Fathers Make Known Truth to Their Children

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Isaiah 38:17-19
Psalters: 298, 359, 309, 213
Sacrament of Baptism
  1. The instructing.
    1. “The fathers to the children” (Deut. 6:7; Eph. 6:4; Gen. 18:19).
      1. First, this is the natural order
      2. Second, godly parents are constantly praying for Jesus to bless, forgiving them and giving a regenerated heart.
    2. “Shall make known,” i.e., to cause to know, perceive, be aware of and acquainted with.
      1. Godly parents are called to command their children to keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and judgment.
      2. This knowledge arises out of the infallible and inerrant Word of God, not what the dad says.
  2. Parents are called to make known to their children the “truth” about God and His truth (faithfulness).
    1. When the truth is not known, it results in the experience of despondency for the assurance of God’s favor is gone.
      1. Hezekiah experienced spiritual distresses because he was told to prepare his house for he would soon die.
      2. Hezekiah incorrectly interpreted death as God failing to keep His promises (thus he could not hope in God’s truth, 18).
      3. The absence of such a son of David would mean that Hezekiah would have to pay for his sins in hell.
    2. Chief among the truths to be made known is forgiveness and righteousness: “cast all my sins behind Thy back.”
    3. The instruction also includes godly living, which harmonizes with what one believes (Titus 2:11-14).
  3. The instructed are the living, whose fervent desire is to praise God.
    1. Isaiah argues against his dying because the dead do not praise God (18; Ps. 115:17).
    2. Hezekiah indicates that only those who are alive in a corporeal sense and spiritually can praise God correctly.
    3. The point is that the purpose of our living and making the truth of God known to our children is for the praise of God.