Taken from EliYah's Home Page
Children, Turn Your Hearts!
Before I begin, I would like to say that there may be some scriptures that are a little difficult for young children to understand. I would like to encourage the parents reading this to go over those scriptures with their children and answer all the questions that they have. With that it mind, let's begin:
Proverbs 30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.Indeed, this scripture speaks well of this generation. In a time where it is even considered funny when children dishonor their parents, we very much need to get back to looking at what Yahweh says He expects of children.
This study will be brief, but is very important for children to hear and understand. As important as it is for Fathers to turn their hearts to their children, part of the EliYah message is for children to turn their hearts to their Fathers:
Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.Children, can you see how important it is for you to turn your heart to your father? Yahweh will smite the earth with a curse when it has children who will not turn their heart to their father. What does it mean for a child to turn their heart to their father? Let's read what Solomon wrote to his son:
Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.Solomon was a very wise man. He knew how important it was to raise his children to know Yahweh and do what is right. Children, your father has also been given the job of teaching you to know Yahweh and do what is right. It is very important that you pay close attention to what he says, especially when he instructs and corrects you:
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.A scorner is someone who will not listen. You do not want to be a scorner, you want to be wise and hear your father's instruction and teaching. You see, this life is like walking through a large maze where there are many wrong turns a person can make. If you stay on the straight path where Yahweh wants you to be, you can be a wise son. Your parents have been through the maze already and have probably made some wrong turns. They want you to avoid those bad things and stay on the right path.
Can you imagine a ship sailing without a pilot? The ship would go wherever the wind took him because it had nobody who knew where the dangerous rocks and rivers were. That ship would likely run into big trouble and sink. That's what it is like when children will not listen to their parents direction. It is very foolish for children to not listen to their pilot:
Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.Oh, how important it is for children to pay very close attention to the words of their parents! They love you and want to guide you to be wise children.
Wise children
Yahweh's will for you is to be wise children. What are some of the things that wise children do? Let's look at what scripture says about wise children:
Proverbs 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.So we see that wise children are willing to work when told and are not lazy. If you are like lazy children who sleep or play when it is time to work, you can bring much shame to your parents. Solomon warned his son:
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep -- 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.Working is a part of life. We are expected by Yahweh to work and it is important that we learn this early in life.
Another thing scripture says wise children do is keep Yahweh's law:
Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.Wise children keep Yahweh's law and do not want to be friends with those who are unwise. Wise children know how important it is to be friends with the wise:
Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.Wise children do not want to be destroyed, so they do what wise men do and make friends with the wise. Solomon warned his son also about being friends with foolish people:
Proverbs 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.So it is very important for you to be guided by your parents, who are wise and were children at one time just like you. Yahweh thought it was so important that you do this, that He included this in the Ten Commandments:
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which Yahweh thy Elohim giveth thee.And he repeats Himself on this:
Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am Yahweh your Elohim.When you honor your parents, you can be given a long life. The Apostle Paul said that this is the first commandment with a promise:
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in Yahweh: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.So it is very wise to honor your father and mother, and very foolish to dishonor them:
Proverbs 28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.So we see that there are some very strong warnings given by Yahweh about dishonoring or cursing your father or mother. You need to be very very careful about dishonoring them in any way, for Yahweh used them to bring you into this world. Without them, you would not even exist. In the law of Yahweh, rebellious children were put to death:
Deuteronomy 27:16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Proverbs 20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Proverbs 19:26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.Yahweh wanted others to learn from the example of what happens to disobedient children. Children of Yahweh, be wise! Be a blessing to your father and your mother. Love to honor and obey them and not only will you be blessed, you will bring them much joy:
Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.Be not foolish, be wise!
Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.Not only will you please your father and mother, but you will please Yahweh also:
Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Proverbs 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Proverbs 29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
Proverbs 23:24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto Yahweh.So give them the honor Yahweh desires and watch the blessings of Yahweh rain down upon you.
Proverbs 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:So, dear children put away any foolish pride and turn your hearts to your fathers and bless them. Ask your parents to guide your life. You will be glad you did, and it will save you from a lot of trouble.
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": 2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; 5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to Elohim who gave it.So then, remember Yahweh and seek wisdom! Love your father who provides for you and your mother who nursed and cares for you! You do not need to honor them because they have been perfect, but you honor them because of who they are. They are your mother and father. Then they will rejoice, and you will too. Then they will declare that you are a wise son or daughter. Then you will find life and Yahweh will look upon you with favor. Then you can praise Yahweh, for all the glory we receive should be given back to Him. That is a picture of a wise child, one that loves Yahweh, one whose heart is turned to their father.
May Yahweh bless you all!
