Training the Next Generation in the Lord
Psalm 78:1-7: "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."
Psalm 78 was written to be a song. It was a song that recounted the Lord's presence and work all throughout Israel's history: events from the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, all the way to King David. In singing this song, the author and the Jewish people could not forget the Lord and would continually be called back to obedience and devotion to the Lord. Throughout Israel's history, God had been faithful to his people, despite their disobedience and lack of faithfulness. To prevent future disobedience of God's people, the Psalmist called the people to sing, to remember, and then to tell future generations so that they would not fall away from the Lord and fall into that same disobedience.
The Psalmist urged the people to teach their children and to teach the next generation, to keep telling the story of God's work among the nation of Israel. They cannot assume that children just learn from watching; instead, they were called to teach, to remind, to admonish the next generations in the ways of the Lord. Moses spoke similar words in Deuteronomy: "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deuteronomy 11:18-19). Moses exhorted parents to bring the Lord into every aspect of their families' lives.
This is our calling today whether we have children or not. We are to put reminders in our house, our cars, our places of work, in all the places we spend our time. These reminders can be as simple as a cross or a Bible verse hung on a bulletin board. We need reminders of God's presence, his Word, and his faithfulness. We also need to train up the next generation, to teach them God's Word, to disciple them, to tell them the stories of God's faithfulness in our lives. Children learn by what they hear and what they see. May we model lives of faithfulness while we speak of God's truth, love, and goodness. Our children desperately need to know the Christian faith; thus, we must teach all whom God brings to us!
Reflection:
Who are you teaching God's Word to right now? If you are a parent, are you continually reminding your children of God's Word, work, and presence in the life of your family? What more do you think God would have you to do to train the next generation in the faith?
Psalm 78 was written to be a song. It was a song that recounted the Lord's presence and work all throughout Israel's history: events from the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, all the way to King David. In singing this song, the author and the Jewish people could not forget the Lord and would continually be called back to obedience and devotion to the Lord. Throughout Israel's history, God had been faithful to his people, despite their disobedience and lack of faithfulness. To prevent future disobedience of God's people, the Psalmist called the people to sing, to remember, and then to tell future generations so that they would not fall away from the Lord and fall into that same disobedience.
The Psalmist urged the people to teach their children and to teach the next generation, to keep telling the story of God's work among the nation of Israel. They cannot assume that children just learn from watching; instead, they were called to teach, to remind, to admonish the next generations in the ways of the Lord. Moses spoke similar words in Deuteronomy: "You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" (Deuteronomy 11:18-19). Moses exhorted parents to bring the Lord into every aspect of their families' lives.
This is our calling today whether we have children or not. We are to put reminders in our house, our cars, our places of work, in all the places we spend our time. These reminders can be as simple as a cross or a Bible verse hung on a bulletin board. We need reminders of God's presence, his Word, and his faithfulness. We also need to train up the next generation, to teach them God's Word, to disciple them, to tell them the stories of God's faithfulness in our lives. Children learn by what they hear and what they see. May we model lives of faithfulness while we speak of God's truth, love, and goodness. Our children desperately need to know the Christian faith; thus, we must teach all whom God brings to us!
Reflection:
Who are you teaching God's Word to right now? If you are a parent, are you continually reminding your children of God's Word, work, and presence in the life of your family? What more do you think God would have you to do to train the next generation in the faith?
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