“Doomed to Repeat?”

BIBLE READING: Psalm 76-78

                Someone once said that “those who do not listen to the lessons that history has taught us, are doomed to repeat it.” This psalm serves as a warning concerning this very idea.  Godly people must impress upon their children and grandchildren the stories that are provided within the Scriptures.  Paul would later write in the book of Romans, “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4).  Paul’s point is the same one that David is trying to impress upon the people of his day.  The British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge once had a discussion with a man who firmly believed that children should not be given formal religious instruction but should be free to choose their own religious faith when they reached maturity. Coleridge did not disagree, but later invited the man into his somewhat neglected garden. “Do you call this a garden?” the visitor exclaimed. “There is nothing but weeds here!” “Well, you see,” Coleridge replied, “I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself.”  Ultimately those that come after us will have to make up their own minds as whether to believe in the Word of God or not.  However, as a people of faith it is our job to educate, train and equip them with the tools they need to make an educated decision.  When we fail to do this, we are planting a wonderful garden but allowing the weeds to overcome it.