Baby Dedication or Parental Transformation Baby Dedication or Parental Transformation? Grace Baptist Church 6/25/17

Put to Poetry In the Ancient Scottish Psalter Psalm 78:1-8 Put to Poetry In the Ancient Scottish Psalter

1 Attend, my people, to my law; thereto give thou an ear; The words that from my mouth proceed attentively do hear. 2 My mouth shall speak a parable, and sayings dark of old; 3 The same which we have heard and known, and us our fathers told. 4 We also will them not conceal from their posterity; Them to the generation to come declare will we: The praises of the Lord our God, and his almighty strength, The wondrous works that he hath done, we will show forth at length. 5 His testimony and his law in Isr'el he did place, And charged our fathers it to show to their succeeding race; 6 That so the race which was to come might well them learn and know; And sons unborn, who should arise, might to their sons them show: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and suffer not to fall His mighty works out of their mind, but keep his precepts all: 8 And might not, like their fathers, be a stiff rebellious race; A race not right in heart; with God whose sp'rit not steadfast was.

Imperatives for Instruction (or) 1 Attend, my people, to my law; thereto give thou an ear; The words that from my mouth proceed attentively do hear. Imperatives for Instruction (or) Laws for Learning – vs. 1 The Law of the Teacher – Faithfulness The Law of the Learner - Attentiveness

2 My mouth shall speak a parable, and sayings dark of old; The Wealth of Words – vs. 2 “Parable” – a simple story with a rich meaning “Dark sayings of old” – the outer sense contains an inner hidden meaning that only the wise will understand. A rushing stream with pearls and gems in its depths.

3 The same which we have heard and known, and us our fathers told. Our Fathers’ Faithfulness – vs. 3 In early days, the Word was preserved by faithful telling. Even after “inscripturation” we got it because our fathers gave it! Schools and churches are no substitute for the teaching and tears of Mom and the stories and prayers of Dad.

Striving to Succeed – vs. 4 4 We also will them not conceal from their posterity; Them to the generation to come declare will we: The praises of the Lord our God, and his almighty strength, The wondrous works that he hath done, we will show forth at length. Striving to Succeed – vs. 4 Teach – Not to teach is to hide – closing the lip is hiding the truth. Strive to teach! Teach the next generation. It is coming and we are leaving! Teach the greatness and goodness of God – His worth and His works – His person and power.

Transmission for Transformation 5 His testimony and his law in Isr'el he did place, And charged our fathers it to show to their succeeding race; 6 That so the race which was to come might well them learn and know; And sons unborn, who should arise, might to their sons them show: Transmission for Transformation Israel was the Custodian of the Covenant or the Caretaker of the Truth – vs. 5. This is the Relay of the Revelation – vs. 6 At least 4 generations are mentioned to show this relay of truth very clearly.

7 That they might set their hope in God, and suffer not to fall His mighty works out of their mind, but keep his precepts all: 8 And might not, like their fathers, be a stiff rebellious race; A race not right in heart; with God whose sp'rit not steadfast was. The stories were not the goal, but the road to the goal. The goal was the planting of the Fear of the Lord in any and every generation! It is only through the Word that there comes a knowledge and awe of God. It’s a heart thing! It goes from ear to heart to attitude to action.

The Secret of the Dedication of Our Children Is . . . The transformation of the parents’ hearts. The reality of the Word and the reverence of God in the heart of the parents. The best way for the child to fear the Lord is to be taught by parents who fear the Lord. “I want the best for my child.” OK – from your heart to theirs!

Psalm 78:1-8 NKJ Psalm 78:1 A Contemplation of Asaph Psalm 78:1-8 NKJ Psalm 78:1 A Contemplation of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. 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. 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; 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, 7 That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; 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.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 NKJ "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments …2 "that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. 3 "Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, …4 ¶ " Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 " And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.