"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT AVOIDING TROUBLE AND DESPAIR"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT AVOIDING TROUBLE AND DESPAIR"

"He commanded our ancestors to teach them ( God's laws and instruction ) to their children, so the next generation might know them-even the children not yet born-and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set it's hope anew on God, not forgetting His commands. They will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God"
Ps 78:5b-8 NLT

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. The Psalmist is seeking to encourage the people by reminding them of lessons from their past. See 78:1. And, he is using true events from their past to teach them these lessons. See 78:2.

2. God had given instructions to His people, and He wanted them to teach them to their children, so that the next generation would have them in mind also. The truths of God's instruction were to be passed down, from generation to generation.

3. One main goal The Lord had, and still has of course for us today, is found in this beautiful statement, " So each generation should set it's hope anew on God"

Isn't that encouraging to hear. It's not only encouraging to hear, it's both what each generation was to do, and could do. This includes us today. It includes you who may be reading this devotional. It includes me, the writer. We can and should set our hope anew on God. To set our hope anew, would be in the sense of renewing, or doing something again, a fresh new start as it were. Repeating what had been done in the past. Placing our hope in the Living God.

4. Here's the kicker. Here's the blessing that would take place if the people would place their hope in God anew. "Then they will not be like their ancestors-stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God" Let's look at each of these a little closer.

(1) Stubborn, means to rebel, to revolt, slide back, withdrew.

(2) Rebellious, which means, to provoke, be disobedient, to be against, to grieve, be contentious, be disobedient towards God.

(3) Unfaithful, meaning, they could not be trusted, or verified, they were not steadfast, they were not pillars, they could not be believed.

(4) Refusing, they simply would not do what God had called them to do. And, what He was calling them to do, was to simply give Him their hearts, but they refused.

5. So, the Psalmist, was praying and hoping that by the generation reading what he wrote, ( Actually God inspired the writer ) that by the passing on of the lessons and the experiences of their forefathers, that it would be a lesson received, and it would help the hearers for generations to come to give their hearts anew to God.

And, when a person does that, they are sure to keep themselves from trouble. Trouble comes to the man who refuses to obey God. It may not come right away, but, it will certainly come at some point. So, the way to avoid trouble, is to obey God, and to submit to God. He will bless Your life. It's not His desire that you suffer through or as a result of your own selfishness, He wants to bring His blessing into your life.

6. Here are a few more verses from Proverbs 16, may they be a real encouragement to you.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:6 Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 16:17 The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

A Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your Word, which teaches us, instructs us, warns us, corrects us, restores us, comforts us, empowers us. Lord, may we take Your Word to heart. Thank You for these wonderful verses which are so instructive. Keep us from our own ways Lord, keep us from evil, and lead us in the path of righteousness for Your sake.

In Jesus name. Amen

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.