Next Generation Impact

Our mandate to teach the next generation - Psalm 78:1-8

We must know our spiritual history - Psalm 78:1-3

Psalm 78:1–3 NIV

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.

Why do I believe in God?

How has God revealed Himself to me?

What difference has God made in my life?

The next generation must know God's power - Psalm 78:4

Psalm 78:4 NIV

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.

The next generation must know God's law - Psalm 78:5-6

Psalm 78:5–6 NIV

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.

Parents were instructed to teach their children - Deuteronomy 6:1-7

Deuteronomy 6:1–7 NIV

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The next generation can be more faithful than previous generations - Psalm 78:7-8

Psalm 78:7–8 NIV

Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

Lessons for the Next Generation

Don't disobey God - Psalm 78:9-11

Psalm 78:9–11 NIV

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.

If the next generation learns only this, the will avoid a majority of potential mistakes

Unfulfilled expectations can lead to complaining - Psalm 78:12-20

David reminds us of the incredible things God had done for His people - Psalm 78:12-16

Psalm 78:12–16 NIV

He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.

Despite what God had done, they were not satisfied and rebelled against God - Psalm 78:17-20

Psalm 78:17–20 NIV

But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?”

God's anger is to be respected - Psalm 78:21-33

God’s anger is against those who do not trust in Him - Psalm 78:21-22

Psalm 78:21–22 NIV

When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.

The Psalmist recounts how God has met their needs and desires - Psalm 78:23-29

Psalm 78:23–29 NIV

Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. He let loose the east wind from the heavens and by his power made the south wind blow. He rained meat down on them like dust, birds like sand on the seashore. He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. They ate till they were gorged— he had given them what they craved.

God’s anger cut them down for their disobedience - Psalm 78:30-33

Psalm 78:30–33 NIV

But before they turned from what they craved, even while the food was still in their mouths, God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.

God forgives repeatedly - Psalm 78:34-39

The Israelites made insincere repentance for their sins - Psalm 78:34-37

Psalm 78:34–37 NIV

Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.

God was merciful even in their insincerity - Psalm 78:38-39

Psalm 78:38–39 NIV

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

Idolatry is the ultimate destination of sin and leads to God's judgment

Rebellion ultimately leads to Idolatry - Psalm 78:56-58

Psalm 78:56–58 NIV

But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow. They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.

Idolatry always leads to God’s judgment - Psalm 78:59-64

Psalm 78:59–64 NIV

When God heard them, he was furious; he rejected Israel completely. He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he had set up among humans. He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy. He gave his people over to the sword; he was furious with his inheritance. Fire consumed their young men, and their young women had no wedding songs; their priests were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.

God rewards us for our faithfulness- Psalm 78:70-72

Psalm 78:70–72 NIV

He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.