Psalms

Psalms 78: God teaches through His remembered deeds

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the long story of God's mercy and His people's rebellion, let us ask what our own hearts are learning. Pray for faith in Jesus and for His works to be told to another generation.

For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you had crossed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over; that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh’s hand is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.’”

Joshua 4:23-24

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God gives each generation His works to remember, calling us to trust and obey Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph calls each generation to teach God's works and commands to its children so they will hope in Him and escape their ancestors' rebellion. Ephraim's retreat exposes a forgotten covenant, despite the God who opened the sea, led by cloud and fire and gave water from rock. In the wilderness, unbelieving cravings met both abundant food and God's deadly judgment, yet the people's frightened return often remained flattering words without loyal hearts. His mercy repeatedly restrained His anger, remembering their frailty while they forgot the power that redeemed them from Egypt. The song retells His plagues, the death of Egypt's firstborn and His shepherding care through the sea into the land He gave. Renewed idolatry then brought the loss of Shiloh, the captured ark and death among young men and priests, silencing wedding songs and mourning. God finally defeated His adversaries and chose Judah, Zion and David, taking a shepherd from the flock to guide His inheritance with integrity and skill.

As you read Psalms 78, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges rebellion and shows mercy, giving each generation His mighty deeds to remember, trust and obey Him.

Asaph gives remembered history as instruction for children and their children, so knowledge of God's works should lead to hope and obedience. Matthew 13 verse 35 applies his words about opening the mouth in parables to Jesus, the Teacher who reveals God's kingdom. Ephraim's armed retreat is traced to covenant unfaithfulness and forgotten wonders, showing how outward strength cannot replace trust in God. The sea, guiding cloud and abundant water establish the kindness the wilderness generation answered with demands that tested the Most High. Manna and quail came abundantly, yet God struck down the strong while food was still in their mouths because their hearts remained unbelieving. Their later seeking often became flattery, while His mercy forgave and restrained destruction because He remembered their frailty. Egypt's plagues and firstborn judgment display the power that shepherded His own people safely and gave them the nations' land as an inheritance. The idolatry of later generations led God to abandon Shiloh and hand His ark to enemies, with young men and priests dying in judgment. God shamed His adversaries and chose Judah, Zion and David, giving His unfaithful people a shepherd whose integrity guided them.

How does Psalm 78 show us that God judges rebellion and shows mercy, giving each generation His mighty deeds to remember, trust and obey Him?

God commands each generation to teach His works to the next.

The instruction gives children the works and commands their fathers received. Its purpose is hope in God joined to remembrance and obedience. The rebellious ancestors become a warning against a heart that hears the story without trusting its Lord.

God judges unbelief even when He gives abundant gifts.

The people received water, manna and quail while doubting the God who provided them. Food still filled their mouths when His anger struck down the strong. The years consumed in terror show the end of persistent unbelief, beyond the comfort a gift can supply.

God's repeated mercy exposes the emptiness of flattering words.

Under judgment the people remembered their Redeemer and sought Him with their mouths. Their hearts stayed unfaithful, yet His compassion restrained the destruction they deserved. He remembered they were passing flesh while they forgot the power that had rescued them.

God freely provides a shepherd after His people's failure.

Idolatry brought the loss of Shiloh and the ark, with deaths that silenced weddings and left widows unable to mourn. God then acted like a warrior roused to fight, overthrowing His adversaries. He chose Judah, Zion and David, whose honest heart and skilful hands guided the people as a shepherd guides sheep.

Memorise

But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 78:38

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what truth about Jesus am I hearing without letting it shape my trust?

Asaph says the people “didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.” They ate His gifts while doubting the Giver. John 6 verses 31 to 35 take up the manna and identify Jesus as the bread of life.

Our hearts also receive God's kindness while resisting His rule. Jesus died for His people, bearing the punishment their unbelief and rebellion deserved. He rose from the grave. The rescue He accomplished is enough to give His people forgiveness and lasting life, which no inherited privilege could win.

Turn from your unbelief and come to Jesus in faith. He forgives everyone who seeks His mercy. Ask Him to give you a heart that trusts the truth you have heard, and tell His saving works to others. God gives His people in Christ mercies to receive with thanks and a Word to pass on, calling another generation to hope in Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gives each generation His works to remember, calling us to trust and obey Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His mercy and ask Him to make the truth heard in our homes bear the fruit of trusting obedience. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I am the bread of life.

John 6:48

Merciful and holy God, please expose the unbelief hidden beneath our familiar religious words. Bring us to Jesus for the pardon His finished sacrifice provides. Thank You for Your patient kindness and the truth You have given us to teach. Give our children hearts that hope in You, and help each generation tell Your mighty works faithfully. Amen.