Most parents like to share with their children stories of their past. Usually our stories are complimentary of ourselves. We’ll tell of all the “A’s” we got in school, how we made the sports team or the cheerleading squad, or how we had the cutest date for the high school dance. Everything to make ourselves look good. Do we ever tell them the bad things? The jobs we were laid off from, the mistakes we made at school, all of our disappointments and failures throughout life. In our psalm for today, the author Asaph reviews some of the nation of Israel’s past history for them, and it’s not all that flattering. Furthermore, he urges them to tell it to future generations, too.
What would the purpose be in telling one’s children our failures and mistakes of the past? Why would Asaph tell the people their nation’s failures? Though today there may be more honesty in some school history books, in the past most history textbooks glossed over their country’s failures and instead told how great they were. There were two reasons for this. One was so that the people of Israel, and our own children as well, would learn from past mistakes so they might not repeat them themselves. Paul knew this when he wrote to the Corinthians, telling them Biblical accounts so they could learn from their examples (I Corinthians 10:1-12). Another equally important reason that Asaph gave was to praise and give God glory for His ongoing love and mercy, despite the people’s sins and failure.
Our psalm gives a brief overview from the time of Moses until King David took the throne. Asaph spoke of the Ten Plagues upon Egypt (vs 42-51), God leading the people through the wilderness and providing manna and water (vs 13-31), bringing the people into the Promised Land (vs 52-55), the time of the Judges (vs 56-64), and David taking the throne (vs 65-72).
Even with these blessings and providing for the people, they continually rebelled against God, refusing to obey His laws or believing Him. They were not faithful to Him, consistently going after false gods. They forgot all God had done for them (vs 11-12). They put Him to the test by making demands of Him (vs 18). They lied to God, and tried to flatter Him (vs 36). They continued to forsake Him, regardless of all the works He did for them (vs 42-56).
Despite the Israelites faithlessness and sin, God continued to love and care for them (vs 38). Many times people follow God with their words, but not with their hearts (vs 36-37). Their repentance is empty. This was the case with the Hebrew people. How blessed and fortunate we are that God has not dealt with us according to our sins (Psalm 103:10). God restrains His anger and gives mercy to those who have put faith and trust in Jesus (Romans 5:8-11).
As Asaph testifies, we need to remember all that God has done for us in our past, both during our good times and throughout our failures, and to praise and thank Him for what He has done. He has been there for and with us, forgiving us when we confess and repent, leading His children like a shepherd leads his flock, protecting and caring for us (vs 52-53).
If our children learn of our past mistakes, hopefully they won’t repeat them. Asaph was hoping for this as he penned this psalm (vs 3-8) . Paul also, as he indicated in that portion of Scripture in I Corinthians. When they see this, they will see how faithful God is to believers, forgiving us of our mistakes. How very important it is for us to tell our children and grandchildren about the Lord, and all He has done. The saving message of Jesus must be shared with future generations.
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