April 27 - Psalm 78:1-8

O my people ... open your ears to what I am saying ...

for ... I will teach you hidden lessons from our past

stories we have heard and know,

stories our ancestors handed down to us.

We will not hide these truths from our children

but will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord ... 

so the next generation might know them ...

So each generation can set its hope anew on God ...

Then they will not be like their ancestors --

stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,

refusing to give their hearts to God.

Psalm 78:1-8

 

Do you know the two most famous cliches about history?

1. The victors get to write the history.
2. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Psalm 78 tells the history of God's people, Israel.

 

Obviously, God is the victor. But why do I say that? Because history is written from the perspective of our Lord's long-suffering victory and grace: "32 Despite [God's] wonders ... the people kept sinning ... 40 they rebelled against him ...  41 they tested God's patience ... 19 they even spoke against God himself." 

 

Yes, God is the victor. But the Psalmist wants us to be victorious too! Therefore, he offers us two simple paths to strength:

1. This whole Psalm is a list of mistakes that we are advised to never repeat -- i.e. Repeatable history doesn't have to doom our future.
2. We will be victors who get to write the next pages of history if and when we teach our children the truths about God. Therefore, as the Psalmist says, "4 [Do] not hide these truths from our children ... 7 so that each generation can set its hope anew on God."

In Christ's Love,

a guy who intentionally spends a lot time

with the next generation

(... because that's how to change the future)