Psalm 78: Not To Be Hidden

Book 3 of the Psalms is composed of Psalms 73-89, and itstone is dark. For a golden age, under David and Solomon, therewas a 50-year unified kingdom, and the ‘earthly’ kingdom waseasy-to-see, complete with good kings, military strength, and abeautiful temple in Jerusalem. But the theme of Book 3,according to O. P. Robertson, is ‘devastation’: though theyonce possessed the fulfilled Davidic promises of God, all seemslost now. Is God there? Is he able? Does he care?
In Psalm 77 (last week), the key concept was a ‘hearing’ withGod in the midst of devastation, but our key here in Psalm 78 isthe opposite: ‘learn to listen.’ Though the emphases aredifferent, the theme is quite similar: When we trust God indevastating moments, he will graciously lead us home.

We make God’s grace known to the next generation when we…
– Reflect on the past, remembering his covenant and glorious deeds. (1-8 various)
– Anticipate the future, hoping in his faithfulness. (7)
– Are faithful in the present, trusting his Word with humble obedience. (7)