Teach the Story

 Have you read Psalm 78 recently? Psalm 78:1-7 is one of the lectionary readings for November 12 of this year (Year A).

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.

As I'm writing this post (I write ahead of the blog), it is the Friday before the celebration of All Saints Day in our church.  I think of the people who are no longer with us who were my teachers, and I am grateful for them.

This part of Psalm 78 was written "as a summons to teach the story of God's saving deeds to the next generation " (Note from The New Interpreter's Study Bible).  I love how it starts: listen, I will tell you a story....

Who were your teachers? As we approach Thanksgiving, for whom are you thankful? How will you follow the command of the Psalm to tell the coming generation of the glorious deeds of the Lord?