Studies in Psalms Give Ear to My Law

Studies in Psalms Give Ear to My Law Psalm 78

Background • A psalm of Asaph • “One of the great national hymns of Israel” • Written after the time of David

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • “Give ear to my law…” (1) “Listen, O my people, to my instruction…” (NASU) • The need to preach what is needed! 2 Tim. 4: 2, Heb. 2: 1 -3, 5: 12 -14, Acts 20: 29 -31, etc.

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old. ” (2) • Weighty sayings. The idea is that of application based upon examples. Matt. 13: 11 -13 • Do we respect His word?

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • “Our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children” (3 -4) • Deut. 4: 5 -9, 6: 4 -9 The Law expected the message to be passed down • Eph. 6: 4, 2 Tim. 3: 15 • How concerned are we about the future of the church?

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • A testimony and a law from God (5 -6) • What is the source of our message? 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17; Jude 3, Jas. 1: 25

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • “That they may set their hope in God and not forget…” (7) • How much effort are we making to instill hope in our children? • Are we teaching them? • What about our example?

The Purpose of This Psalm (1 -8) • “And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation…” (8) • Learning how NOT to act! Examples are not just positive! • The goal: To avoid such an attitude

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • Turned back in the day of battle (cf. Deut 1: 41 -46? . ) • (10 -11) Israel had failed to keep the covenant and refused to walk in His law.

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • (12 -14) He did marvelous things, including the Red Sea and protecting them with the cloud (Ex. 13: 2122)

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • (15 -16) He gave them water from rocks (more than once) (Ex. 17: 1 -6, 20: 11 -13 )

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • (17 -31) They demanded meat and God provided. BUT in anger, He cursed their “intense cravings” (Ex. 16 – He promised manna and quail. Num. 11: 1 -15, 3135 – they complained again!)

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • (32 -33) The STILL did not believe His works. Their years were filled with futility • (34 -37) False repentance NOTE: When we repent, do we mean it?

Israel in the Wilderness (9 -40) • (38 -40) But He did not destroy them, in compassion! REMEMBER that He is a God of mercy! (Ezek. 20: 8 -9) • (41) Again and again they tempted God.

They did not remember Egypt (41 -53) • (42) They did not remember His power in Egypt. • (43 -51) The plagues against Egypt! (How could they forget? ) • (52 -53) BUT He delivered His own people

Inheriting the land (54 -66) • (54) He brought them to Mt. Sinai where they again saw great wonders • (55) He drove out nations before them (Joshua)

Inheriting the land (54 -66) • (56 -57) Yet they tested and provoked God and did NOT keep His testimonies See Judges 2: 10

Inheriting the land (54 -66) • (58) They worshipped foreign idols See Judges 2: 11 -13 • (59 -64) – The “cycle” of the judges • (65 -66) He awoke and delivered them

He chose David (67 -72) • (67 -68) Judah chosen over Ephraim. Mt. Zion (Jerusalem, city of David) • (69) – He built His sanctuary there (cf. Heb. 9: 1 -15, 2328) • (70 -71) He chose David (2 Sam. 7: 12 -17)

He chose David (67 -72) • (72) David would shepherd the people, according to the integrity of His heart. (cf. Ac. 13: 22, 1 Kn. 9: 4) • Let the righteous stand up and lead the people

Will you learn from the past?