Sound Counsel Regarding the Instruction of Our Children

Rev. E.C. Adams, Corsica, SD

We read in Psalm 90:10 that we fly away. How true this also is when we reflect upon the time that our schools were closed for the summer. May it have been a time for refreshment and not one of spending our time and talents in the sinful things of the world. We were again able to open our schools’ doors at the beginning of a new school year. As this is being written, all of our children have thus far been spared. Oh, the goodness and the long-suffering of the Lord. According to the 2007 Church and School Directory, I read that last year 3,109 children were instructed by 151 full-time and 57 part-time teachers in our schools. What a profound responsibility has been placed upon those who are entrusted with our children five days per week for the greatest part of the year—a responsibility for children not only with a body but also with a never-dying soul for eternity.

Consider once who we are and how insufficient we are in and of ourselves. How necessary prayer—persevering prayer— is, therefore, for teachers, office bearers, parents, grandparents, and children. How indispensable are Aarons and Hurs who may carry our schools upon the wings of prayer. How essential it is to realize what is written in Psalm 127:1, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

We must, as stewards, one day give an account of those souls which have been entrusted to our care...

We must, as stewards, one day give an account of those souls which have been entrusted to our care...

We must, as stewards, one day give an account of those souls which have been entrusted to our care, and as we read in Luke 16:2, we do not know how long our stewardship will be. What an awesome responsibility. How necessary it is, therefore, that our children hear of the only Name under heaven whereby we must be saved and also of the way in which a poor sinner is led to the Savior. We must also consider that our children by nature are not upright but are born and conceived in sin as stated in Psalm 51:5. In Job 14:4 we read, “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” By nature we have no desire to hear about the things of the Lord. We are not only unable, but we are also unwilling. There is no room in our hearts, or the hearts of our children, for the Lord and His Son. Also consider that the devil is not an imaginary force but an evil power with many fallen angels who have a well-defined purpose. That purpose, my friends, is to bring us and our children to hell by the quickest means possible. The devil has many forces at his command. How busy Satan is to tempt and deceive in order to discourage our children. That is why it is so important to receive sound counsel from God’s Word. This counsel is necessary not only for the teachers in our schools but also for the office bearers in our churches (as we find in James 4:14&15) where catechism classes and confession of faith classes either have commenced, or where they will begin in the near future, the Lord willing.

Our text begins with the word we, which denotes the plural. “We” includes the church, the home, and the school. Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “...A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” How necessary it is, therefore, that the teachings of church, home, and school are one and the same concerning both doctrine and walk of life. Alas, in so many homes (also among our church members) it is different. We find that God’s Word is despised and trampled upon, and parents have forgotten the oath which they made at baptism regarding the rearing of their children. In such homes it is also apparent that God’s Word is not the final rule; “Thus saith the Lord” is no longer heard. How is it with you, parents? Do you entrust the religious instruction to the church and to the school only? Is this the promise which you made with an oath at the baptism of your children? Oh, consider, God will not be mocked. We read in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Psalm 78:4 tells us, “We will not hide them from their children.” These words imply that we must have knowledge of what we are called to make known. If we do not have possession or knowledge of something, we cannot hide it. In addition, this means that as instructors we must have a thorough knowledge of the Holy Word of God and the truths contained therein. There is more. We must also have knowledge of the praises of the Lord. The praises of the Lord that must be displayed to the next generation refer to the glorification of the divine attributes of the Lord in the works of Creation and providence, but especially in grace. That is why the words, “and His strength and the wonderful works that He hath done” are added.

How great are these works in the realm of nature. The psalmist has declared in Psalm 19:1&2, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” These works must not be hidden but must be shown to the generation to come. How marvelous are the works of providence. We read in Psalm 107:43, “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.” What a beautiful and responsible work it is to speak of the praises of the Lord.

“Shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord.” We have said that these praises refer to the realm of nature, but they also refer to the realm of grace. These praises refer to the electing love of the Father, the redeeming love of the Son, and the applying work of the Holy Ghost. Our children must be told the wonderful histories of the Bible, how the Lord led His people with an almighty and gracious arm. They must be told how Christ came in the fullness of time to save His Church. These praises refer to the work of redemption of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Our children must also be told how the Lord converts His people, how the Holy Spirit begins His work in the heart of a sinner, causing such a person to become a poor, seeking sinner. They must be told how these seeking sinners become a missing people, people who love the Lord and who come to hate sin. They are people who ask to be converted and who need a Savior for their guilt. They must be told the praises of the Lord by telling them of the way of salvation and how Jesus has come to save the chiefest of sinners. They must be told that the Lord is still gathering a church by Word and Spirit and that the Lord is still converting boys and girls. In Proverbs 8:17 we read, “...Those that seek me early shall find me.” What a beautiful and responsible work it is to declare unto the upcoming generation the wonders of free and sovereign grace.

To do the work which we have outlined above, it is not only necessary that our schools have teachers who are grounded and founded upon the unchangeable truth of God’s Word but also that our instructors have experiential knowledge of these matters. We have stated earlier that we cannot hide something which we do not possess. How necessary it is also for instructors who still miss “that one thing needful” that they also begin to cry to the Lord for mercy. This is essential not only for instructors but for all the unconverted, both young and old. If we are unconverted and teaching our children, we are as scaffolding used to build a church. After the church is built, the scaffolding shall be taken down and burned. How little our children hear of the way the Lord converts His people. How little our youth hear and see of those things which should truly make them jealous. We will not hide them from their children. How often this is done, not only by keeping silent, but also by our walk. Do our children have godly examples to follow? Does our walk of life as instructors correspond to what is being taught? Remember, what our children see generally makes more of an impression than what they hear.

In verse 5 of Psalm 78 we read of the law and testimony that must also be made known to our children. Thus the praises of the Lord and His testimony need to be taught. We must not give our children an impression that religion is only a list of things they may not do but impress upon them that the Lord is so worthy to be served, honored, and glorified. Therefore He is also worthy to be obeyed.

We read in verse 7, “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” Our children should not become overly discouraged, but hopefully they may be brought in a secret place to cry to God who doeth wondrous things. Tell the children that the Lord is still gathering His church, and to that end the Lord will use His Word accompanied by His Spirit. Tell them according to 1 Samuel 2:30, “...For them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Who is sufficient unto these things? How essential it is that in this school year also we are a praying people. How necessary it is that those who instruct our children be burdened with the needs of the souls entrusted to their care. How crucial it is that instructors set their hope upon God, for we can become so discouraged that we do not even seek or expect a blessing upon our labors. May we ask and receive a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this school year to have a sacrifice for sin, in the blood of the Lamb, applied by the Holy Spirit. May the prayer of Moses be ours, “Let Thy work appear unto thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it” (Psalm 90:16&17).

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