Summer in the Psalms
Read: Psalm 78:1-8
1 Lord, My people, hear my instruction;
listen to the words from my mouth.
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past—
3 things we have heard and known
and that our ancestors have passed down to us.
4 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.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
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 ancestors,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Transformation Questions:
- Pastor Zach shared about how his friend got in a wreck and the hospital wouldn’t share with him how his friend was ok. It was frustrating that they “hid” that good news. Why do you think we “hide” the good news of the gospel from others?
- Why does Asaph go into such detail in sharing the history of Israel in this psalm?
- An examination of Israel’s history shows that Israel repeatedly abandoned the LORD and he was repeatedly gracious to them. In your opinion, which is more surprising: the lack of faith of Israel or the graciousness of God? Why?
- What is the testimony and the law that God has given us? Why is it significant that the testimony comes first?
- How is God’s law like a compass to us in the 21st century? Where would we be without that compass?
- God doesn’t just tell us what to do. He tells us what he has done! How does the reality of his work in our lives spur on our obedience?
- God commands us to share the truth of the gospel with the next generation. What are some intentional ways we can do that?
- Pastor Zach shared this quote by Martin Luther this morning: “We are plagued by the miserable fact that no one perceives or heeds this truth. All live on as though God gave us children for our pleasure or amusement, as though He gave us servants to use, like a cow or an ass, for work only, or as though we were to live with our subordinates only to gratify our whims, ignoring them, as though what they learn or how they live were no concern of ours. No one wants to see that education or training is the command of the Supreme Majesty, who will strictly call us to account and punish us for its neglect, or that the need to be seriously concerned about young people is so great.” Do you think that quote is still applicable to the church today? Why or why not?
- Why do you think our church is starting a ministry residency program? What else can our church do to help equip the next generation of ministry leaders?
- How can we support new church plants both individually and as a church?