June 16, 2025

Psalm 78:1-8  (HCSB)
Lessons from Israel’s Past
A Maskil of Asaph.
1 My people, hear my instruction;
listen to what I say.
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past—
3 things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.
4 We must not hide them from their children,
but must tell a future generation the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works
He has performed.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works, but keep His commands.
8 Then they would not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Charles and Kristen Pevahouse
This chapter in Psalms has to do with God’s relationship with the Israelites and telling the future generations about what God has done and His faithfulness. It is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness despite human forgetfulness and rebellion. Growing up I remember there being many times sitting at a table with my grandmother. After the meal was over we would just be sitting there together for a few minutes.  I could feel it in the air and, after a while I could pretty much predict what was about to happen, and what I was going to hear for the next 5 minutes to 4 hours (depending on her mood). She would tell me stories of challenges she faced, how difficult life was, mistakes she made, mistakes other people made, and the lessons she learned from all of these things.  I can imagine the frustration she must have felt as she was often looking at the blank stare of an uninterested teenager that probably knew everything already (ha!).  She has been gone for a few years now, but looking back I know that some of my core values and beliefs were instilled in me because of how she shared her own stories and testimonies of God’s faithfulness throughout her life.  Unfortunately, I still have no idea how to grow or can tomatoes, but I do know that God provides, He is faithful, and He is always good.