Illustrating Scripture

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading, titled Illustrating Scripture was written by Cindy Hess Casper. Decorative blue and white ceramic tiles commonly found in Dutch households were originally made in the city of Delft. They often depict familiar scenes of the Netherlands, beautiful landscapes, ubiquitous windmills, and people working and playing. In the 19th century, Charles Dickens wrote in his book A Christmas Carol how these tiles were used to illustrate the Scriptures.

He described an old fireplace built by a Dutchman paved with these quaint Delft tiles. There were canes and ables, pharaoh's daughters, queens of Sheba, and apostles putting off to sea. Many households used these tiles as a teaching tool as the family gathered around the warmth of a fire and shared stories of the Bible. They learned about God's character, His justice, compassion, and mercy.

The truths of the Bible continue to be relevant today. Psalm 78 encourages us to teach the hidden lessons from our past, stories we've heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. It goes on to instruct us to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.

And they, in turn, can tell their children. With God's help, we can find creative and effective ways to illustrate the truths of Scripture to each generation as we strive to give God the full honor and praise He deserves. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Psalm 78, verses 1-8. My people, hear my teaching.

Listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable. I will utter hidden things, things from of old, things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants. We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which He commanded our ancestors to teach their children. So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they, in turn, would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.

They would not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to Him. Let's pray. Loving God, thank You for giving us the Scriptures, that we might know who You are and grow through Your teachings. God, would You show us clever and innovative ways to illustrate what we've learned so that we can teach it to our children and their children and everyone You place in our path. Help us to speak boldly as we proclaim Your truths. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.