A FATHER’S EXAMPLE
Fathers are important to the development of children. The statistics of the negative outcomes of children in fatherless homes are staggering. While children can thrive, be successful, and follow the Lord from a one-parent household, the way God designed the home is not only for two parents to be involved, but for one of those two to be a father (Prov. 1:8; 6:20; 23:22). We are thankful for those men who take seriously the command of Ephesians 6:4 by lovingly bringing their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord rather than provoking them to anger. When interacting with their children, fathers must avoid relating to them in such a way as would discourage them (Col. 3:21). Above all pursuits of making one’s children happy, promoting their worldly success, protecting them, or having harmonious relationships with them is the primary responsibility to teach them to follow the Lord’s word.
The first thing a man can do to teach his children to love the Lord in obedience is to set the example himself. In Deuteronomy 6:7, the command was given to teach the Lord’s words diligently to one’s children; however, before this is the greatest command of all: “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5). A man must first have God’s words treasured in his own heart before he imparts them to others (Deut. 6:6). Children are perceptive enough to know what their parents value and whether those values mesh with what their parents say. If I ask another to do as I say but not as I do, then my teachings will fall flat.
Deuteronomy 6:7 shows how Bible instruction is to be modeled; it takes place alongside life’s daily tasks. The Lord’s words are to be repeated and applied whether one is sitting at home or walking along a pathway, whether one is preparing to go to bed or arising to meet the day’s work. Deuteronomy 6:8, 9 continue the thought with, “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” A Jewish tradition of phylacteries arose where these verses of the Torah (such as Ex. 13:1-16; Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21) were placed in a small box and worn on the forehead and the forearm (Matt. 23:5); however, this tradition seems to be an overly literal application of Deuteronomy 6. Just as God’s words are not literally put on one’s physical heart, but in a figurative way etched into the mind through memorization and reflection (Deut. 6:6), so these words were to be formative to the conscience by constantly thinking on them in everything one set out to accomplish. Phylacteries are usually worn only on special occasions of prayer, but God’s word is to be with us always. It is not always practical to wear a box, but God’s word has application to every facet of life. Do our children see religion as something we put on (like a phylactery) as a show on Sunday and special occasions, or do they see God’s word lived in everyday life?
If fathers follow Deuteronomy 6:5-9, then God’s word will be central to their lives. A father who undertakes painstaking efforts to engrave the words of God on the hearts of his children looks forward to this reward—that those words will be there to stay long after the father is gone (Prov. 22:6). Fathers, take time to be with your children. Love the Lord and cherish His words. Speak those words to your children all throughout the various activities of life. Discipline your children. Instruct them in the Lord’s ways. Love them enough to prepare them to live wise and righteous lives here on earth and an eternity in heaven.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON?
Perhaps you did not have a fitting example of following the Lord placed before you by your earthly father. You can still choose to rise above your upbringing by following the Lord’s words (Ezek. 18:14). Consider Josiah who ascended to the throne at the early age of eight (2 Kings 22:1). Great wickedness permeated Judah at the time due to his royal predecessors: his father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manasseh (2 Kings 21). However, when Josiah was 16, he began to seek the Lord. At the age of 20, he began to rid Jerusalem of its idolatry (2 Chron. 34:3). At 26, Josiah ordered the temple to be repaired, a task that ignited a spiritual restoration in the nation. During the renovation, a priest by the name of Hilkiah found a copy of the law in the rundown temple and delivered it to Shaphan, a scribe, who brought it before the king and read it to him (2 Kings 22:8-18; 2 Chron. 34:14-18). King Josiah rent his clothes when he heard the words because he realized how far the nation had drifted from God’s law (2 Chron. 34:19-21). Upon learning the truth, Josiah dedicated his resources to restoring true worship according to the pattern in the law. He caused the people to hear the book of the law, cleansed Judah of its wickedness and idolatry, and re-instituted the Lord’s feast of Passover (2 Kings 23:1-25).
Perhaps you are a father who has done all you can to instill biblical principles in your children and yet they still have chosen to leave the Lord. God the Father can empathize. He said, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” (Isa. 1:2). Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, was of a different heart. Instead of following the example of his father, he did evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chron. 36:5). God’s judgments upon him and Judah were spoken through Jeremiah. Baruch, a scribe, wrote these words down and read them before the people (Jer. 36:1-10). A man named Michaiah heard what Baruch read and told the princes (Jer. 36:11-13). The princes told Baruch to hide and Jehudi read the words of the scroll before the king (Jer. 36:19-23). After Jehudi read only three or four columns, Jehoiakim had heard enough. He took a penknife, used by scribes to cut scrolls, and cut the scroll up and threw it into the fire (Jer. 36:23). The reason judgment was being proclaimed by God upon Judah was in large part due to Jehoiakim refusing to lead Israel in righteousness. His father Josiah reformed his actions and the policies of the nation when he heard the word of the Lord. Jehoiakim, however, tried to destroy the word of God rather than changing his ways, but it did him no good. Jeremiah made another scroll (Jer. 36:32) and the word of God prevailed (1 Pet. 1:25). The judgments against Judah still came to pass even though Jehoiakim burned a copy of them in the fire; Jehoiakim was carried away captive in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (2 Chron. 36:6).
Fathers and sons can be quite different in their approach to the Bible. There are many families who are separated by their response to the Gospel (Matt. 10:34-36). In the end, each must answer for his own response to God’s word (Ezek. 18:20). Will we, like Jehoiakim, get angry at the Bible or will we humble ourselves like Josiah and submit to the Lord’s teachings? Our decision will not change the truthfulness of the Bible, but it will determine our eternal destiny (Matt. 7:24-27; Rev. 22:14).
— Mark Day