Psalms of Honesty and Truth
There is wisdom in the statement that kids will say and do what they have seen their parents say and do. They might change it up a little, with the language of the day, but basically what we have been taught will be passed down to our kids without us even thinking about it.
Parents are with their kids most of the hours of a full 24 hour day. Parents still have the greatest influence with their kids. So whatever truth parents live, so it is with their kids. Much learning is “caught” more than intentionally taught so the question is…what are we teaching our kids and grandkids as we live out our lives on this brief journey? What is being caught and what is being intentionally taught?
Psalm 78 is a long passage with some of these same questions at the beginning so let’s take this one a bite at a time, and mull over it’s wisdom and teaching.
Psalm 78, The Message
1-4 Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth,
bend your ears to what I tell you.
I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb;
I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths,
Stories we heard from our fathers,
counsel we learned at our mother’s knee.
We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
we’re passing it along to the next generation—
God’s fame and fortune,
the marvelous things he has done.
5-8 He planted a witness in Jacob,
set his Word firmly in Israel,
Then commanded our parents
to teach it to their children
So the next generation would know,
and all the generations to come—
Know the truth and tell the stories
so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
but keep his commands to the letter.
Heaven forbid they should be like their parents,
bullheaded and bad,
A fickle and faithless bunch
who never stayed true to God.
Reflection and pause to wonder…
–Don’t depend on the schools to teach values to our kids.
–Don’t fully depend on the church to teach salvation and keeping God’s commands with the holy fear and awe of God from a deep love of God.
–Think about how we treat others and wonder if that is how we want our kids to honor and respect others.
–“Know the truth and tell the stories so our children can trust in God!”
Wow, there is a lot to think about, repent over, make changes and tell God’s stories of His love and redemption.
Dear Heavenly Father, We repent of those times of failure in passing on the whole story of You. Transform us to be and do all You intended for us to be and do. Don’t allow us to be fickle but steadfast in our walk with You. Begin today with a renewed sense of who is watching. In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 