Psalms 78:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm of Asaph, and Matthew Henry says it is a historical psalm, a maschil or psalm of instruction, of the great mercies of God to Israel, their great sins against Him, and His displeasure with their sins. Verse one then says, Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Asaph demanded their attention, and we need to first get people's attention when we share the gospel today. Verse two adds, I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Matthew Henry said that dark sayings were those that might be hard to understand but were well worth considering. God's laws are often hard for people to understand, especially the way Christians are supposed to treat others and their view of material things, but they are all well worth considering, since the bring everlasting life. Verse three continues, Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. Asaph said that what he was going to say to them they had heard from their fathers. We have a responsibility to share the gospel with our children if we are followers of Christ. Verse four states, We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. As Asaph said then, we cannot hide the wonderful works of God from our children and must praise Him for His great strength and mercy. Verse five adds, For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: Asaph said that God established a testimony with Jacob and appointed a law to Israel which He told the people to continually make known to their children. We as Christians cannot neglect to share the gospel with our children, because if we don't share it, then no one will. Verse six continues, That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: As this verse states, we must share God's word so that generation after generation will know it. Verse seven says, That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Asaph said that the purpose of sharing God's teachings was so that the future generations would put their faith in God and not forget His works and keep His commandments. As followers of Christ, we cannot allow future generations to forget the work of Christ when He died on the cross, nor God's laws that should govern those who put their faith in Him. Verse eight adds, And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. Asaph said that this was so that the coming generations would not be stubborn and rebellious as their fathers had been. Our salvation is not based on who our parents are, and even if they refuse to put their faith in God, we still need to hear and accept the gospel of Christ so that we will not be like them. Verse nine states, The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. Verse ten adds, They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; Asaph gave the example of the children of Ephraim, who even though they were armed turned back in battle because they forgot their covenant with God and refused to live by His law. As Christians, we should never lose our faith and allow the world to defeat us. As long as we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit we never will be. Verse eleven continues, And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. We as followers of Christ must never forget the works and wonders of God.
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