S ) "1 O God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old."
Psalm 44:1 (NASB)
O) The Bible is replete with verses about one generation teaching the next generation (or failing to do so). This is an interesting psalm as a whole, because it starts with a correct premise. This was written by the sons of Korah, and they had apparently learned of the LORD'S great power and might. They are able to recount His wonders and praise Him for them. Then, they describe how they are rejected and seem to be abandoned by God, yet they cannot see the cause. They declare their faithfulness, and yet God is not for them, and they are confused. One of the narratives that comes through the Old Testament, is the cycle of Israel's unfaithfulness, desperation, repentance, back to unfaithfulness. Their unfaithfulness as a nation is what caused their oppression under various rulers until their kingdom was established, but then ultimately caused their exile from both Israel and Judah. So, in this psalm, we have a people who claim to be faithful to the LORD their God, yet He is apparently not for them. Either they are mistaken about their faithfulness, or they are mistaken about their God. At various times throughout their history, the people of Israel would idolize the ark of the covenant. They would tout it into battle, assuming it meant their victory. Or, they would idolize the city of Jerusalem or Mount Zion, assuming their existence meant their victory. In either case, in a sense, they were idolizing their own name. The rationale would look something like this:
Because they are Israelites, they are special.
Because they are special, they are God's chosen people.
Because they are God's chosen people, God is pleased with them.
Because God is pleased with them, God will fight for them.
It is true that they were Israelites. However, they were not chosen because they were special. They were special because they were chosen. Furthermore, God was not pleased because they were chosen, but God chooses people with whom He is pleased.
Now, this is all supposing these people, who were originally singing this psalm, were unknowingly unfaithful. But, let's suppose for a moment that they were truly faithful to God. Then the other explanation is that they misunderstood God. He does not error and He is good. We do not always know the fullness of God's motives (in fact, I'd say more often than not, we are simply unable to comprehend that fullness, with no hope to understand until perfection comes). When I read verse 22, I can see how maybe these people might have had some idea of that. However, when read as a whole, this psalm comes across as pretty hopeless. It would seem everything comes back to the beginning. Their fathers correctly shared their testimony of God's great deliverances, power, and might. It would seem, however, that their fathers did not teach them that God is still good in the face of adversity. God is still Good, even when He allows loss.
A) My own children must not hear only of the happiness I have enjoyed with my Lord. They must also hear about the sorrows I endured with Him as well. It is good for me to teach my children of the provision, protection, and deliverance the Lord has given me. However, I would be doing them a disservice if I did not also tell them about the loss, the pain, and the suffering that I have seen while following Jesus Christ. They in order to correctly teach about the sovereignty of the LORD, I must paint a complete picture, telling the whole story. Otherwise, I am setting them up for failure the very first time they face a hardship that the LORD Himself has allowed into their lives. God willing, my children will all grow up as Christians. However, they cannot idolize that name, thinking that it means entitlement to anything. The New Testament positively discusses suffering, loss, hardship, grief, and pain almost as much as it describes anything else that might feel good. So, I do not want to raise hedonist "Christian" children, who are seeking what feels good, or feels right. I want them to know that the LORD is for them based on their faith in Christ. I want them to know that being a disciple of Christ means they will surely (at some point, maybe many points) suffer as their Master suffered. Through all of that, I want them to know He is worth it.
Because they are Israelites, they are special.
Because they are special, they are God's chosen people.
Because they are God's chosen people, God is pleased with them.
Because God is pleased with them, God will fight for them.
It is true that they were Israelites. However, they were not chosen because they were special. They were special because they were chosen. Furthermore, God was not pleased because they were chosen, but God chooses people with whom He is pleased.
Now, this is all supposing these people, who were originally singing this psalm, were unknowingly unfaithful. But, let's suppose for a moment that they were truly faithful to God. Then the other explanation is that they misunderstood God. He does not error and He is good. We do not always know the fullness of God's motives (in fact, I'd say more often than not, we are simply unable to comprehend that fullness, with no hope to understand until perfection comes). When I read verse 22, I can see how maybe these people might have had some idea of that. However, when read as a whole, this psalm comes across as pretty hopeless. It would seem everything comes back to the beginning. Their fathers correctly shared their testimony of God's great deliverances, power, and might. It would seem, however, that their fathers did not teach them that God is still good in the face of adversity. God is still Good, even when He allows loss.
A) My own children must not hear only of the happiness I have enjoyed with my Lord. They must also hear about the sorrows I endured with Him as well. It is good for me to teach my children of the provision, protection, and deliverance the Lord has given me. However, I would be doing them a disservice if I did not also tell them about the loss, the pain, and the suffering that I have seen while following Jesus Christ. They in order to correctly teach about the sovereignty of the LORD, I must paint a complete picture, telling the whole story. Otherwise, I am setting them up for failure the very first time they face a hardship that the LORD Himself has allowed into their lives. God willing, my children will all grow up as Christians. However, they cannot idolize that name, thinking that it means entitlement to anything. The New Testament positively discusses suffering, loss, hardship, grief, and pain almost as much as it describes anything else that might feel good. So, I do not want to raise hedonist "Christian" children, who are seeking what feels good, or feels right. I want them to know that the LORD is for them based on their faith in Christ. I want them to know that being a disciple of Christ means they will surely (at some point, maybe many points) suffer as their Master suffered. Through all of that, I want them to know He is worth it.
P) Father, I don't want to teach my children a prosperity gospel. I don't wan them to be shocked when life is hard and You don't make it easier for them. I know that You use circumstances for our good, and even what our enemies intend for evil, You will use for good. But, I also know that doesn't mean You make life easier, but that You make Your children stronger. You empower us by the Holy Spirit to endure more. You give us a joyful perspective about life's harder times. Give me wisdom, Father, to teach my children well. Open their eyes and ears, to know Your goodness despite their circumstances. Let Your will be done, not ours. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
is psalms 19:01 the same topic as psalms 44:01
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