Teaching is my passion and teaching believers the Word of God is my calling. That's why I write a weekly newsletter from the Word of God. Knowledge builds faith and faith builds understanding. Drop your email below to receive helpful lessons about God's Word.
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Ask God: Oh, how important it is to remember! Remembering helps us avoid past mistakes. This important lession is what the writer of Psalm 78 is conveying to the people of Israel. When we forget, we repeat the past. Good Evening Reader, How was your week? Of often did you remember to praise and glorify God? Sometimes we get things confused by believing God exist to serve us when in reality, we exist to serve God. Let us thank Him and praise Him in all we do. God Bless. Elvin When We Forget, We Slip. When We Remember, We Stand. Psalm 78 Have you ever gone through a difficult situation and finally made it to the other side? At the time, you may have said to yourself, “I will never go through that again.” Yet months, or even years later, you find yourself facing the very same struggle, enduring the same kind of pain. What happened? It was not simply bad luck or coincidence. Often, it is because the lesson was never fully learned. When we do not take time to understand the “why” behind the experience, we leave the door open to repeat it. Growth does not come just from going through hardship. It comes from learning through it. When the lesson is missed, the situation often returns, giving us another opportunity to respond differently and walk in greater wisdom. Every Experience Should be an Experience Learned Every believer faces a quiet but persistent challenge. It is not always open rebellion or deliberate disobedience. Often, it is something far more subtle; Simple forgetfulness. Life moves quickly, responsibilities increase, and before long, the memory of what God has done begins to fade. When that happens, faith can weaken without us even realizing it. Throughout Scripture, God continually calls His people to remember. This is not simply for reflection, but for transformation. What we remember shapes how we think, how we respond, and how we trust Him in present circumstances. When we lose sight of His past faithfulness, we begin to rely more on our own understanding and less on His guidance. This is why remembering is so important. It anchors the heart, strengthens belief, and provides clarity in uncertain times. A faith that remembers God’s works is a faith that remains steady, even in life’s most challenging moments. Give Ear, O My People Psalm 78 is a powerful teaching psalm that calls God’s people to remember His works and remain faithful to Him. It was written by Asaph, a Levite and skilled musician appointed during the time of David. His purpose is not merely to recount Israel’s history. It is to instruct future generations so they will place their trust in God and avoid repeating the failures of those who came before them. The psalm opens with a clear and intentional charge. “Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth” (Psalm 78:1). This is more than a call to hear. It is a call to receive and to understand. Asaph emphasizes that what God has done must not be hidden from the next generation. Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD.” Faith is not meant to fade with time. It is meant to be taught with clarity and passed down with purpose. Asaph walks honestly through Israel’s history. He highlights both God’s faithfulness and the people’s repeated rebellion. God performed mighty miracles. He divided the sea, led them with a cloud by day and fire by night, brought water from the rock, and rained down manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4, Exodus 17:6). Yet even in the presence of these wonders, the people doubted Him. Psalm 78:22 explains why. “Because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.” This reveals a critical truth. Forgetfulness leads to unbelief, and unbelief leads to disobedience. When people forget what God has done, they begin to rely on their own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Israel struggled because they saw God’s works, but they did not anchor those works in their hearts. Despite their unfaithfulness, God remained merciful. This truth runs throughout the psalm. The people rebelled again and again, yet God did not abandon them. He disciplined them, but He also forgave them and continued to guide them. Psalm 78:38 says, “But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them.” This helps us understand the heart of God. His discipline was not meant to destroy, but to correct and restore. Hebrews 12:6 teaches, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens.” When we understand the “why,” we see that correction is not rejection. It is redirection. God allows discipline to bring His people back into alignment with His will. At the same time, God’s mercy is clearly revealed. He is just, and He does not ignore sin. Yet He is also compassionate, and He provides a path to restoration. This balance is essential. Many struggle because they lean too far in one direction. Some see God as harsh and distant. Others see Him as permissive and unconcerned with sin. Psalm 78 corrects both misunderstandings by showing that God is both righteous and gracious. This balance is fully revealed in Jesus Christ. At the cross, justice and mercy came together. Sin was judged, yet grace was extended. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because of Christ, we are not only forgiven but are also guided into a new life of obedience and purpose. The psalm concludes by pointing to God’s choice of David to shepherd His people. Psalm 78:72 says that David shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands. This reminds us that God provides leadership and direction for His people. When we follow Him, He leads us with care and wisdom. In today’s environment, Psalm 78 serves as both a warning and a guide. Many people forget what God has done. Life becomes busy, distractions increase, and spiritual memory fades. When that happens, people begin to drift. Their faith weakens, and their decisions become rooted in feelings rather than truth. The solution is intentional remembrance. Believers must take time to recall God’s faithfulness. This can be done through reading His Word, sharing testimonies, and teaching the next generation. When parents and teachers consistently declare what God has done, they build a foundation of faith that will stand in difficult times. Consider a simple example. A family that regularly speaks about how God has provided in times of need will raise children who expect God to be faithful. When challenges come, those children will not respond with fear, but with trust. They will remember what God has already done. Psalm 78 calls believers to live with a faith that is both rooted and active. Rooted in remembrance, and active in obedience. When we fall short, we should not run from God, but return to Him. When we are corrected, we should receive it with humility, knowing it is for our growth. And as we grow, we are called to reflect that same balance of truth and grace to others. God’s justice keeps us grounded in truth. His compassion fills us with hope. Together, they lead us into a deeper and more faithful walk. When we remember His works, trust His ways, and teach His truth, we not only strengthen our own faith, but we help ensure that the next generation will walk with Him as well. Carnal Mind or Spiritual Mind? Paul reminded the Romans to put away the carnal mind and walk in the Spirit. By placing our minds on things of God, we become receptive to receiving the things of God. The carnal mind rejects the things of God, while the spiritual mind hungers for the things of God. Roman 8:6-8 says, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity (deep-seated ill-will) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” By placing ourselves subject to the law of God, we are positioned to receive from Him. For when we pray according to the will of God, He hears us, and if we know He hears us, we receive that which we asked of Him (1 John 5:14-15). Walking in the Spirit of God prevents you from slipping back into the Carnal mind and sin. Elvin PS. Share your newfound knowledge with you friends. Reader, Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose. Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family. Grow in the knowledge of God. Elvin Send your comments to elvin@AskGodFor.com and let me know what you think of the lessons. Go to: www.AskGodFor.com To See More Living Life Lessons |
Teaching is my passion and teaching believers the Word of God is my calling. That's why I write a weekly newsletter from the Word of God. Knowledge builds faith and faith builds understanding. Drop your email below to receive helpful lessons about God's Word.