Psalm 145:4-5 NIV
“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
When Moses was done with his assignment, God picked on Joshua to lead Israel. He had served Moses so long that he saw God’s visitations and interactions with Moses, he helped Moses with the work at the tabernacle, and he “…did not depart from the tabernacle” (Exo 33:11 NKJV). Joshua learned a lot from serving Moses, the prophet of God. When Moses passed on, the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying, “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you” (Jos 1:5 NKJV). Hallelujah!
Joshua’s feet stepped into shoes that were bigger than his own but familiar to his sight. He had walked beside Moses for a while and kept obedient. On an unfortunate note, no one had walked alongside Joshua for him to hand over by the time of his death (Jos 2:8-9). When he and his generation had died, the Scripture says, “…another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel” (Jug 2:10 NKJV). Did the aging generation tell the things about the LORD and His works? Where were the 12 stones picked from the middle of the Jordan River to remind the children that “Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land” (Jos 4:22 NKJV)?
Beloved, it is so dangerous to be silent about God and what He has done, particularly when it concerns the next generation. In our text of reference, the Psalmist knew better and said to the LORD, “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” Hallelujah! We must be intentional about commending the works of the LORD to the next generation and telling them about what He has done. However, that implies that our generation must experience the manifest power and glory of God in such a way that we will have something of impact to tell. What is it that we shall tell the next generation? LORD, help us.
Pst. Emmanuel