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Passing the Faith: Psalm 78’s Call to Teach
July 27, 2026 · 14 min
A reminder to parents to tell their children of God’s mighty works so each generation sets its hope in Him and keeps His commandments.
Series Stand on the Word - Video On Demand July 27, 2026 · 14 min · Stand on the Word - Video On Demand
A reminder to parents to tell their children of God’s mighty works so each generation sets its hope in Him and keeps His commandments. ...more Show the full description Show less A reminder to parents to tell their children of God’s mighty works so each generation sets its hope in Him and keeps His commandments.
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The Mandate to Teach Our Children 0:09 Good morning, and welcome to the oasis of praise as we continue our journey through the book of Psalms. Today we're at Psalm 78 verse 4. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generations0:21 to come the praises of the lord and his strength and his wonderful works that he has done. Now this Psalm is classified as both historical Psalm and a Psalm of wisdom as it is very rich in0:33 truth. And there's an extremely important message here in Psalm 78. We've seen this before, so it should not come as a surprise. And that is the recounting of the nation's history, which is intricately0:45 tied to God. The presence and the power of God in the establishment of their nation was undeniable. But in this passage, we see what happens. We see what happens if 10:57 generation does not pass on to their children what god has done, who he is, what he has done for them, and what he expects from them. And and by the way, this not only applies here to the children of1:09 Israel and the history of their nation, but a nation's understanding of its history matters. Because more than their actual history, what they believe that history to have been1:21 will define the direction that they take and who they will be. That's why there's such a battle for the history and the rewriting of history in our nation. The impact of failing1:32 to teach from generation to generation who God was, what he had done for them, and what he requires of them is the cause, I think, that is at the crisis,1:45 is the crisis that is at the heart of this psalm. And I would argue it's at the crisis the the heart of the crisis of our nation as well. Now this, by the way, this truth applies to not only nations1:57 but to families. And I know for a fact, as I've heard from some on this journey, that they've been prompted as a result of this journey to record their family's history, what god has done2:09 in and through them and for them. And it's, it's it's it's so that future generations can know about the family and and their family, their particular family, what god has done. We all have a2:21 story to tell, and I tell you, that's something worth considering. Alright. Let's begin verse 1. Give ear, oh my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my2:33 mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. Now these truths were not hidden from them. They were just2:45 neglected. Verse 4, we will not hide them from their children, telling to the generations to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wonderful words works that he has done. For he2:56 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.3:08 That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of3:20 God, but keep his commandments, and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set it's hard to write and whose spirit was not faithful to God. This is so3:32 important. The key to ensuring the truth is known, not hiding it from our children and telling the future generations. It's it the process is very simple. Alright? 13:44 generation, parents, teaching the next so that the next generation, their children, will arise and declare to their children that they would set their hope in God and obey3:55 him. If you don't know God, you don't know what he has done, you're not going to obey him. So it's so important that that 1 generation pass on who4:07 god is, what he has done for them, and what he expects from them. We we don't believe you know, I hear this all the time from well, not all the time, but it is a common, thing that we hear.4:19 People say, well, you know, I'm not gonna impose religion on my children. And, of course, we we have supposedly this, neutral zone in our schools where we we children are too impressionable,4:31 and so we don't wanna expose them or pressure them with religion. We're gonna let them make their own choices. That is a lie from the pit of hell. They're going to be they're they're going to be directed somehow,4:43 some way, and god knows this. And this is why he says, teach your children. Teach them who I am. Teach them what I have done, and teach them what I expect of them.4:55 Alright. And and by the way, I mentioned the schools, but this is not the responsibility of the public schools nor is it the responsibility of the Sunday school teacher or even the pastor. This is theEphraim's Failure and Parental Duty 5:06 god given responsibility of the parents. The school and the church should be in concert with the parents, also teaching the truth of God, but the primary responsibility5:19 is with the parents and the grandparents. Alright. Verse 9. The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God. They refused to walk in his5:30 law and forgot his works and his wonders that he had shown them. Now there are different interpretations of this reference here to Ephraim. Now recall that Ephraim was the firstborn of Joseph, and to Joseph5:42 was given the privilege of the firstborn. Now the supremacy is seen in their placement around the tabernacle as they camped and marched through the wilderness. And then when the confederation of tribes5:54 settled in the promised land, as we've looked at, the tabernacle was established in Shiloh with the tribe of Ephraim. But after the defeat by the Philistines and the capture of the6:06 ark and the death of Eli and his sons, the tabernacle and the ark, were not set back up for about 40 years. Now we we read of this beginning in verse 60. We'll see in just a moment.6:18 We read that that the central location of worship moved from the tribe of Ephraim at Shiloh to Judah at Jerusalem. Whether this is an actual reference to them6:30 turning back in the battle with the Philistines and being defeated is is not clear. However, it does make clear, and and don't miss this. Okay? Spiritual6:42 compromise leads to moral cowardice, which leads to the inability to stand when the threats arise. You see, nations aligned with God are not conquered until their convictions6:53 have 1st been surrendered. Then the psalmist goes through their history in the wilderness, which is like kind of a roller coaster ride up and down. Verse 17, but they send even more against him by rebellingWilderness Unbelief and Its Consequences 7:05 against the most high in the wilderness. Now what was their sin here at the beginning? Verse 18. And they tested God in their hearts, started in the heart, by asking for the7:17 food of their fancy. They were not satisfied. They were not grateful. This is why it's so important to and we we see this throughout Psalms to to nurture an attitude of gratitude.7:29 Thanking God even when there are things that we would like that we don't have, we should thank god for what we do have. They were not satisfied. They lusted or they desired for more. The bread of7:41 heaven was not enough. They wanted meat. But here's the bottom line in verse 22. Because they did not believe in god and did not trust in his salvation. Look at verse7:53 32. In spite of of this, they still sinned and did not believe in his wondrous works. Their sin was not believing or trusting in god despite all that he had done for them. Now8:06 their punishment. Verse 33. Therefore, alright, because they didn't believe, because they didn't trust God, therefore, their days he consumed in futility and their years8:18 in fear. Now this was in the wilderness, a lifetime of futility, going in circles and living in fear. How tragic. But you know what? There are many people8:30 living a life of fear and futility today, many Christians, because they refuse to believe God and take him at his word. This is the opposite.8:42 Alright? This is the opposite of what the life of a follower of Jesus Christ should look at. 1st, you should not be living in fear. 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse8:54 7, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Romans 8 28, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to9:06 his purpose. What purpose? Well, Jesus tells us in John chapter 12 verse 27, now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this9:18 purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven saying, I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. Yes. Jesus came to bring9:30 salvation to mankind and through his obedience bring glory to the father. You and I have a purpose. We have a purpose, and that is to bring glory to God.9:42 1st Corinthians chapter 6 verse 20, for you were bought at a price, that was the death of Jesus Christ, therefore, glorify god in your body and in your spirit, which are god's. You see, your9:54 life is not to be spent in futility and unbelief walking in circles. Alright. Let's go down to verse 41. Yes. Again and again, they tempted God and limited the holy 1 of Israel. Now look at10:06 1 of the consequences of not trusting God. It limits when we don't trust God, it limits what God can do. But look at and look at what Jesus said to his own people.Idolatry, Judgment, and David's Legacy 10:20 In in in, in in Matthew chapter 13, it says, this is Jesus speaking to his own people in Nazareth. Now he did not do many10:32 mighty works there because of their unbelief. It it it it doesn't limit what god can do, but what he will do as a result of our unbelief.10:44 Alright. Verse 56. Yet they tested and provoked the most high God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers.10:56 They they turned aside like a deceitful bow, for they provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousy with their carved images. When god heard this, he was furious11:08 and greatly abhorred Israel so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent that he had placed among men. Now this is a passage that some scholars believe is a continuation of what we read over in verses11:20 9 through 11. Then it goes on to transition from Shiloh to Jerusalem, from the tribe of Ephraim to the tribe of Judah. Then the chapter closes with this, I think, beautiful description of David who is11:32 from the tribe of Judah. Verse 72. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. A description of David's leadership11:44 of the nation, but ultimately, a description of Jesus, the Messiah, who will reign forever and ever on the throne of David. Father, thank you11:56 for your word this morning and a reminder of of our need to to teach our children and our grandchildren, Lord, who you are, what you've done in the12:07 transformation of our lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and what you require of us to to love you, to trust you, to obey you. As Jesus said, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments.12:20 Father, I pray that we would pass this from generation to generation, that we would not neglect to tell our children who you are and what you have done. And so father, I pray that you would just12:31 encourage and strengthen us on this journey. And Lord, may we always be mindful of your grace. That, Lord, where we have stumbled, where we have fallen, Lord, Proverbs says a righteous12:43 man stumbles 7 times falls 7 times, but he gets back up. And it's by your grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit that we're able to do that. Lord, may we never wave a white flag of surrender to the enemy,12:56 but, Lord, may we stand firmly with hearts of conviction, of faith, and obedience towards you. For we pray and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this13:07 morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.13:14 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan, available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:26 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 The Mandate to Teach Our Children5:00 Ephraim's Failure and Parental Duty7:00 Wilderness Unbelief and Its Consequences10:10 Idolatry, Judgment, and David's Legacy
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