A Study of Psalm 78-4-7
Preface
One of King David’s chief musicians named, Asaph powerfully, pens a very much-needed reminder for the people of God today. His writing communicates the urgent importance of passing on the testimony of our faith to the next generation.
The essence of this blog post is to discover the many timeless spiritual transformational messages within the text, and the practical application of these principles into the lives of the souls of His people.
The Ways of God’s Revealed Faithfulness
Psalm 78:4-7
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they, in turn, would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but keep His commands.
The narrative of the preceding verse is a historic recount of the Nation of Israel’s unfaithfulness toward God and their covenanted responsibilities. Psalm 44:1 is a key cross-reference of the nation’s lamentation of God’s prior care for them.
O God, we have heard with our ears, our Father, have told us, the work that Thou did in their days, in the days of Old. Psalm 44:1
The clarity of Psalm 78:4-7 is evident, needing very little biblical analysis or interpretation. Thus, we now will note some of the major spiritual messages within these verses.
- Our Creator has a divine plan and purpose for every generation, which requires His people to share His love and truth with others.
- God’s works and supernatural provisions are worthy of high praise. His people should at all times reflect and remember them throughout their lives while thanking Him for all of His blessings.
- Our God’s powerful Living Word is both eternal and spiritually transformative in our lives. His people should not just become Biblically literate, but they are commanded to become doers of the Word. This is the most excellent way to express one’s love for God and show gratitude in honor of Him.
- In our human fragility, we will fail in our inability to remain faithful and trustworthy. God throughout all of the generations, has always remained faithful and trustworthy for all eternality.
Some Practical Applications for Your Consideration
As we have viewed some of how our loving God is faithful toward us His people, we now will briefly disclose our daily spiritual responses if not disciplines toward enhancing our covenant relationship with God.
Like anything worthwhile and meaningful in our human experience, to have mastery in any endeavor, discipline, and perseverance are required daily. This truth is even greater as it pertains to the spiritual formation, integrity, and maturing of the people of God.
Our first consideration is for God’s people to purpose within your heart to daily experience while reflecting on the ways that God has maintained His faithfulness and love in your life. This practice can be accomplished moment by moment or during appointed times. Such intimacy is our willingness to thank Him for His grace, mercy, and daily provisions.
Next, with all of the advancements in technology and communication, we should make an effort to “testify” and proclaim to others, about all of His personal and corporate goodness that we as His people are benefactors of. This is done via blogging, singing, music, discussion groups, podcasts, verbal communication, artwork, random acts of kindness, and living one’s life with moral integrity.
Third, our ability to live our lives with moral integrity in a very broken culture is possible through our learning over time, to have personal mastery of the following spiritual disciplines.
- Prayer- Fasting- Meditation- Biblical Study- and Literacy- These are inner disciplines.
- Simplicity- Solitude -Humility -Service- These are outer disciplines.
- Confession- Worship- Guidance- Celebration- These are corporate disciplines. [These spiritual disciplines are gleaned from Richard Foster’s book, Celebration of Discipline]
Last, our spiritual calling and walk are in “space and time” only possible by active faith. Every step along the journey of spiritual regeneration is incumbent on us placing all of our faith in God’s divine design for His people. This reality has a “present” and “future” aspect which is established by God’s perpetual and eternal covenants of His divine design and sovereignty over His creation and people.
The Presence and Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The inner ministry of the Holy Spirit, [post-resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth] assures all of the master’s faithful followers to remain faithful to their spiritual calling by providing them with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to be God’s presence in the world.
The Holy Spirit is given to guide God’s servants in their daily lives and help them to remain faithful to God’s will.
Finally, as God is faithful and trustworthy in keeping His promises, the same is true with Christ, for He has promised all of His faithful followers that He will be with them until the end of this age, and for all eternity when He returns to reestablish a new heaven and earth. Matthew 28:19-20
Anthem of Psalm 78:4-7
“Who are we, in hiding the glorious deeds of our Heavenly Father from our children?“
Have not He revealed to us all His power and His wonders for all generations?
In His sovereignty, He selected and established His law with the election of Israel, and she and all other nations are commanded to teach so that each preceding generation may know Him and believe and live faithfully according to His Word.
Oh, the way of God proves that He alone is faithful!
Our only hope is in our God, for we shall not forget His works, His holy commandment plus the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in His ways.
In all ways possible, we will tell them, our children, born or unborn, and even our strangers of His agape, faithfulness to us His people, for He has not abandoned us nor forsaken us in the presence of evil. Where else is there for us to have this life and this peace?
For now, and forevermore, His people will praise Him for His grace, and His mercy. For our worship of Him is established because of our unspeakable joy and our renewed life as we glorify His name forever.
Amen
Grace and Peace
Brother Alonzo