Day 685: What even children should hear – Psalm 78 vs 1 -22

1-3 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. 4 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. 5-8 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.

9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. 10-12 They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. 13-15 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 16 He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

17-20 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” 21-22 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God. Psalm 78:1-22 English Standard Version

As this is the second longest Psalm in the Bible I plan to do it over four weeks. It recounts Israel's journey from when they left Egypt (and the many times they failed to trust in God) to when He brought David to the throne – a King with a shepherd's heart just like His own. It's purpose is set out in vs 5-8. What do those verses tell us of why God wanted the Israelites to teach their children His laws of old, and why the Psalmist reminded them of many failures?

The greatest advice we can ever give our children is to tell them to set their hope in God, and never to doubt His ability to save! Like the Psalm writer, we could tell our children of times we foolishly failed to trust God – and the sad results that followed. Verse 9 mentions an incident when Ephraim turned back in battle because they forgot God was able to give them victory, even though they were well equipped with weapons! It could refer to the tribe of Ephraim, or to Israel as a whole. He says (in vs 10-12) they forgot the miraculous things God had done when He saved Israel out of Egypt. He lists some of those in vs 13-16. Imagine seeing water flow out of a desert rock and growing into a river! (vs 16) Yet how had those who'd seen God provide a river in the desert responded to God later? (vs 17-20)

After seeing the miracles God did in Egypt they soon grumbled that they would die of hunger in the desert. They doubted that God could provide food in such a barren place. How quickly the memory of God's past works faded. What was God's response to such unbelief? (vs 21-22).

To doubt God's willingness and ability to save all who put their hope in Him is something that grieves His heart deeply. That's why the writer wrote this Psalm. He wanted even children to hear that God is worthy of our hope and trust. Mark 10:13 says: “People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that He might touch them - but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said: 'Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'” Young people need to hear of God, of His power and faithfulness, that they may trust in Him too.