Lest We Forget - Teaching the Generations to Come

Temple Baptist Church - 3-23-2025

Psalm 78:1-11

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 78 is a very special “wake-up” Psalm.  It examines the failures of earlier generations and God's judgment and love from Moses to David. Many of God’s children are “asleep at the wheel” today, unaware of what is happening around them.  Psalm 78 is an amazing portion of Scripture!  After all that God did for Israel, there arose another generation who “knew not the Lord.”

 

1.  The Lord Delivered The People From Egypt.

 

2.  The Lord Opened The Red Sea.

 

3.  The Lord Fed The Multitude In The Wilderness.

 

4.  The Lord Delivered Canaan Into Their Hands.

 

5. Yet?

 

Judges 2:8-10  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.  (9)  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.  (10)  And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

 

B. The older generation failed to teach the younger generation about the Lord. 

 

C.  Three generations are mentioned in the text: 

 

1.  Verse 3 – Our Fathers had their successes and failures from which we can observe and learn.  Don’t try to reinvent the wheel; learn from their wisdom.  Don’t fall into the same pitfalls that they fell into.  Mark and avoid them.  If it worked for them, it will work for you.  If it failed for them, it will fail for you.

 

Proverbs 22:28  Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

 

2.  Verse 3 – Us.  It is now our responsibility to carry the Word of God.  Don’t expect the liberal or the lost to do it for us. 

 

Jeremiah 6:16  Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

3.  Verse 6 – Generation to come.  These are the underaged who are not yet responsible.  In war, the beginning of a warrior’s life began at 20 years old.  There was no upper age limit where old men were excused from battle.

 

D.  In verses 1-5:

 

1.  Verse 1.  We find the responsibility of the fathers and mothers.  Dad and Mom, listen up!  “Give ear … to my law … incline your ears.”  This means to pay close attention to what God says.  History tends to repeat itself in the next generations.

 

2.  Verse 2.  Parables and dark sayings.  Like a proverb, the world will not understand a parable, a generally true maxim.  

 

a)  Parables (earthly stories with heavenly meanings used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson) are dark sayings that are to be understood by enlightened people.  The world will not only fail to hear, but they will also not understand. 

 

b)  Proverbs are called “dark sayings.” 

 

Proverbs 1:1-7  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  (2)  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;  (3)  To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  (4)  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.  (5)  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:  (6)  To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  (7)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

c)  Parables and Dark Sayings (spiritual mysteries) are given to and accepted by the biblically enlightened.

 

3.  Verse 3.  We were biblically taught. 

 

a)  We have heard and known what our fathers have told us.  Earthly fathers should teach their children heavenly principles by which to live and prosper.

 

 

b)   Learning to err on the side of safety.  When unsure or in doubt, don’t!  Give God the benefit of the doubt.  If you are not sure if something is right or wrong, abstain!  It's as simple as that.

 

4.  Verse 4.  The danger of “hiding from our children” by not setting the right example or not teaching them God’s Word.  So many homes attend church irregularly and have little or no spiritual emphasis apparent within the home.   “Praises, strength, wonderful works.”

 

5.  Verse 5.  Establish a testimony of obedience to the law as a law teacher to our children.

 

E.  Verses 8-64.  In the following verses, we find the earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning:

 

1.  The Unfaithfulness of Israel.    From Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to the reign of King David. 

 

2.  The Faithfulness of God’s Judgements.  When Israel went into idolatry and sinfulness, God chastened those whom He loved. 

 

3.  The wonderful Love and Grace of God to deliver a repentant Israel.  God supplied Israel’s every need. 

 

F.  Verses 6-8.    The desired end result that God wants for our children.

 

1.  Verse 6.  That our children might know the Law of God, our Bible, we find every “jot and tittle” of it.  This is the reason so many religious organizations never encourage their people to read and study the Bible.  God help us to teach our children and grandchildren the Bible.

 

2.  Verse 6.  That our children might teach these same laws to their children.  Someone once said that true biblical Christianity is always just one generation away from perishing. 

 

3.  Verse 7.  That our children might be saved and set their hope in God!  There is no hope in this world as it continues in decline.  The hope of our children is the same as our hope, and His name is Jesus Christ!

 

4.  Verse 7.  That our children might live sold-out lives for the cause of Christ.  God give us Joshuas.  Young men and women who will not only live for Christ but will also step up and say, “Here am I; send me!”

 

5.  Verse 8.  That our children may learn to choose God's blessings, not God's cursings!

 

G.  Verse 8-11.  That they “might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.”

 

1. The consequences of disobedience were cowardice and defeat.

 

2. Ephraim, prepared for battle, went forth without God on their side. This likely refers to Israel’s defeat at Ai. God instructed Israel to return to the wilderness, but they refused and engaged in battle without Him.

 

3. Their actions resulted in cowardice and defeat. Like our fathers, our children cannot succeed in life without God! God will not assist us when we move forward and disobey His Word.