Loving & Leading the Next Generation

Asaph, one of the Levites during King David’s reign, writes Psalm 78 to give wisdom for the people of God to reflect on. What is this wisdom? The necessity of teaching the next generation about God!

     He calls these “things we have heard and known that our ancestors have passed down to us.” (v. 3) This is history passed down from generation to generation for us to learn from!

     How will the next generation learn to live for the God that we live for? We make the humble decision to be honest about our failures before them, and make the obedient decision to pass on and exemplify faithfulness to what’s been passed down to us.  

     Asaph is decisive about this and says, “We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.” (v. 4) 

     Why should we be teaching the next generation about God, His Word, and lessons from the past? 

     We should so that future generations “might put their confidence in God”, “not forget God’s works”, & “keep his commands.” (v. 7) We desire for the next generation to be a Godly generation that knows and loves Jesus! 

     We should be burdened as Asaph was that they “would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” (v. 8) 

     Present faithfulness to God in the lives of the next generation is empowered by learning from the past mistakes and faithfulness of the previous generations. Not just us, but those who have gone before us! How can we expect them to do it later if we don’t teach them to do it now? 

    Let’s continue to serve them faithfully. Love you church family! 

Pastor John