeed, needful that their descendants should be warned, so that they might not blindly imitate them. How blessed would it be if each age improved upon its predecessor; but, alas! it is to be feared that decline is more general than progress, and too often the heirs of true saints are far more rebellious than even their fathers were in their unregeneracy. May the reading of this patriotic and divine song move many to labour after the elevation of themselves and their posterity. [C.H. SPURGEON]

 

So many children follow the example of their parents. Yet, the Holy Scripture is more than explicit in the singular, consummate, and unique role of the father. We know from experience the invaluable services rendered by [all] mothers, and how children love them. Still, the duty and service of [a] father, misunderstood by many men and women in our day, is critical. Thus, the Scripture says - "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers." [Proverbs 17:6.]

 

Here in one verse, we see the tender love and pride of a grandfather and the fundamental, vital role of a father. Perhaps, in our generation we may have underestimated or overlooked the influence of a father, but God - the Author of the Book of Books, does not. He clearly states fathers are extremely important to their children - both boys and girls, and therefore you need to consider this truth. Namely, the father has the greater responsibility in the home - that is - in the life of his children, especially to lead His family to Christ. However, this must be done by deeds and disposition as well as oral recitation of the Bible. The Word of God is made "void" when words and deeds disagree with a profession of faith in Christ.  A true Christian is one who lives it out in the mundane, trivialities of daily life, not in speeches, orders, or commands.

 

"And might not be as their fathers - Their ancestors, particularly in the wilderness, as they passed through it to the promised land. See Exo_32:7-9; Exo_33:3; Exo_34:9; Act_7:51-53. A stubborn and rebellious generation - Stiff-necked, ungovernable; inclined to revolt. Nothing was more remarkable in their early history than this. A generation that set not their heart aright - Margin, as in Hebrew, "prepared not their heart." That is, they took no pains to keep their heart aright, or to cherish right feelings toward God. They yielded to any sudden impulse of passion, even when it led them to revolt against God. This is as true of sinners now as it was of them, that they "take no pains" to have their hearts right with God. If they did, there would be no difficulty in doing it. It is not with them "an object of desire" to have their hearts right with God, and hence, nothing is more easy or natural than that they should rebel and go astray. And whose spirit was not stedfast with God - That is, they themselves did not maintain a firm trust in God. They yielded readily to every impulse, and every passion, even when it tended to draw them away wholly from him. There was no such "strength" of attachment to him as would lead them to resist temptation, and they easily fell into the sin of idolatry." [ALBERT BARNES]

 

Take a look again at the words of Elias Boudinot in a letter he wrote to his daughter. His [advice] is sound, and would serve as a model or template for all fathers to speak or write to their children. What is interesting, is how his advice lines up with Psalm 78, the Psalm under consideration today for you. What makes his words have such an impact is they were not planned by me. It is an "undesigned coincidence" as far as I am concerned, but not as far as God is concerned. It is evident the LORD, who still guides us by His Spirit placed Boudinot's statement in my hands just for today. Therefore, give his words serious consideration - you fathers [and mothers] as well.

 

A letter to his daughter: "You have been instructed from your childhood in the knowledge of your lost state by nature - the absolute necessity of a change of heart and an entire renovation of soul to the image of Jesus Christ - of salvation through His meritorious righteousness only - and the indispensable necessity of personal holiness without which no man shall see the Lord [Hebrews 12:14]. You are well acquainted that the most perfect and consummate doctrinal knowledge is of no avail without it operates on and sincerely affects the heart, changes the practice, and totally influences the will - and that without the almighty power of the Spirit of God enlightening your mind, subduing your will, and continually drawing you to Himself, you can do nothing. . . . And may the God of your parents (for many generations past) seal instruction to your soul and lead you to Himself through the blood of His too greatly despised Son, Who notwithstanding, is still reclaiming the world to God through that blood, not imputing to them their sins. To Him be glory forever!"