Fathers Make Known Truth to Their Children
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/12/2016 AM
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Text:
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Isaiah 38:17-19
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Psalters: |
298, 359, 309, 213 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- The instructing.
- “The fathers to the children” (Deut. 6:7; Eph. 6:4; Gen. 18:19).
- First, this is the natural order
- Second, godly parents are constantly praying for Jesus to bless, forgiving them and giving a regenerated heart.
- “Shall make known,” i.e., to cause to know, perceive, be aware of and acquainted with.
- Godly parents are called to command their children to keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and judgment.
- This knowledge arises out of the infallible and inerrant Word of God, not what the dad says.
- Parents are called to make known to their children the “truth” about God and His truth (faithfulness).
- When the truth is not known, it results in the experience of despondency for the assurance of God’s favor is gone.
- Hezekiah experienced spiritual distresses because he was told to prepare his house for he would soon die.
- Hezekiah incorrectly interpreted death as God failing to keep His promises (thus he could not hope in God’s truth, 18).
- The absence of such a son of David would mean that Hezekiah would have to pay for his sins in hell.
- Chief among the truths to be made known is forgiveness and righteousness: “cast all my sins behind Thy back.”
- The instruction also includes godly living, which harmonizes with what one believes (Titus 2:11-14).
- The instructed are the living, whose fervent desire is to praise God.
- Isaiah argues against his dying because the dead do not praise God (18; Ps. 115:17).
- Hezekiah indicates that only those who are alive in a corporeal sense and spiritually can praise God correctly.
- 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.