December 3, 2003
Reading: Psalm 78:1-25
“That the generation
to come might know them” (6)
How important it is for us to pass
on to our children the wonderful news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Asaph told his children the stories of the works of God in
story form. Can you imagine him sitting his children on his knee and recounting
the story of the parting of the
He would tell them about Jacob and the giving of the law to Moses (5). The desire of his heart was that his children and all future generations would not follow in the footsteps of their ancestors who were stubborn and rebellious and whose spirit was not steadfast with God (8).
He would tell them all about how
God guided His people by a cloud during the day and by fire at night (14). The
story of how God provided enough water out of rock to satisfy the thirst of
several million people as well as all of their animals (15) would surely get
their attention. He would not leave out the times when their ancestors doubted
God and questioned His wisdom in bringing them out of
Asaph had many stories to tell his children and grandchildren and yet all he probably had to read from was the first five books of the Bible. Not only do we have the rest of the Old Testament with the story of Daniel in the Lion’s den and Jonah in the belly of the whale, but also we have the wonderful story of Jesus, the carpenter, whom the Romans crucified even though He had done nothing wrong. We can also tell our children that in three days of His death he rose from the grave and ascended into heaven. We have the great stories of Peter and Paul and how they spread the gospel to the Jews and the gentiles, the miracles they did and the sufferings they went through rather than deny their Savior.
How I thank God for Christian parents and aunts and uncles who loved the Lord, for those dedicated people who taught my Sunday School classes week after week and year after year. I still remember the stories they told of David killing the giant with only a few stones and a sling. I remember the choruses and songs we sang. Oh yes, Sunday School teachers, your faithful ministry is not in vain. You may not be privileged to see the fruit of your labor in this life but there are great rewards for you in heaven. As there are for you Christian parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles who faithfully spoke of the love of Jesus and who through your lives showed the little ones that God does make a difference in your life.
It was the command of God, “You
shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you
sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you
rise up” (Deut: 6:7). Outside of loving Jehovah and serving Him, the spiritual
education of their children was of the highest priority. That is how important
it is, and that’s how important God says it is. “And
it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel