#2 Holy Wit – Bible Study Teaching the Next Generation to Fear the Lord (WW – Wisdom and Worship – Psalm 78; Psalm 34) Scripture Reading (NKJV): Psalm 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Psalm 78:3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. Psalm 78:4 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. Psalm 78:5 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; Psalm 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, Psalm 78:7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; Psalm 78:8 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 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 78:1–8 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A1-8&version=NKJV Psalm 34:11–14 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A11-14&version=NKJV 1. Reverence for God Must Be Taught Psalm 34 contains a simple but deeply important sentence: “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” That statement alone corrects a common modern assumption. Many people imagine spiritual maturity simply “happens” over time, as though wisdom drifts naturally into the human heart like dust settling on furniture. Scripture says otherwise. Reverence for God must be taught intentionally. Children do not automatically learn gratitude, humility, worship, or obedience merely by existing near Christian things. The fear of the Lord is cultivated through instruction, example, repetition, correction, and continual remembrance. The Psalms assume each generation bears responsibility to speak truth into the next one. Psalm 34:11 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A11&version=NKJV Psalm 78:5–6 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A5-6&version=NKJV 2. Praise Is One of the Ways We Teach Psalm 78 says, “We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD.” Notice what Israel was commanded to pass down. Not merely rules. Not merely traditions. Not merely warnings. They were to tell the next generation about the greatness of God Himself. Praise is instructional. Worship teaches. Children learn what matters to adults by listening to what adults repeatedly celebrate, complain about, fear, or admire. If children hear endless conversation about money, politics, sports, irritation, and entertainment — but almost never hear joyful discussion about the goodness and faithfulness of God — they receive a very clear message about what the household truly values. The Psalms repeatedly connect remembrance with worship because forgetfulness is one of humanity’s most persistent spiritual problems. Psalm 78:4 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A4&version=NKJV Psalm 145:4 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+145%3A4&version=NKJV 3. Forgetfulness Is Spiritually Dangerous Psalm 78 is one of the great historical psalms of Scripture, and much of it recounts Israel repeatedly forgetting God’s faithfulness. That pattern should humble us. Human beings have a remarkable ability to witness God’s provision and then behave forty-eight hours later as though He has vanished entirely. Israel saw miracles in Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, ate manna in the wilderness — and still drifted into unbelief and complaint. And before criticizing them too quickly, most believers can probably locate themselves somewhere in that story. One answered prayer often sustains us for about three and a half business days before panic returns in full force. This is why Scripture repeatedly commands remembrance. Praise helps preserve memory. Memory strengthens faith. Faith deepens reverence. A generation that forgets the works of God will not long continue walking in the ways of God. Psalm 78:7–8 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A7-8&version=NKJV Psalm 103:2 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103%3A2&version=NKJV 4. The Fear of the Lord Produces Practical Obedience Psalm 34 moves quickly from reverence into conduct: “Keep your tongue from evil.” “Depart from evil and do good.” “Seek peace and pursue it.” Biblical wisdom is never merely theoretical. The fear of the Lord changes speech, behavior, priorities, and relationships. A person may claim deep spirituality while leaving destruction everywhere he goes through pride, gossip, bitterness, dishonesty, or selfishness. The Psalms refuse to separate worship from conduct. Reverence for God eventually appears in ordinary life. In how parents speak to children. In how husbands speak to wives. In how believers conduct business. In whether truth is spoken. In whether peace is pursued. The fear of the Lord is not mystical fog floating above life. It is a shaping reality that changes how a person walks through the world. Psalm 34:13–14 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+34%3A13-14&version=NKJV Psalm 111:10 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+111%3A10&version=NKJV 5. Every Generation Must Decide What It Will Remember Psalm 78 carries a quiet urgency beneath its surface. One generation tells the next. Then that generation tells another. The chain continues — or breaks. Civilizations often imagine themselves undone primarily by economics, politics, war, or cultural shifts. Scripture frequently traces collapse back to something more foundational: forgetting God. When praise disappears, reverence weakens. When reverence weakens, obedience erodes. When obedience erodes, confusion multiplies. The Psalms call believers to resist that drift deliberately. Teach the children. Tell the stories. Speak of God’s faithfulness openly. Praise Him regularly. Remind one another of His works. The next generation will learn reverence from somewhere. Scripture commands the people of God not to surrender that responsibility. Psalm 78:4–7 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+78%3A4-7&version=NKJV Psalm 145:10–12 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+145%3A10-12&version=NKJV Reflection Questions 1. Why does Psalm 34 describe the fear of the Lord as something that must be taught? 2. What kinds of things are most frequently praised or discussed in your home? 3. How does praise help preserve spiritual memory? 4. In what ways can forgetfulness become spiritually dangerous? 5. What practical habits could help you teach the next generation about God’s faithfulness? Prayer Points 1. Thank God for those who faithfully taught you about Him. 2. Ask the Lord to help you cultivate reverence, gratitude, and wisdom. 3. Pray for parents, grandparents, pastors, and teachers who instruct younger believers. 4. Ask God to help the next generation remember His works and trust His faithfulness. 5. Pray that praise and worship would become regular habits in your home and church. For further study (NKJV): Psalm 71:17–18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71%3A17-18&version=NKJV Psalm 145:1–7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+145%3A1-7&version=NKJV Psalm 127:1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+127%3A1&version=NKJV #HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #WWWisdomAndWorship #Psalm78