Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Psalm 78:1-8 ESV)
I pulled some old pictures out of my desk yesterday of a ministry trip I took to Jamaica some 40 years or so. In a number of the pictures I was standing with a number of children and interacting with them - which got me thinking about where these children were today. Did they have good lives? Did they follow God? Did I have some impact on them while I was there? What is the impact that I have on children even now and what more can I do for this upcoming generation?
Think about the children in your home or in your neighborhood. What and who are influencing them right now? Is it TV? Is it other kids? Is it school? Is it the parents or some other adult?
This passage encourages us to connect with this generation both the good and the bad that we ourselves have seen. He says, "I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from our children..."
Paul, in teaching the Corinthians tells them "You are my letter, your lives speak of what I have taught you." My dad and mom were letters to me and I'm a letter to the next generation. Our children and youth are a letters of what we have taught them.
According to Psalm 78 what is it that we need to communicate to our kids?
1- Tell of His mighty deeds. Look closely at Psalms 78:4-5.
“...we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Our kids and young people need to hear the Bible stories that talk about God’s faithfulness to His people. But they also need to hear our stories about how God has been faithful to us. I think it is a wonderful thing if we can tell our children stories about His faithfulness to our parents and their parents.
I believe children need to learn American history with an understanding of God’s faithfulness to the forefathers of this country.
Why do you think the ungodly oppose that so much? The spirit driving them knows the significance of kids whose worldview is shaped by a reality filled with God.
Here’s something else our kids need. They need to walk through life experiences with us and experience the faithfulness of God themselves. That... as you are praising God for your new home, for your job, for your safety - they are coming alongside you and expereriencing that themselves.
2. They also need to know the will of God.
Psalm 78:5 - “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children”
Life is to be lived in the boundaries of God’s commandments. Every child and young person should know the Ten Commandments as a foundation for good decisions in life.
When the world robs kids of biblical absolutes it robs them of their security and direction in life. Some principles are absolute because they come from an absolute God--One Who never changes Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
There is a promise in this passage of those who pour these principles into their children. It is found in vv. 7-9...
Psalm 78:7-9 ESV - So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
I am often surrounded by children and youth - whether it be at church or at our school or out in the public. It is not unusual for me to be walking at the mall and some child will run up to me and give me a big hug. Often, I will get down on my knees and look them straight in the eye and let them how much I love them. I so want to have influence with this next generation.
My mind is obsessesed in a good way about one word - legacy. What type of legacy am I going to leave for my own children and my grandchildren? What type of legacy am I leaving for the children and the youth of our church? Am I passing on the principles and foundational truths to the next generation in a way that will outlast me and my lifetime? We have an urgency and a responsibility to reach out and connect with children and young people of all ages. Their destinies and eternities are depending on it! If God has graced you with a level of influence to young people and children - I pray that you will see that as one of the highest callings and responsibilities a person can ever have. Ask God to show and help you on what you can do and the lives that you can touch. As a result - you will be greatly rewarded, if not in this life, but in heaven.
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