TLIC Psalms. July 2. Sayings from of Old.

Read Psalm 78:1-8.  ¹Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! ²I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, ³things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. ⁴We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. ⁵He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, ⁶that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, ⁷so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; ⁸and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Just like Asaph does here, Jesus too opened his mouth in parables. Teachings that used one realm of life to illustrate another. This is how a generation that didn’t live through the lessons of an event can still learn those same lessons – through the parable. The story being re-told over and over. Why? So that history won’t repeat itself as in the mistakes of the former generations. But of course it did.

Thankfully, the Old Testament stories are never the final story. In fact, they are dark sayings or riddles. Hidden truths to be unveiled by Christ. Truths that we must have ears to hear. Gospel truths of God’s love and grace through Jesus and our union with him. New Covenant promises that fulfill verse 7 – the Spirit’s indwelling hope, faithful remembrance of the work of the cross, and obedience to the gospel’s commandment to trust in Christ alone – and the prevention of verse 8 – the heart of flesh replacing the stubborn, rebellious heart of stone.

To live is Christ is the life of this new heart, and with it new ears to hear the parable of the Old Testament – God with us, in us, through us in Christ.

Prayer. Jesus, you have given me the new heart. Give me your grace to receive the sayings from old through the lens of Christ. Amen.