Psalms 78:1-8

Psalms 78:1

1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

Psalms 78:2

2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,

Psalms 78:3

3things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.

Psalms 78:4

4We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation

Psalms 78:4

the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

Psalms 78:5

5He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,

Psalms 78:6

6that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,

Psalms 78:7

7so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;

Psalms 78:8

8and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,

Psalms 78:8

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

1. We must learn from the past
2a. We must instruct our children; the “what”
2b. We must instruct our children; the “why”

1. We must learn from the past

Psalms 78:1

1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

Psalms 78:2

2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,

Psalms 78:3

3things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.

Psalms 78:34

34When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.

Psalms 78:35

35They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.

Psalms 78:36

36But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.

Psalms 78:37

37Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.

Psalms 78:38

38Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;

Psalms 78:38

he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.

2a. We must instruct our children; the “what”

Psalms 78:4

4We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation

Psalms 78:4

the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

Psalms 78:5

5He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,

Psalms 78:6

6that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,

2b. We must instruct our children; the “why”

Psalms 78:7

7so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;

Psalms 78:8

8and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,

Psalms 78:8

a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.