THEY DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

PROCLAMATION

“And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers and there arose another generation after them, which knew not The Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of The Lord, and served Baalim;”  Judges 2:10-11 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, (Exodus 14:21-22) to the edge of the promise land. (Exodus 16:35)  Because of their lack of faith, that generation wandered in the wilderness for forty years until the adults all died. (Numbers 14:16)  Joshua then led their children, the next generation, across the flooded Jordan River into the promise land (Joshua 3:15-17) and through a series of victorious battles over the inhabitants of the promised land. (Joshua 12:1-24)  Then he divided the lands that they conquered among the tribes of Israel, (Joshua 13:8 to 19:51) and that generation served The Lord God.  After the death of Joshua, the Israelites fought and defeated the remaining Canaanites on their west side, but they did not drive out the Canaanites who were living among them. (Judges 1:1-36)  When this generation died off, the next generation did not know The Lord God or what He had done for their parents and grandparents.  This new generation of Israelites did not serve The Lord God as their ancestors had, and they did evil in the sight of The Lord. (Judges 2:10-11)

 

APPLICATION

It is our responsibility as believers to teach our children, the next generation, about The Lord God and all that He has done. (Leviticus 10:11, Deuteronomy 6:7, and Proverbs 22:6)  It is our job to raise up our children in the fear and admonition of The Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)  We should not only tell them about His many miracles and His commandments, but we should be living examples of His Holy Word.  Our children should see in us that which we expect them to exemplify.  If we do not teach them the ways of The Lord God, then we should not be surprised when they stray and begin to do that which is evil in His sight. 

THEY DID THAT WHICH WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither The Lord nor what He had done for Israel.  Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of The Lord and served the Baals.”  Judges 2:10-11 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Samuel under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, (Exodus 14:21-22) to the edge of the promise land. (Exodus 16:35)  Because of their lack of faith, that generation wandered in the wilderness for forty years until the adults all died. (Numbers 14:16)  Joshua then led their children, the next generation, across the flooded Jordan River into the promise land (Joshua 3:15-17) and through a series of victorious battles over the inhabitants of the promise land. (Joshua 12:1-24)  Then he divided the lands that they conquered among the tribes of Israel, (Joshua 13:8 to 19:51) and that generation served The Lord God.  However, when they died off, the next generation did not know The Lord God or what He had done for their parents and grandparents.  This new generation of Israelites did not serve The Lord God as their ancestors had done, they did evil in the sight of The Lord.

Application:

It is our responsibility as believers to teach our children, the next generation, about The Lord God and all that He has done. (Leviticus 10:11, Deuteronomy 6:7, and Proverbs 22:6)  It is our job to raise up our children in the fear and admonition of The Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)  We should not only tell them about His ways, but we should be living examples of His Holy Word.  Our children should see in us that which we expect them to exemplify.  If we do not teach them the ways of The Lord God, then we should not be surprised when they stray and begin to do that which is evil in His sight. 

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“… He commanded our ancestors to teach their children so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.”  Psalm 78:5-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Asaph, the chief singer who was the director of music appointed by King David, who was also a seer who was said to prophesy. (2 Chronicles 29:30)  This psalm is a didactic psalm and a historical psalm written to teach the children about the graciousness of God in spite of the rebellious nature of their ancestors. (Psalm 78:3-58)  It recounts the history of God’s chosen people.  The purpose was that they would not be like their fathers or the generations before them. (Psalm 78:8)

Application:

If we do not teach our children about The Lord God, then the world will teach them to disregard Him.  We are commanded to tell our children who He is, what He has done, and what The Word of God says. (Deuteronomy 6:7 and 11:19)  If we train them the right way while they are young, when they grow up they will walk the right way. (Proverbs 22:6)  Children learn what they see and what they hear at home.  If they see us reading The Bible and praying, and hear us quoting verses from The Bible, that will be imprinted in their minds and hearts.  If they see us behaving in a Christ-like manner, that will be the beginning of their Christian foundation.  It is not good enough to tell them one thing and then do another.  Our actions speak louder than our words.

TEACHERS WILL BE JUDGED MORE STRICTLY

Proclamation:

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."  James 3:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by James, the half-brother of Jesus.  James warned the people of God that teaching and preaching should be taken very seriously and not entered into lightly.  He told them that they will be held to and judged by a higher standard.  False teachers and those who intentionally lead others astray will be judged more strictly.

Application:
While this passage of scripture clearly applies to pastors and preachers, it also applies to teachers in general, especially religious teachers.  If you are in a position to provide instruction to others, be very careful regarding what you say.  This is especially true if you teach, lead, guide, or direct children.  This would also include parents and those who raise children.  Leading the youth and young adults astray has very serious consequences. (Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42; and Luke 17:1-2)  Remember that children learn what they see and what they hear, so we should be careful regarding what we do and say in front of children.  We can “teach” without saying a word to them.  We would not want a child to stumble into sin by following our example.  In fact, as believers, we do not want to put stumbling blocks in the way of anyone that would cause them to fall into sin. (Romans 14:13 and 1 Corinthians 8:9)  “Teachers” themselves, and not just the material that they teach, can be examples to those who observe them.  We should make sure that those that we “teach” can see Christ in us.  When judgement day comes, teachers will be held to a higher standard and will be judged more strictly.  So, be careful regarding what you teach.

NOW WHEN I AM OLD AND GREY

Proclamation:

"Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, My God, until I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come."  Psalms 71:18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words are believed to have been written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David stated that he wanted to tell all who would listen about the righteous deeds and mighty acts of God. (Psalm 71:15-16)  He stated that God had taught him things since the days of his youth. (Psalm 71:17)  Now he was asking God not to forsake him and to spare him until he had declared God’s power and mighty acts to the next generation.

Application:

Do not discard or disregard the "seasoned" senior saints, there is a lot of wisdom tied up in all those years that could be useful to the believers of the world.  For we who are old have seen, and experienced, and learned a lot during our Christian walk that could benefit the younger generations.  We can truly testify, based upon our trials and tribulations, about the strength and power of The Lord, and what He has done in our lives.  To the young I say, listen when the elderly speak, you just may learn something.  God is not through with us old folks yet, and with His help there is still some kingdom building work for us to do.  To the old I say, share what you have learned with the younger generations, with your children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and anyone’s child who will listen.  He has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others.  God has left us here among the living because work is not done.  That is why we can pray this old man's prayer.  We need to praise Him for all that He has done and we need His help to guide our tongue as we speak to the younger generations.

WE SHOULD TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT GOD

Proclamation:

"Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Prophet Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After presenting them with the Ten Commandments, Moses told the people that they were to love The Lord completely.  They were to teach The Word of God and the commandments to their children.  They were to live them, talk of them all the time, and display them in their homes and on their persons.

Application:

As parents we are to teach The Word of God to our children.  If the children and the grand children don't know it, then it is our fault, the fault of the parents and the grandparents. (Deuteronomy 6:1-2)  If the parents don't know it, then it is our fault for not teaching them.  If we tell them but they refuse to listen, or refuse to believe, then we have done our part.  The Word of God should be so ingrained within us that it should show in our daily lives, in our conversations, in our behavior, in our homes, and in our attire.  We should make sure that each day we tell someone about The Lord.  We should make sure that no child sees or hears us, behaving or speaking, in a non Christ-like manner.  We do not want to cause a child to stumble into sin or be led astray. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2)  We do not have to be Bible scholars in order to teach our children The Word of God.  That which we know we should share.  It would also be helpful if they saw us reading The Bible.  Children learn what they hear and what they see.  Let’s make sure that we are Christ-like role models for our children and grandchildren.  Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

The Children Are Watching Us

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."  Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)  

The wise King Solomon told the people that they should teach their children, and bring them up in the ways of God, then when they get old and mature, they will not turn away from it.  In so many words he said that a good Christian foundation begins at home.

As believers we are being watched.  We are being watched by God (Job 34:21), watched by people, both by believers and non-believers, and we are also being watched by the children.  Children hear what they are told, even when that act like they don't hear a word that is being said.  They also learn by what they see at home and where ever.  The Bible says that we should teach and train children in the ways of The Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and 11:19)  Our children should hear us talking about God, and they should see us reading The Word of God.  We are to be an example of good Christian behavior for them to learn from. (1 Timothy 4:12)  However, when our words and our behavior are inconsistent, children may learn the wrong things.  Our actions can speak louder than our words.  Woe be it unto us if we lead a child astray. (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2)  Let us pray that our actions will not lead anyone to fall into sin, especially a child.  Let us be a living example of Christ-like behavior which the children and others can learn from. (Philippians 1:27 and Romans 12 :1)

Read More Meditate More And Talk More About God

"Love The LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)  ("The LORD" is used in place of the Hebrew word "YHWH" which some people pronounce "Yahweh" and others will not pronounce at all.)



The prophet Moses told the people that they should love The Lord completely, with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.  The Lord's commandments should always be in their hearts and on their minds.  They should teach them to their children.  This is what they should talk about all of the time, where ever they are, at home or walking along the street.

Today, God should always be on our minds and in our thoughts.  He should consume our entire being.  We should read and meditate on His Holy Word day and night.  We should teach His Word to our children, and we should be living examples of it.  Our conversations with our family and friends should include references to The Word of God.  Everyone that encounters us should see evidence of God in us.  Our behavior and our conversation should reflect The Spirit of God that is within us.