Selah Wk. 4 -Psalms of Remembrance (Psalm 78)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back to Selah. This is the final week in our series on the Psalms.

The Psalms are a playlist of 150 songs with every emotion: joy, sorrow, struggle, and victory.

The word Selah means to pause and reflect, and also to exalt and lift up.

Quick Recap:

Lament Psalms show us we can cry out to God in our pain.

Praise Psalms remind us to lift Him up because He is worthy.

Thanksgiving Psalms call us to live with gratitude every day.

Today we end with a Psalm of Remembrance, looking at Psalm 78.

Illustration / Interaction:

Raise your hand if you’ve ever forgotten something important.

(Tell a funny story about forgetting: birthday, deodorant, project).

Forgetting matters. Remembering matters even more.

Psalm 78 is a call to remember God’s faithfulness and to pass it on.

TENSION

We’ve all asked: “Why do I have to learn this?” in school.

Some knowledge feels useless, but some truths are essential.

Example: Plants. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide and give back oxygen.

If no one passed this truth down, a generation could destroy plants without realizing it.

That would lead to disaster.

Point: Some truths must be taught and remembered.

Faith works the same way. If we stop telling the stories of God, people forget Him.

TRUTH

Many Psalms were written by David, but Psalm 78 was written by Asaph.

Asaph was a Levite, a worship leader, and a teacher.

The heading says “A Maskil,” which means a wise teaching.

Psalm 78:1–4 CSB

“My people, hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth. I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past—things we have heard and known and that our ancestors have passed down to us. 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.”

Asaph calls the people to listen carefully.

He reminds them of God’s great works in the past.

He says: do not hide these things. Pass them to the next generation.

Psalm 78:5–8 CSB

“He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands. Then 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.”

God gave Israel His law through Moses.

His commands were not to steal joy, but to bring life.

His law marked them as His chosen people.

His instructions were to be passed from generation to generation.

Warning: Don’t be like the ancestors who forgot God and rebelled.

They forgot, and they suffered.

Asaph’s message: Remember and pass it on.

Key takeaway: We share God’s faithfulness so future generations know and follow Him.

CROSS REFERENCE

Deuteronomy 8:11–14, 17–18 CSB

“Be careful that you don’t forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commands, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today. When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. … You may say to yourself, ‘My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,’ but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm his covenant he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

God warns His people: Do not forget Me when life is good.

Houses, food, wealth—it all comes from Him.

The danger is pride. We start to think: “I did this myself.”

The truth: Every blessing comes from God.

The solution: Remember Him. Pass it on.

APPLICATION

So what do we do with this?

First, remind yourself.

Draw a timeline of your life this week.

Mark 4–5 moments where you saw God show up.

Times when He answered prayer, comforted you, provided for you.

These reminders build faith for today and tomorrow.

Second, pass it on.

Think of one person you can tell this week.

A sibling, a teammate, a friend.

Share a story of God’s faithfulness in your life.

Tie it to the hope you have in Jesus.

Your story can point them to the Gospel.

If you’re struggling right now, don’t keep it hidden. Talk to a leader, parent, or trusted adult.

God loves you. He proved it by sending Jesus.

GOSPEL

The word “gospel” means “good news.”

God created us to know His love.

Humanity sinned and broke that relationship.

God came down in Jesus to fix what we broke.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead.

Through Him, we can be forgiven and restored.

Jesus brings what He calls “life to the full” (John 10:10).

We are not alone. We are not stuck.

That’s news worth remembering and sharing.

CONCLUSION

Teaching others helps us remember.

Share God’s truth. Tell Bible stories. Serve in ministry.

The more you teach, the more your faith grows.

1 Peter 3:15 CSB

“But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect.”

Be ready to share your hope in Jesus.

Do it with gentleness. Do it with respect.

Just like the Israelites, we are called to live differently.

A life of remembrance points people to God.

Final Challenge:

What’s one step you will take this week to pass on what you know about God?

Remember God’s faithfulness. Share it with others. Pass it on.