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An Established Law

Text: Psalm 78
25 June 2006

(I) A DIVINE LAW ESTABLISHED FROM ANTIQUITY

“For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children” Psalm 78:5

1. God Himself established this Law

2. A Divine Command

a) To fathers

b) To make known God’s law to their children ( Cf. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 )

(II) GOALS OF THIS DIVINE LAW

“That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments
And may not be like their fathers
A stubborn and rebellious generation
A generation that did not set its heart aright
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:6-8

1. Negatively stated

a) Not forget the works of God

b) Not like their fathers

i) Stubborn

ii) Rebellious

iii) Did not set its heart aright

iv) Spirit not faithful to God

2. Positively stated

a) Knowledge of God through the Scriptures

b) A great sense of hope (faith) in God

c) Generation after generation to have this sense of hope

(III) APPRECIATION OF THE LEGACY OF THE SCRIPTURES

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,’
And revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:33-37

1. A Needful prayer

a) For God to instruct

b) For understanding to be given

c) For strength to walk in God’s ways

d) To be kept from coveting the “worthless things” of the world

2. A needed determination

a) To keep God’s word to the very end

b) To delight in it

c) To be revived time and again