“Give Ear, O My People, to My Teaching”

 

Psalm 78:1-8, 67-72 (text);2 Timothy 1:3-5, 3:14-15

July 27, 2014 • Download this sermon (PDF)

Introduction

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ongregation of Christ: Last Lord’s Day, we began a short series entitled, “A Little Church in the House: Raising and Strengthening a Godly Household.” We noted that a Christian family is a “little church in the house” and must display the three marks of a true church. In this way, a Christian house becomes a “true house.”

The first mark of a true church is the pure preaching of the true gospel. In the second sermon in this series, we will focus on the teaching of the true gospel in our homes, in our households. As in the introductory sermon, we must note that the pure preaching of the true gospel is also very lacking, or even absent, in many churches around us. And the biggest reason for this is the neglect of the reading, listening and studying of Scriptures. The emphasis on gimmickry and entertainment in evangelical churches has resulted in much Biblical illiteracy.

family worship around tableFor many generations now, this Biblical illiteracy has been passed on from one generation to the next. All throughout Scriptures, believers are commanded to teach the Word of God to the next generation. We have the record of the people of God in the Old Testament rebelling against and forsaking the LORD because their parents did not teach them God’s covenant Word. This is why the New Testament also emphasizes parents bringing up their children in the instruction of the Lord.

Our text today comes from Psalm 78, a historical psalm that recounts the history of Israel from their redemption from Egypt all the way to the reign of King David. The psalmist remembers how God faithfully saved and provided for his people even when they repeatedly rebelled in unbelief. Why would the psalmist retell this story? Because he does not want the next generations to fall into the same rebellion and unbelief by forgetting the LORD’s mighty works.

The themes of “remembering” and “forgetting” are mentioned a few times in this psalm, mostly of God’s people forgetting and not remembering God’s mighty works (Psa 78:7, 11, 35, 42). Only in verse 39 do we find God “remembering” his people’s earthly limitations. The psalms’ opening verses, 1-8, exhorts the people to listen to the LORD’s teaching, so they would teach the same to the next generations, who will surely forget if they were not reminded by this song. From verses 9-66, the psalmist tells of the people’s sin and unbelief from Moses all the way to the kings. But the psalm ends in hope when King David at last comes to the scene as the LORD’s chosen servant and righteous shepherd of his flock, a reminder to us of Jesus our Good Shepherd (verses 67-72).

Psalm 78:1-8 is then an exhortation for all Christian parents to teach God’s Holy Scriptures to their children. In turn, their godly children will pass on their faith to their own children for generations to come, until our Lord returns.

So our theme this afternoon is from Psalm 78:1, “Give Ear, O My People, to My Teaching,” under three headings: first, The Content of the Teaching; second, The Method of Teaching; and third, The Results of the Teaching.

The Content of the Teaching

The song opens with the LORD’s exhortation to God’s People, “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth!” (verse 1) To give ear or incline the ears to God is to pay close attention to his teaching, the Holy Scriptures. And what does he teach?

The LORD teaches in “parables” or “dark sayings from of old” (verse 2). These are not mysterious things that are hidden from the hearers, because they are “things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us” (verse 3). Jesus used parables to reveal to his disciples the nature, the beginnings and the completion of the kingdom that he has inaugurated. When asked why he uses parables in his teachings, he answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Mat 13:11). To unbelievers, God’s Word will never be revealed.

The psalmist says that God has revealed his teachings to their fathers, who in turn have told them. So he declares that they will not withhold these teachings to their children, “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation” (verse 4). This the LORD “commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children (verses 5-6; see also Gen 17:7; 18:19; Deu 6:6–9). From one generation to the next, the LORD’s testimony and law in Israel must be taught to their children (verse 5a).

What are the fathers (and the mothers) to teach their children? All of “the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” In the Psalms, the glorious deeds, his might, and the wonders of the LORD often refer to his creative, redemptive and loving acts. Psalm 145 has all these characteristics of God that we ought to recount to our children so they too would extol, praise and bless his Holy Name. Verses 4-6, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.”

The ”glorious splendor of your majesty” cannot but refer to the beauty of God’s creation that no words can ever describe. “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! (Psa 72:18-19) The “mighty acts” and “awesome deeds” often refer to God’s powerful works in redeeming Israel from slavery in Egypt. “The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy” (Psa 145:20) most probably refer to the destruction of Israel’s enemies. The rest of Psalm 145 describe God’s “abundant goodness,” “righteousness,” and as “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

As a merciful God, he is “near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them” (Psa 145:18-19). As Providence, all creation depend upon him for their existence, “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psa 145:15-16).

How can we not teach our covenant children all of these benefits from our mighty and gracious and loving God? We cannot, for if we do not do our duty, the righteous and godly generation will stop with our generation. The generations following us will all be unbelievers, until one generation returns to God.

And if we are to teach them to our children, from where will all of these teachings come? From the Word of God.

The Method of Teaching

The most effective method of teaching was just demonstrated above: a question-and-answer format. This is called “catechism” instruction.

Catechism, isn’t this a Roman Catholic practice? Yes, it is now used mainly by the Roman church. The word catechism comes from a New Testament Greek verb, katÄ“cheō, which literally means to “sound down” or to “echo back.” It is used in eight instances (Luk 1:3-4; Acts 18:25, 21:21, 24; Rom 2:18; 1 Cor 14:19; Gal 6:6). After the apostolic era, the catechism teacher would ask a question and the student or catechumen—usually new converts to Christianity—would then repeat or “echo back” the answer taught by the teacher.

But this method was used even beginning in the ancient Exodus period. The commandment to teach Israel’s covenant children in a Q&A format is first seen in the command to commemorate the Passover, “throughout your generations, as a statute forever” (Exo 12:14; 13:10). Year after year, the parents will teach their children about God’s mighty works of redeeming his people from slavery in Egypt, including this Q&A portion of the Passover ceremony (Exo 12:26-27; 13:14-16):

Children: What do you mean by this service?

Father: It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.

Just before they entered the Promised Land, the LORD again reminded Israel of their duty to diligently and patiently teach their covenant children all his commandments, including the Ten Commandments (Deu 6:6-7; 11:19-20). By the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, there were already training “schools of the prophets” for young men (2 Kgs 6:1-3).

In the New Testament, we first see children being taught by their parents in the raising of Jesus by Joseph and Mary, so that he “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). By the time he was twelve, he was ready to discuss the Scripture with the teachers at the temple! (Luk 2:41-47)

Paul also knew the importance of parents teaching their children about the Scripture, mentioning to Timothy how the young pastor received instruction from his ancestors, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2Tim 1:5; see also Eph 6:4). His faith in Christ was passed on from generation to generation through instruction.

In the apostolic church, since written Scriptures were few, the apostles and first teachers of the faith probably went from house to house teaching disciples orally. New converts and their children were instructed using catechism, often lasting one to three years.

However, in the medieval age, the use of catechism teaching declined, which in turn led to the “dark age” of Biblical illiteracy, including among the highest officials of the Roman church. But during the 16th century Protestant Reformation, Luther, Calvin and John Knox reversed this Biblical ignorance by reviving the use of catechism teaching by writing their own catechisms and teaching them in the Reformed churches.

Sadly, from the beginning of the 18th century, catechism instruction again declined so that only a few Protestant churches used it. Even where its use continued, it became a mere routine memorization, not a matter of both knowledge and zealous piety. Today, catechism teaching in Sunday schools is very rare; only a handful of Reformed churches continue this teaching method. It has been replaced by color pictures, videos, and play-acting Bible stories. Adult Sunday classes have become discussion groups about relationships, self-help and financial management.

Evangelical churches have no clue as to the benefits of catechism instruction of both children and adults. Our church is blessed with the use of the Heidelberg Catechism, and sometimes even the Westminster Catechisms. Catechism builds up and strengthens the doctrine, worship and life of all believers, adults and children alike. And, it is a much better evangelistic tool than trite, dumbed-down presentations like the Four Spiritual Laws.

Our church’s faithfulness to Christ and his Word will only continue from generation to generation by teaching our children using catechisms. Our children should not have to be bored learning the Heidelberg Catechism. There are a variety of ways and resources for teaching it. Relate the catechism to real-life situations, current news, movies, TV, and even school work. Vary the time, if possible: at breakfast, dinner table, before bedtime. Do what suits your family’s needs. The “secrets” to successful catechism teaching are variety, patience, slow pace, repetition, and teachers’ knowledge.

(Some resources can be ordered online for teaching it at home, church, and even in school.)[ref]Here are two great resources for teaching catechism to all:

Kids’ Quest! Catechism Club by Great Commission Publications

Life in Christ Series by Reformed Fellowship, Inc.[/ref]

The Results of the Teaching

Verse 7 of our text tells us of the results of teaching our children: they will “set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”

To set their hope in God means faith and trust in God, depending upon him for all things, especially salvation, holiness, and provisions. They will not trust in their own knowledge, skills, money, friends, so that they forget the wondrous works of God for them.

This faith and hope will then translate into submission, reverence and obedience to God. If there is no faith, there is no Spirit, and where there is no Spirit, there is no obedience to God’s commandments.

And this is the sad part in Biblical history. As verse 8 says, they were “a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Generation after generation of Israelites were “stubborn and rebellious” in their unbelief. Their hearts were not steadfast in God, and their spirits were not faithful to God. This unbelief and rebellion ultimately led to their destruction.

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eloved People of God: Psalm 78 doesn’t end tragically; in fact, it has a happy-ever-after ending. At the end of the psalm, the LORD has a promise: he has chosen David as his servant, and he will rebuild Mount Zion, his holy Temple, through him.

The heir of King David’s throne is the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ, who came down from heaven to perform mighty signs and wonders to save us from sin. At the same time, he preached and taught the glorious kingdom of heaven to those who believed in him. He taught and did perfectly everything that his Father commanded him, all the way to his death on the cross.

He is now our Ascended King and Shepherd, “With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand” (Psa 78:72). As our Great Shepherd, he guides us from his throne in heaven through his Spirit. He feeds us with his teaching, and with his body and blood sacrificed on the cross.

These, fathers and mothers, elders and deacons, teachers—all believers young and old— are the things you are to teach the next generation. The rewards of patient reading, studying, and teaching the Scripture to the next generations of covenant children are eternal. The church will be founded and secured forever, as well as your “little church” in the house.

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