Psalm 78

“Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 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. 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; 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 78:1-8 (NKJV)

The Hebrew word that is translated as “law” in most Bibles is “Torah.”  What is interesting about the word Torah is that it does not translate as “law” in Hebrew.  Torah, in Hebrew means “teaching/instructing.” Typically, Bible scholars call the first five books of the Old Testament the “Torah” (although, in a greater sense, ALL of Scripture is God’s Torah/instruction) because the first five books contain the Mosaic law.  But you and I know those books contain so much more than simply the laws of do’s and don’ts.  There are stories of patriarchs and matriarchs, God-fearers and pagans who hate God.  To simply boil the Old Testament down to a system of rules is to be ignorant of the purpose of God’s instruction.  The apostle Paul understood the great value of the Old Testament “Torah” to believers in the New Testament church.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

When we replace the word “law” with “instruction/teaching,” today’s psalm takes on a different context for us.  Asaph is reminding his hearers that the prosperity of God’s people depends upon them knowing God’s “teaching/instruction” and imparting that to the next generation.  In fact, on the day the Torah was given, it came with instructions for how God’s people should pursue His Word day-to-day.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)

When we remember God’s faithfulness, as articulated in His Word (the Bible), we are more inclined to faithfully trust Him in our generation. When we are warned of the consequences of unfaithfulness in the Bible, we learn to stay away from those same sinful scenarios.  Likewise, our children learn His Torah as they watch our faithful example: faith, building upon faith, from generation to generation.