The Gospel We Dare Not Hide
Psalm 78: 1-7 (ESV)
A Maskil of Asaph
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
Introduction: Psalm 78 alludes to Judges: “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10) Psalm 78 speaks of a generational transmission of truth. The Psalm highlights important events from the first five books of the Bible, as well as from Joshua, Judges, and Samuel, up to the time of David’s reign. Asaph’s purpose is crystal
clear; he wants God’s covenant community to “remember and retell” these events so that future generations of God’s people “know them, set their hope in God, and keep his commandments” (Psalm 78:6–7).
- A Maskil, “a wisdom teaching to be pondered.”
I. Do Not Forget, But Trust the Lord
There’s a call here to “recount” and “retell” “the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done” (Psalm 78:4b) - Spiritual failure begins with forgetting.
- Forgetting is not a mere mental lapse; it’s a sign of a hardened heart (a deliberate turning away from the implications of God’s great deeds; it’s a spiritual disease)
- Forgetfulness leads to unbelief. Psalm 78:8 gives a portrait of unbelief (stubborn, which means “a refusal to submit” and rebellion, which means rejection of God and his commandments). The reason for this is that the heart is not steady in trusting God.
- Do not be like the generation in Psalm 78:8.
A. They overlooked his power and provision (Psalm 78:12–20) - The breaking of Pharaoh’s yoke
- Deliverance from the Red Sea
- God’s provision for Israel in the desert
- The “great deeds of God” are vital to faith
B. They offended his purity (Psalm 78:21–22)
- Richard Phillips, “God is a holy God whose wrath burns against sin.” - J. I. Packer, “Wrath is the right reaction of moral perfection in the Creator towards moral perversity in the creature.”
- The sin that makes God most angry is unbelief: “…Because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power” (Psalm 78:22)
II. Do Not Fret, But Teach about the Lord
The need for bible knowledge is urgent in our generation.
Psalm 78 suggests that ministries for children and teenagers should prioritize teaching Bible knowledge and doctrine. As Asaph
highlights, parents also have a vital role in sharing Biblical truth at home.
A. Pay attention to the teachings: There’s a call to listen and to learn. “Give ear… incline your ears…” This is covenant language (not just a history lesson). It echoes Deuteronomy 6, where Israel is told to “hear,” “remember,” and “teach.”
B. Pass it on: “Testimony…and the Law (broader – “instruction”) - “We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation…” (Psalm 78:4a)
- “Teach to their children.” (Psalm 78:5c): Who God is and what He has done.
- J. Ligon Duncan, “If you show me a great Christian in any age, from the time of Jesus and his apostles to yesterday, I will show you a Christian whose mind is dominated by the realization of God’s grace.
Conclusion:
- Christopher Ash, “The only reason God passed over former sins is because he would one day put forward Christ.” (persistent grace in the face of persistent sin)
- April 18, 1521 (Martin Luther was asked to retract his theological writing at the Diet of Worms), Luther responded: “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason... I cannot and will not recant... Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen,”
If God did it, then can he not do it again? God reclaimed his church from Medieval superstition and dead ritualism. Brought biblical literacy, spiritual power, and godly leadership through the word of God preached.
- From generation to generation: Edward Kimball, D.L. Moody, Wilbur Chapman, Billy Sunday, Mordecai Ham, and Billy Graham.
- Who is that one person God is calling you to disciple? You may not see the full impact now, but generations will be
changed because of your obedience.
- 2 Timothy 2:2, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who
will be able to teach others also.”