Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 78:1-8
Ps 78:1-8
1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old--3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers--a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.
1 Cor 10:11
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
There is no subject that is more important than history. This is true when it comes to a study of past nations because many have risen and then failed. Various types and forms of government have been tried and many of them do not work or they are oppressive for the people under them. This becomes even more true when the leaders are corrupt or refuse to acknowledge God as Supreme.
History is indeed important and the greatest history book ever written is what we call the Bible. It tells us where mankind and the world came from and it also tells us how to live while we are here. The Bible gives meaning to life because it is the story of God come to earth and redemption from sin that he offers to all mankind in his Son, Jesus Christ. It is in this book that we learn the love of God for us.
We must study his word and learn how to use it in our lives and then teach it to the generations that follow. If we fail to do this, we will make the same dreadful mistake the Jews made when they rejected God and his promises. It only takes a single generation for the people of God to leave him and follow the gods of this world. We are on earth to honor God by trusting him and following his will.
O Lord God, it is such an honor to be called your child and to know that in Jesus, you have forgiven me of all of my sins. I want to follow your word and honor you and your holy name. Help me learn from generations past and especially from the history in the Bible. Help me be honest with myself and with you so that I do not become self-righteous and see the faults of others without seeing and admitting my own. Forgive me when I fail to be all you want me to be. Give your peace to those who are hurting and are depressed. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
