A key concept of some of the prayers in the psalms in the 70s and 80s (Book III is Psalms 73 – 89) is a prayer for God to work today as he did in the past. I get the feeling that Israel is in captivity, and things aren’t looking so good. For example:

Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah (Psalm 77.7 – 9, NKJV)

The solution is to remember what God is capable of:

And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds…Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Psalm 77.10 – 12, 19, NKJV)

“I will remember the works of the LORD…” The theme continues into Psalm 78 with an admonition to teach the children:

We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. (Psalm 78.4, NKJV)

God’s works. I was discussing with a friend a lady in his small group who attributed her successful travel to two graduations in two disparate places to God. “God was on fire.” My friend’s preferred take was maybe Southwest was on fire.

But we agreed that attributing the successful trip to God might not be a bad outlook. Recognize what God is (or may be) doing in the world and share it with the children.

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; 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; (Psalm 78.5 – 7, NKJV)

Maybe “Focus on the Family” that I wrote about recently is HOW we get the mission done.

By contrast…

The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. (Psalm 78.9 – 11, NKJV)

Equipped but not obedient. And they “forgot His works…” Therefore, they were useless in battle. Sad. A picture of many in our churches.