THAT THEY MAY SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD

Text: Psalm 78
23 October 2011

(I) WHAT IS HOPE?

1. It is trust in God

2. It is trust in God concerning the future

3. It is trust in God in the here and now

(II) THE DANGER OF NOT HAVING AN ESTABLISHED HOPE-TRUST IN GOD

1. Stubborn and rebellious (Psalm 78:8b, 17b)

2. Heart not right with God (Psalm78:8c)

3. Spirit not faithful to God (Psalm 78:8d)

4. Did not keep the covenant of God (Psalm 78:10a)

5. Refused to walk in God’s law (Psalm 78:10b)

6. Forgetting God’s works (Psalm 78:11a)

7. Testing God (Psalm 78:18a)

8. Speaking against God (Psalm 78:19)

9. Did not trust/believe God (Psalm 78:22, 32)

10. Insincere (Psalm 78:36-37)

(III) THE COMMAND TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO HOPE IN GOD

1. A Divine law (Psalm 78:5a)

2. A specific command (Psalm 78:5b)

a) To teach the children

b) Who will then teach the next generation?

(IV) RESPONDING TO THIS COMMAND OF GOD

1. Personal Commitment

a) To reach the next generation

b) To teach the next generation

2. Means

a) Psalm singing

b) Psalm recitation

c) Psalm teaching (history)

i) Recalling

ii) Highlighting events

iii) Drawing attention to wrong-doing

iv) Encouraging all to learn from mistakes made in the past

v) Encouraging all to believe in God

vi) Establishing hope-trust in God