Lesson 270 - Senior
Memory Verse
"They that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16)
Cross References
I The Purpose
1. Family worship should be used to plant in the hearts of the children the record of God's Word and mighty works, [DEU:4:9-10]; [PS:78:1-8].
2. The whole duty of man to God must be taught in family worship, [DEU:6:3-5].
3. The Lord is a jealous God, and He will not give His glory to another, [DEU:6:10-15].
II The Place: The Home
1. A child should learn piety first in the home, [1TM:5:4]; [PRO:31:1]; [ISA:38:19]; [EPH:6:4]; [COL:3:21].
2. The proper teaching of God in the home will be a strong inducement to godliness, [PRO:22:6]; [DEU:31:13]; [1KG:2:1-4].
3. The home becomes God's dwelling place as the result of true family worship, [LUK:10:38-42]; [MAT:18:20].
III The Time: Every Day
1. The Israelites were instructed to teach their children at every opportunity, [DEU:6:7].
2. The foundation for godliness can be laid in the hearts of the very young, [ISA:28:9-10]; [MAK:10:14]; [JHN:21:15]; [ACT:2:39].
3. The great warriors for God found it necessary to worship Him often, [JOS:1:8]; [JOB:1:1-5]; [PS:55:17]; [DAN:6:10]; [ACT:2:46-47]; [ACT:6:4]; [ACT:12:12].
IV The Method
1. The Word of God should be a very important part of family worship, [DEU:6:8-9].
2. Family worship, to produce the desired results, should be led by one whose life is clean and exemplary, [JOS:24:15].
3. God gives the Word; it is the duty of His people to distribute it faithfully, [MAT:14:19]; Matthew :36.
Notes
Benefits
"Who is God?” "Where does He live?” "What does He look like?” "Is He interested in me?” A hundred and one honest questions about God, His existence, and His relationship to mankind, fill the mind of every child. There is something in the nature of a child that yields freely to the worship of God, and the child who has the heritage of a Christian home and teaching will be happy. When a child is left to find his own answers to the natural questions of his heart and mind, the devil will be on hand to load him down with so many theories and false explanations that he may never come to the right knowledge of the truth. For this reason family worship has been a mighty bulwark for the cause of right against wrong throughout the ages, and it must necessarily be so until Jesus comes back to this earth again.
The succeeding generations, from the dawn of history to the present hour, have proved the fact that all men are born into the world with a sinful nature. Man's natural tendencies are away from God, not toward Him. Until a change is made in that nature, man cannot begin to live up to God's expectations. But God has made provision for the redemption of man's soul and the eradication of his sinful nature. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [JHN:3:16]).
The sons of men do not naturally merit this most wonderful gift of God, nor do they obtain salvation without seeking diligently for it. Mankind is born with a capability to serve the true and living God, but before he can serve God he has to be taught how to find God. The sooner this teaching is accomplished in a life, the better will be the chances of that soul's redemption. The Bible states: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” [PRO:22:6]).
Parental Duty
The Law of Moses made it mandatory on the part of every parent to teach his children the wonderful works of God and the commandments that He gave to govern their lives. God did not reveal Himself on Mount Sinai for the benefit of the recently liberated servants of Egypt alone, but for the many generations of Israelites to come. The Covenant of Sinai was open to every son of Abraham, from the time of Moses to the time of Christ. The Children of Israel had great joy and prosperity, both spiritually and physically, as they followed the commandments of God. When the fathers were faithful to follow the Lord and tell their children God's expectations of them, and when the children in turn were careful to follow their father's instructions and serve the Lord faithfully, then the blessing of the Lord followed from one generation to the next. This has been God's plan from antiquity. It is disrupted only as the fathers fail to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord, or the children fail to walk in the instructions they receive about godliness.
Family worship is one of the best ways to impart the knowledge of God to the children, and to answer the questions that come seriously to the children's hearts. God deemed this duty of teaching the children of such importance that He instructed the Israelites to talk of the ways and words of the Lord "when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” [DEU:6:7]). In other words, they were to teach the children at every opportunity.
God's Interest
It was a glorious and miraculous history of God's mercy and love that they should teach, a history of great deliverances and providential care. Israel's God was One nigh at hand, One whose Spirit could be felt and whose voice could be heard. Why should not the fathers tell the children of such a Being who was so undeniably in-terested in their welfare? God reminded Israel of this fact by saying: "What nation is there so great, who hath God so night unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? ... Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons” [DEU:4:7], [DEU:4:9]).
These words of instruction from the Law can surely be used to advantage by the Christian today. Those who are careful to give their children the proper teachings in the fear and love of God, out of a treasure-filled heart of experiential knowledge, will find God's blessing resting upon their lives; but any parent who fails in this important obligation will find God's pleasures and judgment at the end of life's road. God said to Ezekiel: "If the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand” [EZE:33:6]). Surely the Lord has placed upon the parents the responsibility of watchmen and guardians of the home and family.
Proper Schooling
This world would be a much happier place in which to live if God could have the same confidence in every Christian family as He had in Abraham's family! What did God say in regard to Abraham? "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgement; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” [GEN:18:19]). Proper schooling in the Scriptures lays the foundation for the work of godliness in the lives of children, young men, and young women; but too many times parents neglect to heed this most important admonition.
Examine the success that family worship has brought to multitudes, who, have travelled through the strait gate and narrow path to Heaven. See how profitable this privilege of having an altar in the home really is. Millions of souls are in Heaven because they secured the right start toward the Celestial City through family worship. The earliest recollect-tions of many ministers include the Bible stores told them by a godly mother and father. A majority of the missionaries telling the good news of salvation to the people in darkness in heathen lands heard and learned the Gospel story first in the environs of their father's house. The list of successes through family worship could go on and on: Christian workers, Sunday School teachers, home missionaries, cones-crated musicians. Their testimonies ring out: "I learned about Jesus during family worship when I was a small child”; or, "I was saved while I prayed with my father and mother at the family altar.” Would God that every parent was diligent to fulfil this most fruitful duty! God tells us: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” [1TM:4:16]).
"In Christ's Stead”
We are told in the Bible, that, "children are an heritage of the LORD” [PS:127:3]). God has literally placed an immortal soul into the parents' charge for a few short years. It is the absolute responsibility of the parents to teach that soul about God, and they must teach him also to the best of their ability for God. The sinful nature within the child will drive him away from God unless the excelling values of godliness are clearly taught, and the terrible penalties of evil are plainly set forth in contrast.
Some people might wonder how soon a child should be taught of God and the things of Heaven. The Prophet Isaiah, through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, declared that the knowledge of God should be taught little by little to the child as soon as he is weaned. Jesus said of the infants that were brought to Him: "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” [LUK:18:15];[LUK:18:16]). As soon as a child begins to talk, why should not the parents talk to him about the best things – the things of God? A speaking child is very soon a reasoning child, and thus the Truth of God will shine in upon the soul of the child long before most people would think it possible. It is never too early to begin talking to the child about the things of God, but there is great danger if it be put off too long! The modern public schools have slyly instilled evolution and atheism into the studies of even the first-grade students. Unless your child has a confidence in, and a clear understanding of the Scriptures, his faith may be overthrown.
Read the Word of God to your children often, and discuss the beautiful stories of the Bible. Lay a real foundation of love and respect for the Scriptures in their hearts. Keep ever before the family the extreme values of serving God, and encourage everyone of the household to pray. God has promised that His Word will not return unto Him void.
Every Day
How often should family worship be held? From a thorough study of God's Word, it seems clear that family worship should be held at least once a day. God's greatest warriors were always very exacting in this detail. Abraham was careful to build an altar unto God as his very first act whenever he moved into a new locality, that he and his family might have a place to pray at all times during his sojourn there. Job rose up early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for his children, continually. David wrote, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” [PS:55:17]). Daniel, too, prayed three times every day, and God witnessed mightily to his prayers.
Many families hold family worship in the morning before the family disperses for the day, and again in the evening when all gather home. Some families have their service in the morning only, while others have it in the evening. God's truth is clear. Just as the Children of Israel gathered their manna fresh every morning, ex-cept on the Sabbath, so must the Christian daily secure that true Bread that comes down from Heaven, to keep his spiritual health and well-being. The true man of God will do all in his power to provide spiritual food for his family as well as for himself. The Bride of Christ -– the Virtuous Woman -– "riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens” [PRO:31:15]).
By Example
Nature teaches many of her children from example, and thus should the Christian teach his children. It is easier for the child when he can follow the example of a truly godly father and mother. Joshua was one who offered a true example of godliness to his children; and he exerted an influence, too, to see that the children walked in God's ways. He said to the Children of Israel: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve;... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” [JOS:24:15]). In olden days the fathers took a leading role in teaching their children about the Lord. Why should fathers think that this important duty can be delegated to someone else today? As the fathers take a more active interest in family worship, teaching their sons and daughters more about God and His wonderful works, new life will come to the Church -– new names will be written down in Glory from day to day.
Questions
1. Why is family worship such an important part of a Christian's service to God?
2. How often should family worship be held?
3. How did Job conduct the worship service for his sons and daughters?
4. Which of God's warriors said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”?
5. If a man is faithful to teach his children in the ways of the Lord, what is God's promise to him?
6. Name several things that made Abraham the outstanding man of God that he was.
7. How many times a day did Daniel pray? Find the verse in the Bible that will prove your statement.
8. What was God's commandment to the Israelites in regard to teaching their children?