June 6thPsalm 78
Telling the Story
‘Tell me a story Papa,’ says my three-year old grandson. Stories entertain, they may soothe fears about ghosts under the bed, they amuse, they instruct. As he gets older our grandson may continue to appreciate these qualities about stories. Hopefully, he will also see that stories help us to make sense of the world and of our place in it.
Israel told stories. Along with laws, and other instructions for living, Israel prized her community stories for they reminded Israel of God’s gracious acts toward her.
Psalm 78 is one of five historical psalms which tell the story of Israel’s failures and faithlessness contrasted with God’s continuing faithfulness and efforts to make His people the people they were intended to be.
Again and again in the OT, God says to the people, ‘Remember.’
‘Remember you were a slave in Egypt.’
‘Remember the wondrous works of God.’
‘Remember the days of old.’
The greatest danger to Israel’s identity was forgetfulness, and the remedy for forgetfulness was usually a wonderful and lively story.
Moses’ last sermon includes this exhortation:
Now these are the commandments, the regulations, and the case laws that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you to follow in the land you are entering to possess, 2 so that you will fear the Lord your God by keeping all his regulations and his commandments that I am commanding you—both you and your sons and daughters—all the days of your life and so that you will lengthen your life…in a land full of milk and honey. 3 Listen to them, Israel! Follow them carefully…. (6.1-3).
Crossing into the land of promise, Joshua gives the following instructions:
4 Joshua called for the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one man per tribe. 5 Joshua said to them, “Cross over into the middle of the Jordan, up to the Lord your God’s chest. Each of you, lift up a stone on his shoulder to match the number of the tribes of the Israelites. 6 This will be a symbol among you. In the future your children may ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’…. These stones will be an enduring memorial for the Israelites.” (4.4-7)
The NT continues this practice. Acts 2 tells the story of Pentecost; the wind of the Spirit blew through that little community and they were transformed and empowered. Luke says what followed was: Attentiveness to the apostle’s teaching, sharing a common life, eating together, and prayer – all paths along which the Spirit still moves, still resources for the renewal of the church.
Set first is his observation about the early church devoting itself to the ‘apostle’s teaching.’ Think of that. These were ordinary men and women – eager to be taught. They were eager to hear the apostles tell the stories and teaching of Jesus. The apostles had known Jesus, walked with him, witnessed his signs and wonders, his death and resurrection. Our four gospels tell vivid and memorable stories of Jesus, not merely for our entertainment, but to encourage encounter with God and obedience to God’s ways.
Of course, Mennonites also tell stories. This summer there will be a 100th Anniversary celebration of the arrival of the Russlaender Mennonites in Canada. Twenty-one thousand Mennonites arrived in Canada from the Soviet Union beginning in 1923. Sixty participants are making the Quebec City to Abbotsford anniversary train trip (July 6-25) and will stop in Saskatoon July 18-19. They will travel to Rosthern and area on July 19.
Father Richard Rohr writes: “A Great Story connects our little lives to the One Great Life, and even better, it forgives and uses the wounded and seemingly “unworthy” parts of our lives and others’ lives (1 Corinthians 12:22). What a message! Nothing else can do that…. the Gospel—gives us a sense of belonging, meaning, and most especially, a personal participation in it.”
https://youtu.be/XqSIMQaeAds -Tell me the old, old story
*Next week – Psalm 78, part two – LIVING THE STORY.