Teach about God’s “wondrous works”
Daily Scripture
Psalm 78:1-8, Proverbs 9:10-12
Psalm 78
1 Listen, my people, to my teaching;
tilt your ears toward the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a proverb.
I’ll declare riddles from days long gone—
3 ones that we’ve heard and learned about,
ones that our ancestors told us.
4 We won’t hide them from their descendants;
we’ll tell the next generation
all about the praise due the LORD and his strength—
the wondrous works God has done.
5 He established a law for Jacob
and set up Instruction for Israel,
ordering our ancestors
to teach them to their children.
6 This is so that the next generation
and children not yet born will know these things,
and so they can rise up and tell their children
7 to put their hope in God—
never forgetting God’s deeds,
but keeping God’s commandments—
8 and so that they won’t become like their ancestors:
a rebellious, stubborn generation,
a generation whose heart wasn’t set firm
and whose spirit wasn’t faithful to God.
Proverbs 9
10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD;
the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.
11 Through me your days will be many;
years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, it is to your benefit;
if you are cynical, you will bear it all alone.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
God’s people (including Resurrection’s Student Ministry) have always valued teaching and learning. Israel’s sacred poets showed that the focus of education was not just to satisfy random human curiosity, but to grasp and pass on the knowledge of God’s powerful acts to future generations. God’s purpose transcends any age distinctions we might make. Jesus continued that focus: “Jesus began to teach anyone who would listen regardless of gender, status, or age.” *
- Psalm 78 said that while learning, of course, has present benefits, it is strongly future-focused. God’s followers, through the centuries, have played a major role in starting many types of schools. That’s because the faith teaches them to care about future generations, not merely their own comfort and security. How important is it to you that your faith not just make your life better, but reach those who will be here after you’re gone?
- Commentator Donald Williams wrote, “What is the purpose for this teaching?… it creates ‘hope in God,’ revealing the living God who keeps His covenant and redeems His people. Second, it reminds Israel of God’s ‘works’ (‘saving deeds’), protecting her from forgetting Him. Third, it leads to obedience.” ** What people have played the most central roles in sharing those three kinds of teaching with you? Which of them can you best help to teach to students?
Prayer
Lord God, I want to live a life with the big picture aim of helping both present and future generations know your strength and ultimate righteousness. Please guide me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lisa Wilt
Lisa Wilt is a member and greeter at Resurrection's Blue Springs campus. She is an inspirational speaker, podcaster, and author of five books. Lisa’s 1-Minute W.O.W. Words air twice daily on Life885.com. Lisa and her husband have 2 grown children and one grandson, Elijah David. The title that most defines Lisa is CHILD OF GOD. As her family will tell you, Lisa’s singing is dreadful, but her banana bread is delightful. Visit her at LisaWilt.com.
I don’t remember what precipitated the proclamation, but I do remember the supper scene like it was yesterday. We were eating around the kitchen table when our three-year-old son turned to my thirty-something-year-old husband, wrinkled his pudgy nose and announced with the authority of Michael the Archangel: “I’m smarter than you!” Garrett sat up straight in his blue booster seat and puffed out his bare belly. We could tell that he believed every word he spoke, never mind that the only stitch of clothing he was wearing was his diaper.
Without missing a beat, my husband piped back with a grin, “Oh really? So, how high can you count?” As a toddler Garrett was just learning to count. David was proud of our son’s dedication to accuracy in counting everything from pennies to his ten little piggies. Dinner was put on pause as they methodically counted to thirty. Because this was higher than our son had ever counted, Garrett grinned ear to ear.
As I remember this story, it paints a spiritual picture for me. As an earthly father teaches his child, my Heavenly Father teaches me. He wants to help me learn. With Him I can gain more than knowledge (like my son who learned how to count). I can also gain wisdom (like learning what is most important to count).
More than pennies and piggies, today’s first reading teaches us to count what counts: God’s wonderous works, His faithfulness and His commands to name a few. Like my husband who started counting from 1 to 30, our second reading starts at the beginning, reminding us that: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD; the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.” The word “fear” that is referenced here might best be understood as respect and reverence for God.
Wisdom begins with having respect and reverence for God. Apart from Him we cannot be wise. I’ve heard it said that wisdom is vertical (meaning it comes from God) while knowledge is horizontal (meaning it comes from man). Wisdom is not necessarily gained with gray hairs. Without God, the oldest, most knowledgeable people in the world may be the most unwise and foolish. Cardiac surgeons may be able to transplant the human heart, but apart from God they will never understand the human heart and its ability to discern good and evil (Jeremiah 17:9 NLT).
One of my favorite verses on wisdom was penned by James in the opening verses of his letter. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 NLT) Wisdom is a gift. A gift given regardless of age, gender, nationality or status. A gift granted when our faith is in God is unwavering.
Sometimes I waver. Oftentimes I grow weary and forget to ask for wisdom. Many times, I take my eyes off God, and count the wrong things for the wrong reasons. Things that will pass away like my knowledge–human knowledge. Or my pennies–those in my 401K account for retirement.
Thinking about retirement brings me full circle. Now my three-year-old son is nearly 30 years old. Today, August 15th, he sits for his Internal Medicine Exams having completed medical school and residency. The State Board will test his knowledge then issue his medical license; God willing. In the coming years he’ll count lots of things, like his patients’ heart rate, cholesterol levels and hemoglobin. But more eternally important than any of these are the lessons from today’s readings for each of us to:
1. count God’s wonderous deeds,
2. learn His teachings,
3. place our hope in Him,
4. and never forget His ultimate righteousness, His strength and His faithful deeds.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Ortberg, John, Who Is This Man?: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus (p. 63). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. For a more in-depth study of Jesus’ effect on education than space here allows, see chapter 5, “An Undistinguished Visiting Scholar,” in Ortberg’s remarkable book.
