What We Should Teach Our Children and Why...

Taken from Chapter 3 of Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper.

1. The glorious deeds of the Lord (Psalm 78:4)—what God has done in our lives.
2. The might of God (Psalm 78:4)—the nature of God.
3. The wonders God has done (Psalm 78:4)—what God has done in history.
4. The testimony and law of God (Psalm 78:5)—how God wants us to live.

1. That they [our children and grandchildren and great- . . . ] should set their
hope in God (Psalm 78:7)—our deepest desire for our children and their children,
2. and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7)—the basis of their trust,
3. but keep his commandments (Psalm 78:7)—the life they will live because of their trust
in God.

Psalm 78:1-7 (NIV)
1 O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

3 what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

6 so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.