When asked what the greatest commandment in the Law is, Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). The first four commandments have to do with Israel's relationship with the Lord, and the next six have to do with their relationship with others. Our ability to love, care for, and relate to others is dependent upon our relationship with the Lord. All relationships flow out of that Supreme relationship.
The last six commandments prohibit wrong actions and attitudes towards ones fellowman; this starts with the most basic of relationships: the family. "Honor your father and your mother..." (Deuteronomy 5:16). To honor ones father and mother means to obey, care for, and/or respect them. So important was this command to Israel, that to break it was punishable by death. "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town...then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid" (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).
Strict adherence to this command was vital to the life of the entire community, because this was the first commandment to come with a promise from God. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" - which is the first commandment with a promise - "That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3). As parents we are instructed to "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Teaching and training our children the way of wisdom and the path of righteousness will guarantee a future generation that lives to obey the Lord. Ultimately we are entrusted with our children, for the time we have them, to set an example of holiness and godliness that will lead them to into a life of intimacy with the Lord. "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 6:7). There is no greater gift we can give our children, that will afford them a good life, than leading them into an abiding and obedient relationship with the Lord. "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity...then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:1-2,4).
Israel's pattern for rebellion against the Lord was emulated in subsequent generations through the actions and attitudes of rebellious children. The older men were to be leaders, the moral and spiritual examples in the home, and for society as a whole. Setting an example of respect and reverance toward God was meant to lead to a gentleness and respect toward the eldlerly. For Israel (and in other cultures around the world) the elderly are respected and revered. "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life" (Proverbs 16:31). Children are taught to listen to and respect the wisdom of the older generation. "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:32). Unfortunately, today we find a great emphasis on youth and an emphasis on striving to stay young. The idea of getting old is even resented to the point that the elderly are often neglected, sometimes even abused, and in some nations they are even legally killed ("assisted suicide"). Because of our neglect in maintaining and nuturing our relationship with our Heavenly Father, adhering to the Truth of His Word, and following His commandments, we have seen a breakdown in the actions and attituded of the youth of today. They have grown up without any boundaries, little discipline, too much freedom, and with more time spent filling their days with activity instead of spending time together as a family. Disrepect, irreverence, rebellion, hostility, confusion, and frustration in our youth are just some of what our lack of sowing the seeds of righteousness has reaped our society in recent generations. The entire family unit has been turned on its' head in recent years, not reflecting at all what the Lord had originally intended.
The prophet Micah spoke of the disintegration of the family unit: "For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law againster her mother-in-law - a man's enemies are the members of his own household" (Micah 7:6). Micah had put his hope in waiting upon the Lord. When Jesus arrived He declared that His coming would bring conflict among the members of one's family. "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother...'" (Matthew 10:34-36). Our relationships within our family are meant to strengthen our relationship with the Lord, following Him, however, would inevitably result in conflict within the family unit. So vital is the family unit that the Lord would send Elijah to restore the family before His coming that the land would experience the blessing He had originally intended. "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:6).
The Lord gave an example of His mercy and love to all His wayward and rebellious children in the parable of the lost son. As we meditate on Luke 15:11-32 today, may we continue to pray for Israel and offer praise the Lord for allowing His eldest son to be a light to bring His wayward children back home; and may we come home in humility and extend our gratitude through our prayers for our older brother that we may fulfill the Lords purposes, bringing our brothers home (reference Isaiah 66:19-20) so we will join together with the Lord and live in unity in the bonds of peace (reference Ephesisans 4:2-6).
Heavenly Father, we praise you for providing us a wonderful example for how we are to raise our children and for your amazing textbook, the Holy Bible, to guide us as we teach our children to walk in the path of righteousness. We thank you that you have entrusted them to us for a time, to teach them to follow your ways. Lord, protect their hearts and minds that they would not be captivated by the world, but instead be so captivated by you that they will love and follow you all the days of their life. Help them to grow up to value and respect the lives of all people and be a light to many of the glorious life that is available through a relationship with you. May your people Israel be an example to the world of the gracious love of a Father who loves His children too much too allow them to stray, and an example of your mercy as you protect your people in the land you have promised them. We long for the day when you "will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem, when men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with a cane in hand because of his age" with the streets filled with boys and girls playing there. Forgive us for the neglecting our responsibility to teach our children your truth. May we pursue them and protect them daily with prayer that they may grow up to give us the greatest honor any parent could desire - a life lived in humble reverence, respect, and pursuit of you, their Heavenly Father. May they turn to you when we fail them, and may those who have never known the love of a earthly father come to experience the wondrous love of their Heavenly Father. Turn the hearts of the children towards you, Lord, and return to us soon, we pray, giving you all the glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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Prayer Scripture references: Proverbs 4:20-23; 6:20-23; Isaiah 11:6; Daniel 12:3; Zechariah 8:3-5; Malachi 4:6.
