Does the Wrath of God Rest on Infants and Little Children? Part 2

Why does Solomon, in Psalms 127:3, consider children a heritage from the Lord? Not only do children represent security and protection put up when old age comes on us as parents, as this passage suggests, but it says that they (the parents) will not be put to shame. This is in contrast to the Proverbs chapter 29 passage which correlates shame to not training diligently the children God gives us. Solomon clearly communicates, in the Psalms, a positive, constructive attitude regarding well trained children. He uses such language in this Psalms as: heritage, reward and blessed regarding children. The image is certainly protection when we consider words or phrases such as: arrow, warrior, full quiver and being not put to shame when speaking to enemies. The are there brooding over the enemy while blanketing their father with safety and love. A great image indeed!

But you don't get this with children left to their own devices. You get the adult who loves evil as Paul outlines for us in Romans 1:29-32 and Romans 8:5-8. It is interesting to note the Romans 1:29-32 passage mentions that these people (children) are "disobedient to parents". A child left to himself without parental supervision and intervention is a shame to his parents. He reflects the kind of training he has received. Our tendency is to look to the child as the one who is at fault when in reality it is the parents who is held responsible for the greater violation - they failed to obey God's injunction to raise up godly seed. This is a command according to Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 6:7 which states, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." This passage reveals a heart that is totally committed to the things of God. Are we committed to the things of God with our children as Moses expected the people to be?

We observe in Malachi 2:15 a secret to raising godly offspring. That secret is faithfulness. Faithfulness as marriage partners coming together to make true Solomon's words in Psalms 127:3. If children are a heritage, reward and blessing, they can only be so if they are diligently taught to fear the Lord. Yet if they are neglected, the result is shame. Shame is opposed to blessing for we do not get evidence that these kinds of children will be a source of protection and security to their parents. They are an embarrassment simply because they reveal to us our lack of instilling godly training that will serve to keep them strong when times get rough. So since there is little discipline, they will not serve as a reliable arm of strength for aging parents. What else does Malachi say to us? The passage points out in the very beginning that God unified them by making them one (husband and wife). It also says that in making them one, he gave of His Spirit who weaved them together in unity in order that godly seed may be produced. He has given of His Spirit so that it might be possible to raise godly seed! In other words, without His Spirit it is not possible to raise up godly seed. Of course, when we talk about God's grace He can raise up children for Abraham from the very stones we walk on and, in fact, He most certainly does since we are all lost in our sins before He met us. But godless parents cannot be role models or representatives of a Holy God whom they do not know. Of course God has plucked many a person from the mist of debauchery and planted them in rich soil to flourish in God's garden. But this is not the usual way. His command is to raise children to fear the Lord. Raising children to fear the Lord starts with parents who already fear Him.



-Joe