The Past. Session 2 PSALM 78:5-8, We can learn from the past as we observe God s faithfulness in contrast to humanity s unfaithfulness.

Transcription

1 Session 2 The Past We can learn from the past as we observe God s faithfulness in contrast to humanity s unfaithfulness. PSALM 78:5-8,32-39 MEMORY VERSE: PSALM 78:35 PREPARE TO LEAD THE GROUP TIME READ Psalm 78, First Thoughts (p. 24), and Understand the Context (pp ). STUDY Psalm 78:5-8,32-39, using Explore the Text (pp ). Review verses 9-31, Note the transitions between descriptions of Israel s unfaithfulness, God s punishment, and God s compassion. For further insight, consult the Explore the Bible Commentary, available at LifeWay.com. PLAN the group time using ideas under Lead Group Bible Study (pp ). Consider ways to emphasize the memory verse during this session (Ps. 78:35). Customize your group plans using the ideas included in QuickSource and online at Blog.LifeWay.com/ExploretheBible. If you choose to use any of the suggestions under More Ideas (p. 32), gather your information in advance. GROW with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog (LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry). GATHER the following items: Personal Study Guides; A large sheet of paper or whiteboard and markers. For More Ideas: A young adult list of skills taught by parents (see p. 32); and Volunteers to share how they came to faith in Christ. Make copies of: PACK ITEMS 2A,B (Handouts: Types of Psalms). Prepare to display the following Pack Items: PACK ITEM 1 (Map: Egypt and the Holy Land); PACK ITEM 4 (Time Line: Psalms); PACK ITEM 7 (Chart: Messianic Psalms); and PACK ITEM 8 (Poster: God in the Psalms). Date of My Bible Study: 23

2 KEY DOCTRINE Education An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ s people. FIRST THOUGHTS Coaches and athletes spend significant time watching video footage of previous games. They examine each play and analyze every mistake. In the same manner, they also scrutinize the things they did well. They then seek to correct their errors on the practice field and duplicate their successes as they prepare for the next contest. Likewise, in life, we can learn from the past. (In PSG, p. 22) What are some ways we can learn from the past? As we analyze our own past, what should we be looking for? Psalm 78 called for Israel to learn the lessons of its history. Verses 5-8 directed each generation to teach the next generation about God. In verses 32-37, the psalmist looked back at Israel s failures in history. He observed that repentance was the sole means for a growing relationship with God. In stark contrast to Israel s repeated unfaithfulness, verses point to God s compassion and His willingness to forgive. We can learn from the past as we observe God s faithfulness in contrast to humanity s unfaithfulness. BIBLE SKILL Compare Bible translations to gain a clearer understanding. Compare Bible translations of Psalm 78:38. Look for synonyms and different ways translators approach this verse. Use a Bible dictionary to compare the meaning of the words translated differently. How does the translation comparison give you a greater understanding of the key words and ideas in this passage? UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT PSALM 78 The superscription of Psalm 78 calls the psalm A Maskil of Asaph. The term maskil appears in the titles of 13 psalms (32; 42; 44; 45; 52 55; 74; 78; 88; 89; and 142). The term also occurs in Psalm 47:7, where it is translated wisdom in the line sing a song of wisdom. The word maskil is based on a verbal root meaning insight, understanding, or wisdom. Thus, a maskil was likely a poem or song requiring contemplation or imparting insight or wisdom. Asaph was a levitical leader of music in worship. During most of the history of Israel, the Levites worked to support the service of worship, helping the priests in the tabernacle. According to 1 Chronicles, King David appointed some of the Levites to lead music in worship, to celebrate the Lord God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to Him (1 Chron. 16:4). Asaph is referred to as the chief of that group of praise leaders (1 Chron. 16:5). Later, David divided the Levites into four divisions (1 Chron. 23:2-5). The fourth division was responsible for the music of worship. Levites in the fourth division were to prophesy accompanied by lyres, harps, and cymbals giving thanks and praise to the Lord (1 Chron. 25:1,3). David placed all those worship musicians under three leaders, and one of the leaders was Asaph. Again, Asaph seems especially prominent among music leaders. Wherever they are listed, Asaph is mentioned first (1 Chron. 25:1-9). 24 Explore the Bible Leader Guide

3 The work of Asaph endured. Over 250 years after Asaph s lifetime, King Hezekiah told the Levites to sing praise to the Lord in the words of David and of the seer Asaph (2 Chron. 29:30). Over 250 years after Hezekiah, praise leaders were appointed in the time of Nehemiah based on the fact that in the days of David and Asaph, there were heads of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God (Neh. 12:46). Asaph is also remembered through his descendants, who are listed among the returnees from exile in Ezra 2:41. Ezra 3:10 mentions that his descendants were still leading music in worship. Worship leadership by people bearing Asaph s name suggests the possibility that some of the psalms with Asaph s name may have been written by one of his descendants in his honor. BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR For additional context, read Covenant as a Biblical Theme, available digitally in the Summer 2017 Biblical Illustrator for Explore the Bible at LifeWay. com/biblicalillustrator. EXPLORE THE TEXT TEACH FOR THE FUTURE (PS. 78:5-8) This psalm of Asaph begins with an exhortation to pay attention to its message: Hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth (v. 1). The psalmist refers to the contents of the psalm as my instruction (v. 1). The word translated instruction is the Hebrew word torah. That word often refers to all of God s law and can also refer to the first five books of the Old Testament. Another word that describes the contents of Psalm 78 is wise sayings (v. 2). The original Hebrew word is the same word used in the title of the Book of Proverbs. The Book of Proverbs is a book of wise sayings. Thus, two words that describe the contents of Psalm 78 also refer to two major parts of the Old Testament Scriptures. Such a beginning emphasizes the importance of the psalm and captures the attention of readers. Another word the psalmist used to describe his composition is mysteries (v. 2). The same word is also translated riddle (Judg. 14:12-19). Elsewhere, it is parallel to proverbs or wise sayings, as here in Psalm 78 (see Ps. 49:4; Prov. 1:6; Ezek. 17:2; Hab. 2:6). The word referred to something whose meaning is not as clear and must be contemplated to be understood. The fact that the psalmist used this word to refer to a review of past events tells us that he is interested in more than a recital of bare facts. He will focus on the salvation God accomplished through past events and the contemporary importance of that salvation. Jesus quoted Psalm 78:2 to refer to His use of parables (Matt. 13:35). A parable is a comparison this is like that. The word in Psalm 78:2 translated wise sayings had the same meaning. Wisdom teachers taught their students unfamiliar concepts by referring to what was familiar to them. The writer of Psalm 78 taught contemporary spiritual lessons and offered a spiritual challenge by referring to Israel s familiar past. Most people in the ancient world did not read history books, so historical data came to them as information that our fathers have passed down to us (v. 3). In an oral culture, each successive generation had the responsibility to tell the story of the history of its people. In Psalm 78, Asaph exhorted the people of Israel to do exactly that. Session 2 : The Past 25

4 PSALM 78:5-6 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children 6 so that a future generation children yet to be born might know. They were to rise and tell their children VERSES 5-6 Asaph did not begin with God s creation or even with God s covenant with Abraham. He began with God s covenant with His people at Sinai and His gift of the Law. The first two lines of verse 5 are synonymously parallel. Testimony is synonymous with the law. Jacob is synonymous with Israel, which is appropriate since God changed Jacob s name to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Asaph wrote that the law was the document God commanded our fathers to teach to their children. Surely he was referring to God s words in Deuteronomy 6. As God was preparing His people to enter the promised land, He told His people to love Him and keep His laws in their hearts. Then He said, Repeat them to your children and told them to talk about His laws regularly in their homes (Deut. 6:7). God also told them to recite His acts that rescued them from Egypt and to exhort their children to obey His law (Deut. 6:20-25). The psalmist seems to refer to at least three generations. First, fathers teach to their children. Then, the next generation children yet to be born would rise and tell their children. By referring to more than the first generation in the wilderness, the psalm communicates that intergenerational instruction was to continue in Israel in perpetuity. The purpose of the parental reminders of Israel s history was so that future generations might know. How could future generations know what God had done for Israel unless someone told them? They could not. Who should tell the children of future generations? God gave that responsibility to parents and grandparents. PSALM 78:7-8 7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God s works, but keep his commands. 8 Then they would not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God. VERSES 7-8 The purpose of passing the history of God s saving work to the next generation was not mere retention of information. The psalmist was not promoting the learning of history for history s sake. He stated three purposes in teaching the past. First, he wanted the next generation to know the past so that they might put their confidence in God. Knowing the ways God has powerfully worked on behalf of His people in the past increases our faith in God s power to work in our lives in the present. It has been said that faith is a bridge from the past to the future. When we remember what God has done in the past, faith builds a bridge to show us that God will work in our lives in the future. The second purpose for teaching the past is so that they would not forget God s works. The writer of Hebrews wrote to Christians, don t throw away your confidence (Heb. 10:35). Then he reminded them of the confidence in God demonstrated by saints in the past (Heb. 11:4-40). Knowing God s past work gives us confidence in His work in our lives in the present and future. Third, the psalmist wanted his generation to remember the past so that they would not be like their fathers. Referring evidently to the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness after deliverance from Egypt, he called them a stubborn and rebellious generation. In Deuteronomy, Moses and God Himself referred to Israel s stubbornness in the 26 Explore the Bible Leader Guide

5 desert (Deut. 9:6,13; 10:16; 31:27). The psalmist knew that history well. To know Israel s history was to know Israel s sin. The psalmist did not want the people of his generation to repeat the sins of the past. The apostle Paul told the story of the sins of Israel in the desert for the same purpose, as a warning for others not to walk in their ways (1 Cor. 10:1-13). Contemporary Christians are to follow this biblical example and teach our children. We should teach them about the sin of past generations and exhort them to shun it. We should teach them about the faithfulness and power of God in the past and exhort them to trust and obey Him. How should you be involved in teaching the Word of God to the next generation? REMEMBER THE PAST (PS. 78:32-37) In verses 9-31, Asaph recorded some events in Israel s past that were important to remember. He referred to God s deliverance of His people from Egypt (v. 12), His miracle of parting the Red Sea (v. 13), His miraculous leadership and provision in the wilderness wandering (vv ), Israel s rebellion and complaints in the desert (vv ), and the mercy and judgment God showed to them (vv ). All these events are recorded in the Books of Exodus and Numbers, books Asaph surely knew. VERSE 32 The psalmist had just cited historical expressions of God s judgment against sin and His mercy in spite of sin. Throughout Israel s experiences of mercy and judgment, they kept sinning. Israel s sin was not in ignorance. They sinned despite the multitudes of God s revelatory acts and words throughout their history. Genesis 15:6 says, Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Abram was made right with God by his belief, or faith (Rom. 4:1-5; Gal. 3:6-9). The word translated believed also appears in Psalm 78:32, except that Israel did not believe. The psalmist was emphasizing that the Israelites were not right with God. The Israelites unbelief is incredible in light of all God had done for them. Wondrous translates a Hebrew word that refers to something so astonishing that only God can accomplish it. In the Old Testament it refers to God s cosmic wonders and historical miracles (Ex. 15:11; Job 37:16; Pss. 77:14; 89:5; 118:22-23; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 21:2). It is applied to humans almost exclusively to express what is beyond human ability (2 Sam. 13:2; Prov. 30:18). The psalmist was stating that God had performed works that were truly awe-inspiring, yet amazingly Israel did not believe. PSALM 78:32 32 Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe his wondrous works. Session 2 : The Past 27

6 PSALM 78: He made their days end in futility, their years in sudden disaster. 34 When he killed some of them, the rest began to seek him; they repented and searched for God. 35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their Redeemer. VERSES Some of God s wondrous works (v. 32) were works of judgment. He caused the lives of some of His people to end in futility. Futility can also be translated breath, or vapor. When we exhale on a cold day, we see our breath as a vapor. The vapor is visible for only a moment and then it s gone. That s the way God made the lives of some of His people. Their lives are without substance as God s judgment for their stubborn sin. When the psalmist wrote that God killed some of them, he was likely thinking of a specific event, like the one Numbers 21:4-7 describes. The Hebrews in the wilderness spoke against God and Moses, and God sent poisonous snakes that killed some of them. If we are shocked when we read that God killed people, then we should remember that from the beginning God has stated that the penalty for sin is death (Gen. 2:17). Instead of being surprised that sin leads to death, we should be grateful that God in His mercy allows us time to repent before death (Ps. 103:8-13). After God killed some people, others confessed their sin and God provided rescue. The psalmist wrote that they repented and searched for God. In other words, they turned from their sin and to God. The psalmist added the explanatory note that they remembered the nature of God, that He was their rock, the Most High God, their Redeemer. Remembering often leads to repenting. When we remember who God is and all He has done, we are moved to repent of sin and turn to Him. Jesus told the Christians in Sardis, Remember and repent (Rev. 3:3). PSALM 78: But they deceived him with their mouths, they lied to him with their tongues, 37 their hearts were insincere toward him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant. VERSES Unfortunately, the repentance of the Hebrews in the wilderness was insincere and self-deceptive. Verse 36 says they deceived God with their mouths. They did not fool God, but their mouths expressed sentiments that were not felt in their hearts. Their words were deceptive. They lied to God. God spoke through Isaiah of people who honor me with lip-service yet their hearts are far from me (Isa. 29:13). Asaph was writing of the same duplicitous phenomenon, the easy sin of speaking holy words while thinking unholy thoughts and living unholy lives. Jesus quoted Isaiah when He stated that His generation was guilty of the same sin (Matt. 15:7-8). People will always be tempted to say they are right with God when they are not. Even when our repentance is heartfelt, sometimes it is shortlived. We can quickly repent of our repentance. Like the Israelites during Hosea s lifetime, commitment to God can be like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes (Hos. 6:4). True repentance results in a growing relationship with God that includes willing obedience (Acts 26:20; 2 Cor. 7:9-11). How do people today speak holy but insincere words about their relationship with God? Why do they do so? 28 Explore the Bible Leader Guide

7 COMPASSION IN THE PRESENT (PS. 78:38-39) VERSES In the incident of sin and judgment described in Numbers 21, God provided an emblem a bronze snake for His people to look at and live (vv. 8-9). God s judgment was tempered with mercy. All who sinned deserved to die, but God gave a means of salvation. Thus, verse 38 states that he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. The word translated compassionate was used to refer to the relationship between a mother and her unborn child. What tender, loving compassion God has for us. God s mercy is not limited to a few historical examples. Verse 38 says he often turned His anger aside. Nehemiah 9, for example, reviews part of the history of Israel and recites a five-fold cycle of rebellion and judgment followed by God s compassion (vv ). Verse 39 also states that God remembers humanity s weaknesses, a truth that is echoed in Psalm 103, where God s remembrance is also paired with His compassion (vv ). God s greatest expression of His compassion for sinners is in the Person and work of Jesus. God incarnated Himself in human flesh because of His love and mercy for us. His death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin was the perfect expression of His righteous wrath against sin and the perfect expression of His love for sinners. The remainder of Psalm 78 continues to trace the history of God s great saving acts on behalf of Israel the plagues in Egypt, the exodus, and the conquest of Canaan (vv ). But these verses also continue the dismal history of Israel s forgetfulness and idolatry (vv ,56-58). God responded to Israel s sin with further judgment and even the scattering of the ten tribes of Israel in the north (vv ). The psalm ends with a note of hope. The Southern Kingdom, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, remained, and the dynasty of David was intact (vv ). Surely the psalmist hoped that David s descendants would shepherd the people as David had, with a pure heart and with his skillful hands (v. 72). PSALM 78: Yet he was compassionate; he atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often turned his anger aside and did not unleash all his wrath. 39 He remembered that they were only flesh, a wind that passes and does not return. (In PSG, p. 29) How does God s compassion shown in the past give us hope for the present? What is the connection between God s compassion and humanity s limitations? Session 2 : The Past 29

8 LEAD GROUP BIBLE STUDY FOCUS ATTENTION (FIRST THOUGHTS) ICEBREAKER: Write on the whiteboard or a large sheet of paper: Those who do not learn from history Point out the phrase and ask group members to complete the well-known quote. They should recognize that the complete quote is Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. For fun, note that you can find several variations on this quote on the Internet, such as Those who don t learn from history will wind up in summer school, or If history repeats itself, I am so getting a pet dinosaur. LEAD: Guide the group to discuss the meaning of this quote. Ask: Based on your own experiences or the state of the world today, do you think this saying is true? TRANSITION: Explain that Psalm 78 called for Israel to learn the lessons from history. Refer to Pack Items 2A,B (Handouts: Types of Psalms) and point out that like in Psalm 1, which we studied in the last session, Psalm 78 is a wisdom/didactic psalm, which means it was intended to teach the Israelites something. To set the context for this study of Psalms, review Pack Item 4 (Time Line: Psalms). EXPLORE THE TEXT DISCUSS: Invite group members to list lessons or specific skills they learned from their parents and/or lessons or skills they ve taught their own children. After several group members comment, ask those who commented why they or their parents thought these lessons were important to pass on. READ: Enlist a volunteer to read aloud Psalm 78:5-8, directing the group to listen for what parents were to teach their children, and why they were to teach them. SUMMARIZE: According to verse 5, fathers were to teach their children God s law. Hebrew poetry often emphasized repetition of ideas rather than sounds. Thus, testimony in Jacob and law in Israel are synonymous. ASK: What are the reasons for teaching children God s law, according to verses 6-8? From the PSG: What are some ways people teach future generations about God and His love? What types of teaching will most likely touch a future generation? (PSG, p. 26) SUMMARIZE: Use the first paragraph under Verses in the PSG (p. 26) to summarize verses Note that verse 32 refers to the miraculous ways God revealed Himself to the Israelites while they were wandering in the wilderness following their release from captivity in Egypt. READ: Direct a volunteer to read aloud Psalm 78:32-37, and challenge the group to listen for the consequences of continued sin. Ask another volunteer to read Numbers 14:34. SUMMARIZE: Highlight the Sinai Desert on Pack Item 1 (Map: Egypt and the Holy Land) to show where the Israelites wandered and rebelled in the desert. Say: God s righteous judgment was that the entire generation of those who rebelled against God in the desert would die there. Numbers 1:46 lists the number of fighting men at more than 600,000, so if they were all married, that s a total of 1.2 million people. That s one funeral every 17 minutes! While verse 35 indicates 30 Explore the Bible Leader Guide

9 that some did repent when they remembered God as their rock and Redeemer, they always seemed to lapse back to unfaithfulness. ASK: How did the people demonstrate insincere hearts toward God in verses 35-37? How do people do the same today? From the PSG: Why do tragedies cause people to turn to God? How would you define the difference between a genuine turning to God and a temporary turning to God? (PSG, p. 28) TRANSITION: These verses paint a grim but accurate picture of human nature. Thankfully, it isn t human nature that saves us. Let s look at our last section of Scripture. HIGHLIGHT: Verses talk about what the people did in spite of God s goodness. Verses talk about what God did in spite of the people s wickedness. READ: As you read aloud Psalm 78:38-39, ask for group members to listen for the one word that gives us hope in the face of God s righteous judgment. ASK: How did God atone for the guilt of the people? What substitute sacrifice has He offered for our sins? From the PSG: How does God s compassion shown in the past give us hope for the present? What is the connection between God s compassion and humanity s limitations? (PSG, p. 29) GUIDE: Use Pack Item 7 (Chart: Messianic Psalms) and Pack Item 8 (Poster: God in the Psalms) to discuss how God s sending His Son and His characteristics display His compassion. SUMMARIZE AND CHALLENGE (IN MY CONTEXT) REVIEW: Invite group members to reflect back on the answers from the discussion about what they learned from their parents and what as parents they are passing on to their children. Say: Whether it s cooking or changing a tire, there is value in all the things we try to pass on to our children. But what are we doing to pass on those lessons that have eternal significance? What did you learn today about human nature and God s compassion? DIRECT: Create smaller teams and direct each team to discuss the questions and create a list of answers to the first question set under In My Context (PSG, p. 30): List some ways your Bible study group can teach younger individuals about God and His compassion for humanity. Ascertain practical methods for achieving these ideas. Call teams back together to discuss their answers. Make sure to discuss programs and opportunities your church already offers, as well as ways parents can lead their children at home. Emphasize that our responsibility is not only to the next generation but also to people our own age. REMIND: Encourage group members to read through Psalm 23 and study the Session 3 content in their PSG in preparation for the next group time. PRAY: Read the summary statement for this session under the title on page 21 of the PSG: We can learn from the past as we observe God s faithfulness in contrast to humanity s unfaithfulness. Lead the group in prayer, thanking God for leaving us a record in His Word of His relationship with His people, and asking God to help us learn from the past as we observe His faithfulness. Session 2 : The Past 31

10 PRACTICE Review your group list, focusing on faithful, mature group members who are not involved in any areas of ministry in the church. Follow up with them this week, and challenge them to teach the next generation. Ask God to use you to develop and encourage them. Pray for your own children or children in your life this week. Commit to intentionally passing on something you have learned in your relationship with God to the next generation. MORE IDEAS FOCUS ATTENTION (FIRST THOUGHTS) In advance, obtain a list from a college or young adult group in your church of things I wish I d learned from my parents. Alternatively, you can post this question on Facebook or other social media: Now that you are an adult, what is the most helpful skill you learned from your parents? Share responses. EXPLORE THE TEXT To supplement your discussion of Psalm 78:6, enlist several volunteers to share how they came to faith in Christ. Encourage them to share specific details about who taught them about Jesus and what kind of example that person set. To further your discussion of Psalm 78:32-37, discuss: Are people more likely to learn from the mistakes of the past or from God s demonstration of wondrous works in the past? Why? Guide group members to reflect on how this has been true in their own lives. SUMMARIZE AND CHALLENGE (IN MY CONTEXT) Prior to the session, find out from your children s ministry leadership whether there are any current needs for children s small group leaders or volunteers in the ministry. Emphasize to your group that they have just spent an entire session on the mandate to teach the next generation the law and the testimony of God. Encourage group members to prayerfully consider how they could meet these needs. Obtain a list of all the new and expectant parents in your church. Give one name to each individual or couple in your group, and challenge them to pray for new parents each day this week, so that future generations might know the law and testimony of our God. SUGGESTED MUSIC IDEAS During the Summarize and Challenge section, play a recording of the hymn In His Time, by Diane Ball. During the prayer, thank God that our salvation is based on His faithfulness, not ours. Go to the Leader Helps at LifeWay.com/ExploretheBible to hear some of these psalms put to music and to download free worship arrangements of them. 32 Explore the Bible Leader Guide