October 5

Psalm 78 A trite but true saying applies to this Psalm, “The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history,” (attributed to Friedrich Hegel.) Asaph says that he will open his mouth in a parable and utter a dark saying of old, and then he seems to recount the history of Israel. So what is the parable? For decades now the Biblical literacy of our young people entering Bible colleges has been dropping. Many of them are ignorant of most of the Bible Stories and can hardly trace the history of the nation of Israel. Why is that? Certainly we can place some of the blame at the feet of the organized church, and certainly we can place some of the blame at the feet of fathers who fail to do even simple things such as read the Scripture to their children. There is a necessity of one generation proclaiming the deeds of God’s glory to another generation. How can that be done aside from consistently reading and praying God’s Word with our children in a family situation. In some sense the church has failed. Perhaps we have failed because we usurped the parental responsibility by assigning the task to be performed solely by ministries of individuals in the church, rather than coming alongside parents in challenging and equipping them to proclaim God’s glory to their children, we have farmed it out to the ‘gifted’ people. It begins with reading Scripture with our children, then praying back opportunity for the child to see that Scriptural principle happen in our lives, then as that prayer is answered we point out the answer to our children and grandchildren. God’s glory is then revealed in our lives. It becomes caught more than taught. Whe would we want to do this? So that: They may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. In so doing we can break the cycle and actually learn from history. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today! --Pastor john