That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
God rehearsed His blessings, power, and law before His people so they would put their trust in Him, keep His mighty acts in memory, and obey His commandments. Israel answered those benefits poorly, constantly working against Him until disobedience brought its own sure ruin, with repentance under chastisement followed again by self-indulgence and fall. That same purpose is to be carried forward by teaching children and generations yet unborn at home and in daily life, so they will know God, set their hearts right, and not follow the stubborn and rebellious course of their fathers. His providence still works to awaken that confidence among sincere seekers in every nation, and it calls His people to earnest study and self-sacrificing effort to make the truth known to those perishing in sin.
Setting and Purpose
Psalm 78 recounts the rich blessings God bestowed on His people and the poor return they made for all those benefits. It was composed into song for Israel marching in the wilderness to keep time in step as they journeyed.
God's purpose stated in the verse was that Israel would set their hope in God, not forget His works, and keep His commandments. But they worked constantly against a good God. Through disobedience they were brought into the state that was the sure result of their own course of action. They repented under rebuke and chastisement, yet fell again under temptation, self-indulgence, and self-gratification.
Recounting God's praises, strength, and wonderful works, together with His testimony and law, is meant to lead people to set their hope in God. That recounting is meant to keep them from forgetting what He has done. It is meant to bring them to remember His works and to keep His commandments and obey His law.
Passing Faith to Children
God's testimony, law, works, praise, strength and wonderful works are to be recounted and taught from one generation to the next so that children and those yet unborn will know them. Children are to learn these things themselves and then pass them on to their own children, with the telling meant to lead each generation to set hope in God, remember what He has done, and keep His commandments and remain faithful to Him. This generational instruction is meant to keep children from repeating the stubborn and rebellious example of earlier generations and ancestors, so that instead they will set their hearts right and stay faithful to God.
Children are to be taught God's word, His requirements, His dealings with His people, His works in delivering Israel, and His promises of the coming Redeemer, and to be reminded of them often at home so they will trust Him, remember His works, and keep His commandments. Instruction about God was to be joined to daily life, nature, and worship, using figures and symbols to help fix its lessons in memory.
Wider Present Application
God guides people through His providence to build confidence in Him among sincere seekers in every nation, so that even those who have never known the written law or Jesus may learn to trust and hope in the One who gave Himself as a ransom for all. His works are intended to lead people to place their hope in Him, to remember what He has done, and to keep His commandments. This leading is the fulfillment of the purpose that they might set their hope in God, and not forget His works, but keep His commandments.
The verse is worthy of earnest study and consideration because a solemn work lies ahead for God's people. That work will require them to advance far beyond where they now stand in understanding eternal realities. They are to become fishers of men, explaining the truths of the Word to those who do not know them and making earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for those perishing in sin. Those who sow seeds of truth in this work are promised that they will reap a rich harvest.
To set hope in God and remember His works and keep His commandments means to honor God by coming into unity and harmony with the church instead of branching out to consult lawyers and lean on the arm of the law. As the psalm was composed into song for Israel marching in the wilderness to keep time in step as they journeyed, so now medical workers are to unite more closely with ministers of the gospel, and ministers are no longer to block the way of health reform and give the world a testimony of division. All are to come together and harmonize and come into line on the true principles of health reform and on the spirituality of God's law and commandments. Refusal to be converted on these points leads to giving up point after point of present truth.
God rehearsed His blessings, power, and law before His people so they would put their trust in Him, keep His mighty acts in memory, and obey His commandments. Israel answered those benefits poorly, constantly working against Him until disobedience brought its own sure ruin, with repentance under chastisement followed again by self-indulgence and fall. That same purpose is to be carried forward by teaching children and generations yet unborn at home and in daily life, so they will know God, set their hearts right, and not follow the stubborn and rebellious course of their fathers. His providence still works to awaken that confidence among sincere seekers in every nation, and it calls His people to earnest study and self-sacrificing effort to make the truth known to those perishing in sin.
Setting and Purpose
Psalm 78 recounts the rich blessings God bestowed on His people and the poor return they made for all those benefits. It was composed into song for Israel marching in the wilderness to keep time in step as they journeyed.
God's purpose stated in the verse was that Israel would set their hope in God, not forget His works, and keep His commandments. But they worked constantly against a good God. Through disobedience they were brought into the state that was the sure result of their own course of action. They repented under rebuke and chastisement, yet fell again under temptation, self-indulgence, and self-gratification.
Recounting God's praises, strength, and wonderful works, together with His testimony and law, is meant to lead people to set their hope in God. That recounting is meant to keep them from forgetting what He has done. It is meant to bring them to remember His works and to keep His commandments and obey His law.
Passing Faith to Children
God's testimony, law, works, praise, strength and wonderful works are to be recounted and taught from one generation to the next so that children and those yet unborn will know them. Children are to learn these things themselves and then pass them on to their own children, with the telling meant to lead each generation to set hope in God, remember what He has done, and keep His commandments and remain faithful to Him. This generational instruction is meant to keep children from repeating the stubborn and rebellious example of earlier generations and ancestors, so that instead they will set their hearts right and stay faithful to God.
Children are to be taught God's word, His requirements, His dealings with His people, His works in delivering Israel, and His promises of the coming Redeemer, and to be reminded of them often at home so they will trust Him, remember His works, and keep His commandments. Instruction about God was to be joined to daily life, nature, and worship, using figures and symbols to help fix its lessons in memory.
Wider Present Application
God guides people through His providence to build confidence in Him among sincere seekers in every nation, so that even those who have never known the written law or Jesus may learn to trust and hope in the One who gave Himself as a ransom for all. His works are intended to lead people to place their hope in Him, to remember what He has done, and to keep His commandments. This leading is the fulfillment of the purpose that they might set their hope in God, and not forget His works, but keep His commandments.
The verse is worthy of earnest study and consideration because a solemn work lies ahead for God's people. That work will require them to advance far beyond where they now stand in understanding eternal realities. They are to become fishers of men, explaining the truths of the Word to those who do not know them and making earnest, self-sacrificing efforts for those perishing in sin. Those who sow seeds of truth in this work are promised that they will reap a rich harvest.
To set hope in God and remember His works and keep His commandments means to honor God by coming into unity and harmony with the church instead of branching out to consult lawyers and lean on the arm of the law. As the psalm was composed into song for Israel marching in the wilderness to keep time in step as they journeyed, so now medical workers are to unite more closely with ministers of the gospel, and ministers are no longer to block the way of health reform and give the world a testimony of division. All are to come together and harmonize and come into line on the true principles of health reform and on the spirituality of God's law and commandments. Refusal to be converted on these points leads to giving up point after point of present truth.