We have been talking about four aspects of family worship in the passage of Scripture found in Deuteronomy chapter six. First, was the DIRECTIVE or the commandment to Israelites to teach their children. Second was the DESIGN in which the commandments, judgments and statutes were to be passed on to their sons and their son’s sons. And now, thirdly, we will look at the DESTINY (Deuteronomy 6:3): That ye may increase mightily…
Israel was promised that by keeping the commandments, statutes and judgments, there would be rewards; many national and personal rewards. In family worship the family is strengthened. That is why they were ordered to teach these things to their children. But notice that it was not simply teaching by instruction, but by their complete life and life style. Verse 6 says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” You see, it is more than a mechanical teaching. The word of God must first be in the heart of the teacher. Now see verse 7, which shows the seriousness and gravity of the matter of family worship. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” The word diligently means to sharpen or whet, or do a thing again and again. A popular idea is that, “Children ought not to be taught religion, but they should be left to themselves till they are capable of making their own choice, as to what type of religion they should embrace.” Using that same line of thinking, should we let our children choose when they want to go to school, or what kinds of food they want to eat, or what doctor they want to see? Do we let them choose when they want to start driving a car? Neither should we let them choose when they want to learn about God and His law and His salvation. Reverence for God must be embedded in a child as soon as possible. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from It.:” The bottom line for any nation is: that nation being blessed for their obedience will remain strong prosperous and independent.
The fourth aspect of family worship is DREADED consequences of neglect: “Beware lest thou forget the LORD.” I have heard people who own a pet, such as a dog or cat say, “he doesn’t even know that he is a dog.” What you are saying is, the animal has taken on an heir of superiority and is now dictating to the master. When a people forget where they came from or forget that they are mere flesh, they will take on an heir of superiority and attempt to dictate to the Creator; they will turn to other things inferior to themselves as objects of worship. God was warning the people of Israel that they must not forget who brought them out of bondage into liberty. If we leave the training of our children to the world, they will forget that they are mere flesh and begin to take on an heir of superiority and turn to other things inferior to themselves as objects of worship; that they might have control. Paul teaches us this principle in Romans 1:21-25, Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Deuteronomy 6:15 says, “(For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.”
CONCLUSION: Thus we have THE DIRECTIVE: The LORD your God commanded to teach you… THE DESIGN (Deuteronomy 6:1-2): Fear the Lord; that it may be well with thee… THE DESTINY (Deuteronomy 6:3): That ye may increase mightily… And THE DREAD: Beware lest thou forget the LORD… Let us take heed to the importance of family worship. E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net
