Not Being as Their Fathers - Psalms 78:8

In Psalms chapter seventy-eight Asaph said Jehovah God, “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, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments”, and in chapter seventy-eight and verse eight of Psalms Asaph shared these things so they, “might not be as their fathers” where we read,

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation;

a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

The verse begins, “And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; ” Asaph began with the words, “and might not be” or “and would not come to exist, arise and appear” “as their fathers” which means “in likeness and similar to their, the future generation's, forefathers, ancestors and progenitors”, “a stubborn” or “a rebel, refractory and backsliding” “and rebellious” which means “and contentious, obstinate and disobedient” “generation” or “period, age or posterity”. Asaph said the passing along of Jehovah God's witness and law to future generations would insure that they would not exist in likeness to their forefathers who were rebels, contentious and disobedient people.

The verse goes on to say, “a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” Asaph continued with the words, “a generation” or “a period, age or posterity” “that set not their heart aright” which means “who did not place, put or appoint their, the ancestors of Jacob and Israel's, inner man, mind, will, understanding, soul, inclination, thinking, reflection, memory, resolution, determination and conscience as stable, fixed and securely determined”, “and whose spirit” or “and whose breath, mind, vivacity and vigor” “was not stedfast” which means “was not in any way supported, confirmed, upheld nor deemed faithful” “with God” or “alongside the Divine judge, ruler and Supreme God”. Asaph said the past “generation” who disregarded Jehovah God's witness and law did not have their souls and minds securely determined because they would not be confirmed and deemed faithful to Him.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Asaph did not want the future generations to exist like their forefathers who were refractory, disobedient and contentious. Their souls and minds were not fixed and stable, and their vivacity was not confirmed or deemed faithful with God. God wants to have a relationship with people through His Son Jesus, and when we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and establish our souls and minds with a faithful understanding to who God is and what He has done for us.

Next time Asaph shares about, “the children of Ephraim”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".