We have now come to the final chapter of Spurgeon’s book of advice to those who work with kids both in church and as parents.  In this final chapter, Spurgeon continues to examine what we can learn from the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman’s son.  He turns first to the location where the dead boy was placed and the method by which Elisha raised the boy.  Spurgeon notes that:

“The great secret lies in a large measure in powerful supplication.”

Elisha went into the room, shut the door, and prayed to the Lord.  As teachers and workers in Children’s Ministry, our power must come from God, and that power comes in large part through prayer.  Spurgeon explains:

“So it is with you; every real teacher’s power must come from on high. If you never enter your closet and shut to the door, if you never plead at the mercy-seat for your child, how can you expect that God will honour you in its conversion?… You will see your children converted when God gives you to individualise their cases, to agonize for them, and to take them one by one, and with the door closed to pray with them and for them. There is much with more influence in prayer privately offered with one than in prayer publicly uttered in the class—not more influence with God, of course, but more influence with the child. Such prayer will often be made its own answer; for God may, while you are pouring out your soul, make your prayer to be a hammer to break the heart which mere addresses had never touched.”

Spurgeon pleads that we pray individually for the kids in our ministry.  Find out their needs and pray for them.  Pray with them.  Recognize their greatest need (for Jesus Christ) and pray earnestly for that.

Following prayer, Elisha’s next step was to take action (which Spurgeon refers to as the means).  Prayer and means must go hand-in-hand.  Spurgeon elaborates on the necessity of action:

“Means without prayer—presumption! Prayer without means—hypocrisy!”

In order to raise a child from spiritual death, we must feel that death deep within our souls:

“God would have you come into contact with that death by painful, crushing, humbling sympathy…If you would raise that dead child, you must feel the chill and horror of that child’s death yourself… I cannot believe that you will ever pluck a brand from the burning, without putting your hand near enough to feel the heat of the fire. You must have, more or less, a distinct sense of the dreadful wrath of God and of the terrors of the judgment to come, or you will lack energy in your work, and so lack one of the essentials of success… Depend upon it, when the death that is in your children alarms, depresses, and overwhelms you, then it is that God is about to bless you.”

Elisha’s means was to lie on top of the boy in order to revive him.  He physically put himself in the position of the boy in order to bring about the resurrection.  Likewise, we must find a way to put ourselves in the position of children in order to lead them to salvation:

“you must next strive to adapt yourself as far as possible to the nature, and habits, and temperament of the child. Your mouth must find out the child’s words, so that the child may know what you mean; you must see things with a child’s eyes; your heart must feel a child’s feelings, so as to be his companion and friend; you must be a student of juvenile sin; you must be a sympathiser in juvenile trials; you must, so far as possible, enter into childhood’s joys and griefs. You must not fret at the difficulty of this matter, or feel it to be humiliating. If anything difficult be required, you must do it, and not think it difficult. God will not raise a dead child by you if you are not willing to become all things to that child, if by any possibility you may win its soul”

In order to teach kids, we have to understand them.  We have to put ourselves in their position.  We must understand their culture, their fears, their desires and their routines.  We must learn to think like they think and speak such that they can understand.  In order to be effective in children’s ministry we must become keen observers of kids and their world.  Spurgeon explains the type of person necessary to do this work:

“He is no fool who can talk to children; a simpleton is much mistaken if he thinks that his folly can interest boys and girls. It needs our best wits, our most industrious studies, our most earnest thoughts, our ripest powers, to teach our little ones. You will not quicken the child until you have “stretched” yourself; and, though it seems a strange thing, yet it is so. The wisest man will need to exercise all his abilities if he would become a successful teacher of the young.”

Working with kids is not easy.  I actually find the challenge of it to be one of the most exciting parts of this ministry.  If it comes too easily to you, you are probably not investing as much of yourself as you should.  Children’s Ministry should be such that it requires you to stretch yourself in order to succeed.

The result of Elisha’s actions was that the boy was raised.  That should be our goal as well:

“Here, then, is the secret. You must impart to the young your own soul; you must feel as if the ruin of that child would be your own ruin… Never be satisfied with finding your children in a barely hopeful state, What you want is not mere conviction, but conversion; you desire not only impression, but regeneration. Life, life from God, the life of Jesus. This your scholars need, and nothing less must content you.”

Salvation and discipleship are our goals, and we must never lose sight of either.  I hope this synopsis (and Mr. Spurgeon’s book) have convicted you, helped you and provide you with some ideas to further succeed in Children’s Ministry.  God bless you, and may God bless the children in your ministries.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Twenty-Three can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc23.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 22 – The Shunammite Woman’s Son

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. The Shunammite Woman’s Son (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 22)
2. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 21)
3. Of Such Is The Kingdom of Heaven (Synopsis of Come Ye' Children – Chapter 5)

In 2 Kings 4, we read the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman.  The Shunammite woman was a wealthy woman who always invited Elisha in to stay in her house when he passed her way.  Elisha stayed so often that she eventually convinced her husband to build a small room on the roof for Elisha to stay.  The woman had no children, and in return for her hospitality, Elisha pronounced to her that she would have a son within the next year.

When the woman’s son had grown he began to complain of a headache and eventually died.  The woman put him in the room on the roof and set off to go find Elisha.  When Elisha heard the news, he sent his servant (Gehazi) ahead of him to lay his staff on the boy.  On his way to the boy, Elisha met Gehazi who eas returning to tell him that the staff had failed to awaken the child.  When Elisha arrived and found the boy still dead, he went into the room, laid on top of him and revived the child from death.

In this chapter and the next, Spurgeon explores the lessons to be learned from this story.  Although this story deals with the actual physical death of a child, Spurgeon notes that those of us in Children’s Ministry deal with the spiritual deaths of children.  That is a reality that is important for us to recognize.  Spurgeon explains:

“Unless you have a very clear sense of the utter ruin and spiritual death of children, you will be incapable of being made a blessing to them. Go to them, I pray you, not as to sleepers whom you can by your own power awaken from their slumber, but as to spiritual corpses who can only be quickened by a power divine… May you never be content with aiming at secondary benefits, or even with realising them; may you strive for the grandest of all ends, the salvation of immortal souls. Your business is not merely to teach children to read the Bible, not barely to inculcate the duties of morality, nor even to instruct them in the mere letter of the gospel, but your high calling is to be the means, in the hands of God, of bringing life from heaven to dead souls.”

That is the arena that we deal in – the spiritual life or death of the kids we leave.  Obviously, God can do anything with, or in despite of, our efforts, but we must recognize that a failure on our art could result in the eternal spiritual death of a child.  Our aim in Children’s Ministry is resurrection.  We do not seek physical resurrection as Elisha does but spiritual resurrection of the kids in our ministries.  We seek their resurrection from spiritual death to eternal life.  That said, we must recognize that we are in no position to raise kids from spiritual death on our own.  Like Elisha, we must rely solely on the power of God to actually accomplish the resurrection of these kids.

Spurgeon offers the following words of encouragement to those of us who work with kids:

“And you, devoted, anxious, prayerful teacher, remain no longer a common being, you have become, in a special manner, the temple of the Holy Ghost; God dwelleth in you, and you by faith have entered upon the career of a wonder-worker. You are sent into the world not to do the things which are possible to man, but those impossibilities which God worketh by His Spirit, by the means of His believing people. You are to work miracles, to do marvels. You are not, therefore, to look upon the restoration of these dead children, which in God’s name you are called to bring about, as being a thing unlikely or difficult when you remember who it is that works by your feeble instrumentality.”

Secondly, Spurgeon points to the failed attempt of Elisha in sending his servant ahead of him to try to raise the boy.  Elisha had previously been the servant to another well know prophet – Elijah.  In 1 Kings 17 we read the story of how Elijah had resurrected a widow’s son.  If Elisha had followed the example of his teacher Elijah from the beginning, he would have known that sending his servant ahead would not be effective.   In the same way that Elisha should have followed the example of his teacher Elijah, Spurgeon argues that we must follow the example of our Master and Teacher Jesus Christ:

“With far more force may I say to you that it will be well if, as teachers, we imitate the modes and methods of our glorified Master, and learn at His feet the art of winning souls. Just as He came in deepest sympathy into the nearest contact with our wretched humanity, and condescended to stoop to our sorrowful condition, so must we come near to the souls with whom we have to deal, yearn over them with His yearning, and weep over them with His tears, if we would see them raised from the state of sin. Only by imitating the spirit and manner of the Lord Jesus shall we become wise to win souls. I am afraid that very often the truth which we deliver is a thing which is extraneous and out of ourselves; like a staff which we hold in our hand, but which is not a part of ourselves, We take doctrinal or practical truth, as Gehazi did the staff, and we lay it upon the face of the child, but we ourselves do not agonise for its soul. We try this doctrine and that truth, this anecdote and the other illustration, this way of teaching a lesson and that manner of delivering an address; but so long as ever the truth which we deliver is a matter apart from ourselves and unconnected with our innermost being, so long it will have no more effect upon a dead soul than Elisha’s staff had upon the dead child.”

Our teaching must follow the example of our Lord and be the result of an internal torment at the notion that a failure on our part may result in the eternal death of a child.  Absent that conviction, a rote teaching of doctrinal and biblical principals will not be effective in winning children to Christ.  Elisha’s servant Gehazi’s response to Elisha upon the failure of his staff to resurrect the child was to tell Elisha that it had failed to “awaken” the boy.  He seems to have missed the actual status of the boy.  Spurgeon notes that as teachers we must understand the true depravity of the kids we teach in order to be effective:

“God will not bless those teachers who do not grasp in their hearts the really fallen estate of their children. If you think the child is not really depraved, if you indulge foolish notions about the innocence of childhood and the dignity of human nature, it should not surprise you if you remain barren and unfruitful.”

Finally, Spurgeon notes that Elisha’s example should teach us that we must persevere even when we fail.  Elisha’s first effort, sending his servant, did not succeed.  That did not deter him from carrying on with his mission which eventually resulted in the boy being resurrected.  Spurgeon’s provides the following advice about failure:

“The lesson of your non-success is not—cease the work, but—change the method. It is not the person who is out of place, it is the plan which is unwise. If your first method has been unsuccessful, you must improve upon it. Examine wherein you have failed, and then, by changing your mode, or spirit, the Lord may prepare you for a degree of usefulness far beyond your expectation.”

Rather than allowing our failures to discourage us, we must look upon them and learn from them.  We must dispose of that which does not work and press on towards the goal of winning kids for Christ.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Twenty-Two can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc22.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 21 – Abijah’s “Some Good Thing,”—II

Chapter 23 – The Shunammite Woman’s Son—II: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. The Shunammite Woman’s Son – II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 23)
2. Obadiah and Elijah (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 19)
3. Of Such Is The Kingdom of Heaven (Synopsis of Come Ye' Children – Chapter 5)

This chapter continues Spurgeon’s discussion of the “the good thing” found in Abijah which started in the previous chapter.

Where was the good thing?

The “good thing” found in Abijah was not found in outward adornment, but the Bible tells us that it was found “in him.”  This causes Spurgeon to draw the following conclusion on the difference between outward religion and an inward relationship with Christ:

“The grand point is not to wear the garb, nor use the brogue of religion, but to possess the life of God within, and feel and think as Jesus would have done because of that inner life. Small is the value of external religion unless it be the outcome of a life within.”

The “good thing” was found in Abijah.  This implies that it did not require much searching.  In other words, the “good thing” was easily discernable in Abijah.  Spurgeon notes that piety in children is generally easily discernable:

“Zealous, child-like piety soon shows itself; a child is usually far less reticent than a man; the little lip is not frozen by cold prudence, but reveals the heart. Godliness in a child appears even upon the surface, so that persons who come into the house as visitors are surprised by the artless statements which betray the young Christian.”

Indeed, children often become some of the most unreserved evangelists for Christ.  They do not find themselves hindered by the reservations that older believers often face.

How should the “good thing” be received?

Spurgeon moves next to a discussion of how this “good thing” in Abijah, and in children in general, should be received.  He writes:

“We are not told of the grace in his heart what it was, nor whence it came, nor what special actions it produced, but there it was, found where none expected it. I believe that this case is typical of many of the elect children whom God calls by His grace in the courts and alleys of London. You must not expect that you shall jot down their experience, and their feelings, and their lives, and total them all up; you must not reckon to know dates and means specifically, but you must take the child as we have to take Abijah, rejoicing to find in him a little wonder of grace with God’s own seal upon him…and in like manner the Lord sets His attesting mark of grace on regenerated children, and we must be content to see it, even if some other things be wanting. Let us welcome with delight those works of the Holy Spirit which we cannot precisely describe.”

When children put their faith in Christ, and choose to follow him, we should focus on the grace given to them by God and not on their shortcomings.  Afterall, we are all short of what God would have us be.

A Discussion on the Suffering of Children

In the final part of this chapter, Spurgeon tackles the issue of suffering in Children.  After all, Abijah despite having some “good thing” in him was appointed by God to die as the rest of Jeroboam’s family was.  While he was spared from the brutal death and lack of burial the rest of his family would experince, he was still appointed to die which leads many to ponder the following:

“We cannot understand that God’s dear little children who love Him should often be called to suffer.”

Spurgeon deals first with the fact that Abijah was appointed to suffer and die while his evil parents remained well.  Spurgeon notes that it is through his sickness that God “ripened” him for glory faster than he may have been otherwise.  In other words, through his sickness, God ready him for his eventual entry into the kingdom of God.  As Spurgeon notes, while we not always know the reason for the suffering, we can trust in his eternal goodness.  God is good, and though we may not understand why something is happening, we can rest assured in the knowledge that God has our best interest at heart in everything he does.  Spurgeon also notes that oftentimes, God will work through the suffering of a child to bring his parents to Christ.  In this case, King Jeroboam and the queen could easily have found God in their child’s suffering, but they did not.

Finally, Spurgeon moves on to a question that trips up many people when it comes to their relationship with God – they question:

“…that some of God’s dearest children should die while they are yet young.”

How could a good God allow, let alone cause, a child to suffer and die?  It is a question that many non-Christians often pose as a smokescreen for their objections to God, and the story of Abijah allows us to tackle that question.  The long and short of it is that in taking Abijah early rather than allowing him to grow and suffer the fate of the remainder of Jeroboam’s family, God actually demonstrates his grace.  In essence, he spared him from the evil yet to come and opened to him the Kingdom of heaven.  In regards to Abijah, Spurgeon notes, “In this child’s case his early death was a proof of grace.”  Spurgeon summarizes:

“The Lord, in infinite mercy, often takes children home to Himself, and saves them from the trials of long life and temptation; because not only is there grace in them, but there is so much more grace than usual that there is no need for delay, they are ripe already for the harvest. It is wonderful what great grace may dwell in a boy’s heart: child piety is by no means of an inferior kind, it is sometimes ripe for heaven.”

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Twenty-One can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc21.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 20 – Abijah’s “Some Good Thing”

Chapter 22 – The Shunammite Woman’s Son: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 20)
2. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
3. Of Such Is The Kingdom of Heaven (Synopsis of Come Ye' Children – Chapter 5)

The Lord usually brings the rod before he brings the axe.  So starts this chapter based on the story of King Jeroboam and his son Abijah.  In this story recounted in 1 Kings 14, Jeroboam’s son Abijah had fallen sick.   So the King sent his wife, in disguise, to see the prophet Ahijah to find out what the fate of the boy would be.  The prophet told the Queen that as a result of all the evil King Jeroboam had committed that the kingdom would be ripped away from him and that every male in the house of Jeroboam would be cut off.  Regarding the King’s son Abijah, Ahijah told Jeroboam’s wife that  he was appointed to die as soon as her feet step back into the city and would not suffer the fate of the reminder of Jeroboam’s family.  This was because in Abiajh was found “some good thing toward Jehovah, God of Israel.”  The “some good thing” serves as the basis for this chapter and the next.  Spurgeon examines the “some good thing” found in Abijah that led God to spare him from the fate that befell the rest of the house of Jeroboam.

What was the “good thing?” found in Abijah

The Bible does not tell us specifically what form “the good thing” found in Abijah took.  Despite the lack of information regarding “the good thing,” Spurgeon asserts that there is something we can be certain of.  That is that the child must have had faith.  Spurgeon reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  Since God showed Abijah grace in not allowing his to fall victim to the fate of the rest of King Jeroboam’s family is an indication that Abijah was likely a childhood believer in the Lord God.

When it comes to children, Spurgeon explains that they often speak more of their love of Christ than their trust or faith in Christ:

“…for converted children more usually talk of loving Christ than they do of trusting in Him: not because faith is not in them, but because the emotion of love is more congenial to the child’s nature than the more intellectual act of faith. The heart is large in the child, and therefore love becomes his most conspicuous fruit.”

As it related to the “good thing” found in Abijah, Spurgeon explains:

“It was not merely a good inclination which was in him, nor a good desire, but a really good, substantial virtue.”

Our goal in Children’s Ministry does not stop at just building a love for Christ.  After all, children love their teddy bears and ice cream as well.  We desire more than just a fondness or love for Christ.  Our goal is to develop a willingness and longing for Christ to be the Lord of their lives.

How did the “good thing” come to Abijah?

Again, we don’t know specifically how the good thing entered Abijah.  One thing that is clear though is that God recognized it in him.  Spurgeon explains:

“It is not essential to us to know how a child receives grace. We need not be painfully anxious to know when, or where, or how a child is converted; it may even be impossible to tell, for the work may have been so gradual that day and hour cannot be known.”

As Spurgeon notes, God sees the least good thing inside of all of us.  When a child professes faith in Christ, the important thing is the profession itself and not the details regarding the date and time that it happened.  Many adults who eventually come to Christ can recollect the exact moment when they received him.  The change in their lives is so marked that they will not soon forget the exact moment of their salvation.  On the other hand, Spurgeon notes that in kids the work of salvation is sometimes so gradual that it is impossible to know the exact date and time of conversion.

We don’t know how God placed the good thing in Abijah other than to know that it was the Lord God who put it there.  Despite Abijah’s wicked parents (and they are some of the most wicked recounted in the Old Testament), and despite the culture that in which Abijah lived, the grace of God found Abijah.  Despite a lack of parents willing to raise him in the fear and admonition of the Lord, God’s will and God’s grace still controlled Abijah’s life.  Spurgeon draws the following conclusion from the life of Abijah:

“Be it ours when we see in children some good thing to rest content with that truth, even if we cannot tell how it came there.”

Spurgeon notes that in Abijah’s case:

“God’s electing love is never short of means to carry out its purpose: He can send His effectual grace into the heart of Jeroboam’s family, and while the father is prostrate before his idols the Lord can find a true worshipper for Himself in the king’s own child.”

We should never lose hope in a child just because of the environment that he lives in.  The power of God to reach beyond circumstances to effectuate his grace and salvation is astounding.  To ignore a child, and refuse to pour into his life, because we have determined that he is beyond the saving reach of God is a blasphemy of the highest order.

What type of “good thing” was it?

Next, Spurgeon moves on the talk about the type of “good thing” found in Abijah and notes that it was a good thing towards God.  Spurgeon explains:

“In children there often will be found good things towards their parents: let these be cultivated—but these are not sufficient evidences of grace. In children there will sometimes be found good things towards amiability and moral excellence: let all good things be commended and fostered, but they are not sure fruits of grace. It is towards God that the good thing must be that saves the soul… The child had love, and there was in it love to Jehovah. He had faith, but it was faith in Jehovah. His religious fear was the fear of the living God; his childlike thoughts, and desires, and prayers, and hymns, went towards the true God. This is what we desire to see not only in children, but in adults; we wish to see their hearts turned to the Lord, and their minds and wills moving towards the Most High.”

Many Children’s Ministry focus on teaching children the virtues found in the Bible.  This is certainly a noble goal, but the critical thing that we must teach them is about God and the salvation that he offers. It is not enough that any type of “good thing” be found in child, but it must be a “good thing towards God.”

The Effect of the “Good Thing”

Finally in this chapter, Spurgeon examines the result of Abijah’s faith.  He notes that Abijah’s faith must have manifested itself to people because he was well loved.  When he died he received both tears and a tomb – a far cry from many royalty that died in those days received.  Indeed, the remainder of Jeroboam’s family was devoured by dogs.  However, the people saw something different in Abijah. His faith must have been evident to other people.  Spurgeon notes:

“It is a very blessed thing when there is such a good thing in our children that they come to be beloved in their little spheres.”

What a wonderful sight it is to see the evidences of faith displayed in the life of a child.  Spurgeon ends this chapter with a personal note on the grace of God seen in the lives of children:

“Youthful piety is a very touching thing to me; I see the grace of God in men and women with much thankfulness, but I cannot perceive it in children without shedding tears of delight. There is an exceeding beauty about these rosebuds of the Lord’s garden; they have a fragrance which we find not in the fairest of earth’s lilies. Love is won for the Lord Jesus in many a heart by these tiny arrows of the Lord, whose very smallness is a part of their power to penetrate the heart. The ungodly may not love the grace which is in the children, but since they love the children in whom that grace is found, they are no longer able to speak against religion as they otherwise would have done. Yea, more, the Holy Spirit uses these children for yet higher ends, and those who see them are often impressed with desires for better things.”

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Twenty can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc20.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 19 – Obadiah and Elijah

Chapter 21 – Abijah’s “Some Good Thing,”—II: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 21)
2. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
3. Witnesses for God Converted in Youth (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 17)

This short chapter continues Spurgeon’s observations from the previous two chapters based on the story of Elijah and Obadiah.  It begins with yet another observation on the benefits of early piety.  Spurgeon notes:

“YOUTHFUL PIETY LEADS on to persevering piety.”

Obadiah observed that, “I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.”  [1 Kings 18:12 KJV]”   He was able to proclaim this because time had not changed him or waivered his faith in God.  Obadiah had “run the race” and persevered.  Many people exalt martyrs who die for their faith, but Spurgeon explains:

“It is not burning quick to the death in martyrdom that is the hard work; roasting before a slow fire is a far more terrible test of firmness…the grace of God to preserve a believer for ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years, is quite as great a miracle and deserves more of our praise than it usually commands.”

Rather than succumb to the popular notions of his day that included the worship of Baal, Obadiah stood firm in the belief in God that he had come to early in life.  He also held fast to his piety despite his wealth and position.  He worked in the court of the King, in the court of a King and Queen who were adverse to belief in God, and despite all that position offered, he remained faithful to God.  Spurgeon observes:

“There is nothing more perilous to a man than to prosper in this world and become rich and respectable.”

Indeed in terms of our spiritual journey, success is often harder to deal with than failure.  Finally, Spurgeon speaks to the “comfort” of early piety later in life:

“It will be a great comfort to people, when old, to look back upon a life spent in the service of God. You will not trust in it, you will not think that there is any merit in it; but you will bless God for it. A servant who has been with his master from his youth ought not to be turned adrift when he grows grey. A right-minded master respects the person who has served him long and well.”

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Nineteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc19.htm

<<LAST TIME:
Chapter 18 – Obadiah’s Early Piety

Chapter 20 – Abijah’s “Some Good Thing”
: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
2. Witnesses for God Converted in Youth (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 17)
3. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 21)

In the last chapter, we were introduced to Obadiah who later in his life worked in the hostile court of the evil King Ahab.  In this chapter, Spurgeon discusses the early piety of Obadiah.  In 1 Kings 18:12, during his exchange with Elijah, Obadiah states:

“…but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.  [1 Kings 18:12 KJV]”

The Bible does not tell us how Obadiah came to faith or who instructed him.  Spurgeon does postulate that based on Obadiah’s name (which means “the servant of Jehova”) that Obadiah’s parents were likely believers.  In a time when believers in God were frequently persecuted or even killed, the fact that Obadiah’s parents would name their son “the servant of Jehova” speaks to the faith of his parents and supports Spurgeon’s contention that they were likely believer.  On the importance of parents, Spurgeon notes:

“Whether this be so or not [that Obadiah’s parents were believers], it is quite certain that thousands of the most intelligent believers owe their first bent towards godliness to the sweet associations of home…we were consecrated to the service of God before we knew that there was a God. Many a tear of earnest prayer fell on our infant brow and sealed us for Heaven; we were nursed in the atmosphere of devotion; there was scarce a day in which we were not urged to be faithful servants of God, and entreated while we were yet young to seek Jesus and give our hearts to Him.”

Spurgeon also notes from the scripture passage the unique manner in which Obadiah refers to his faith from youth.  Specifically, Obadiah indicates that he has feared the Lord from his youth.  This is quite different than many people describe a child’s relationship with God.  Spurgeon explains:

“The way in which he described it is very instructive, ‘I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.’ I hardly remember in all my life to have heard the piety of children described in ordinary conversation by this term, though it is the common word of the Scriptures. We say, ‘The dear child loved God.’ We talk of their ‘being made so happy,’ and so forth, and I do not question the rightness of the language; still, the Holy Spirit speaks of ‘the fear of the Lord’ as ‘the beginning of wisdom;’ and David says, ‘Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.’ Children will get great joy through faith in the Lord Jesus; but that joy, if true, is full of lowly reverence and awe of the Lord.”

Indeed, even in childhood faith in the Lord and love of the Lord will ultimately manifest itself in fear of the Lord.  And, as those who disciple children, we should not neglect the fear of the Lord in teaching them.

Our goal in Children’s Ministry is to bring young children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Spurgeon notes the numerous advantages of coming to early faith:

1. Those saved early can be saved from “a thousand regrets” that those saved later in life will have experienced before their salvation.
2. Early piety allows a person to form associations and friendships early in life that will benefit the individual for their entire lives.  Indeed, the company we keep has a significant impact on our entire lives.  As a result, early piety saves us from harmful associations.
3. Early piety helps us to form godly habits and avoid the opposite.
4. Early piety allows us to grow more rapidly in grace without having to “unlearn” much of what others have learned.

Spurgeon expands on this last benefit:

“The scars and bleeding sores which come of having spent years in the service of the devil are missed by those whom the Lord brings into His church before they have wandered far into the world.”

The benefits of salvation are clear to those who have been saved.  As someone who came Jesus later in life (at aged 30), I understand that God had a reason for waiting until that point in my life to draw me to him.  On the other hand, I sometimes find myself wondering how things in my life would be different had I come to Christ earlier in life.

As one final benefit of an early belief in Christ, Spurgeon notes that oftentimes it is the light of faith in a child that will help to bring older individuals to faith:

“By a certain secret power it opens closed doors, and turns the key in the lock of unbelief. Where nothing else could win a way for truth, a child’s love has done it.”

The benefits of a child coming to Christ early in life are clear. As workers in Children’s Ministry, we should never adopt the attitude that says “what we are teaching them now will help in their coming to Christ later in life.”  Instead our goal with these children should be immediate salvation.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Eighteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc18.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 17 – Witnesses for God Converted in Youth

Chapter 19 – Obadiah and Elijah: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Obadiah and Elijah (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 19)
2. Witnesses for God Converted in Youth (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 17)
3. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 21)

Although this chapter touches on those who come to faith early in life, Spurgeon’s principle point in this chapter is that God is forever sovereign and always has a plan.  This chapter is based on the story of Elijah and Obadiah recorded in the book of 1 Kings and lays the foundation for the following chapter’s discussion of Obadiah’s early piety.

In 1 Kings 18, we read the story of Elijah and Obadiah.  Obadiah was in charge of the household of Ahab, the King of Israel.  When Ahab’s wife Jezebel ordered that all the prophets of the Lord be killed in order to expedite that worship of Baal, Obadiah hid a hundred of the prophets of the Lord in caves around the country  He watched over them and sustained them with bread and water.  As Obadiah was walking through the land, he came across the great prophet Elijah who summoned him to go tell King Ahab the Elijah was there to meet him.  Obadiah was understandably nervous about this request of Elijah was an enemy of the King.

Spurgeon notes that Obadiah was a quiet man of God who feared the Lord and still worked in the court of the King which was hostile to the God of Israel.  On the other hand, Elijah was a very outspoken and public prophet of the Lord.  In Spurgeon’s opinion, Elijah did not think very highly of Obadiah.  Spurgeon postulates:

“I suppose it was because this man of iron, this prophet of fire and thunder, this mighty servant of the Most High, set small store by anybody who did not come to the front and fight like himself. I know it is the tendency of brave and zealous minds somewhat to undervalue quiet, retired piety.”

Obadiah’s quiet nature likely didn’t sit well with Elijah who publicly proclaimed the Word of God.  Nonetheless, when Elijah needed to talk to Ahab, he found himself calling upon the much more timid Obadiah for assistance.  Spurgeon points out that it is often “the tendency of brave and zealous minds somewhat to undervalue quiet, retired piety.”  Spurgeon draws two lessons from this story:

1. God will never leave himself without a witness in this world.  Even in the most unlikely of places he left himself with a witness in the form of Obadiah in the court of a hostile King.
2. Never be surprised to meet a believer anywhere you might find yourself.  In Spurgeon’s words, “Grace can live where you would never expect to see it survive for an hour.”

Spurgeon points to other biblical examples of God’s grace showing up in the most unlikely of places:

1. Joseph feared God in the court of Pharaoh.
2. Daniel was a trusted counselor of Nebuchadnezzer.
3. Mordecai waited at the gate of Ahasuerus.
4. Pilate’s wife pleaded for the life of Jesus.
5. The saints in Caesar’s house found Jesus through the preaching of Paul.

Spurgeon notes that “these witnesses for God are very often persons converted in their youth” and that God seems to take a certain amount of delight in making those who came to faith early his standard-bearers.  The list of examples from the Bible is not inconsequential:

• Samuel
• David
• Joseph
• Daniel

This chapter is not primarily about children.  However, it teaches us important lessons about the grace and sovereignty of God.  In the following chapter, Spurgeon moves forward in the story of Elijah and Obadiah to review the early piety of Obadiah.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Seventeen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc17.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 16 – Childhood and Holy Scripture

Chapter 18 – Obadiah’s Early Piety: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Obadiah and Elijah (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 19)
2. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
3. Abijah’s “Some Good Thing” (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 20)

In this chapter, Spurgeon employs the example of Paul and Timothy to draw some conclusions about children and the Bible.  He begins by recounting the method how Paul taught Timothy the gospel.  He taught him the lessons of the Bible verbally by teaching him sound doctrine.  As importantly, he taught him experientially by allowing Timothy to see Paul live out his Christian faith in everyday life.  As Spurgeon explains,

“We cannot force truth upon men, but we can make our own teaching clear and decided, and make our lives consistent therewith. Truth and holiness are the surest antidotes to error and unrighteousness.”

As teachers of children, it is of the utmost importance that we lead lives consistent with what we teach.  If our kids see us outside of the classroom setting violating the very standards that we teach them on Sunday morning, they will never follow those standards again.  We are supposed to shine the light of Jesus on them by imitating hm.  Teaching the Word of God is as much about living it as it is about speaking it.

So, why endeavor to teach children about the Bible?  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul told the young man:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” [2 Timothy 3:14 ESV]

Having a knowledge of the scriptures from youth served as a safeguard for Timothy, and Paul understood that.  He would later write the following to Timothy, to commend him and remind him of what he had learned:

“…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” [2 Timothy 3:15 ESV]

Spurgeon observes that this knowledge of Scripture from youth serves the child well later in life.  Knowing God’s word at a young age allows God to use them in the spiritual battle against evil even at a very young age.  Spurgeon observes:

“One of God’s chief methods for preserving His fields from tares, is to sow them early with wheat.”

Spurgeon notes that this verse indicates that Timothy knew the scripture “from childhood.”  Spurgeon observes that this language does not refer to a grown child or even a youth, but a child just out of infancy.  The point is clear.  We should not wait to begin teaching scripture to kids.  There is no age which is too early.  As soon as children are capable of understanding and learning practically anything, they are capable of understanding the Bible.  Indeed, the Bible has been used more effectively throughout history to teach kids how to read than any other work.  Start teaching scripture to your children when they are infants.  Sing scriptures song to them.  As they become toddlers teach them easy verses to memorize.  Teach them how to read using the Bible, and encourage their own reading the Bible throughout their childhood.

As Spurgeon points out, our job as teachers is to find a way to lead the kids into the Bible – even into those areas which are so deep that even adults cannot fully understand them:

“Parts of it [the Bible] are above a child’s mind, for they are above the comprehension of the most advanced among us. There are depths in it wherein leviathan may swim; but there are also brooks in which a lamb may wade. Wise teachers know how to lead their little ones into the green pastures beside the still waters.”

Spurgeon is clearly of the opinion that working with Children is amongst the most important kingdom work a person can do.  Given that, he offers the following challenge and observation:

“Give us the first seven years of a child, with God’s grace, and we may defy the world, the flesh, and the devil to ruin that immortal soul. Those first years, while yet the clay is soft and plastic, go far to decide the form of the vessel. Do not say that your office, you who teach the young, is in the least degree inferior to ours, whose main business is with older folks, No, you have the first of them, and your impressions, as they come first, will endure last; oh, that they may be good, and only good!”

Spurgeon rightly notes that as workers in children’s ministry, we have the opportunity to teach kids and form their knowledge of God in the most formational time of their lives.  With that though, Spurgeon also offers the following words of warning:

“The teachings of our childhood leave clean-cut and sharp impressions upon the mind, which remain after seventy years have passed. Let us see that such impressions are made for the highest ends.”

With the great opportunity and teaching kids comes great responsibility.  Due to the fact that we have these kids at such an impressionable time in their lives, we must be certain that what we are writing on their minds is the truth of God and nothing else.  Finally, Spurgeon ends the chapter with some words about those who are principally responsible to teaching children about their Bibles.  Spurgeon notes that the Bible is clear who taught Timothy:

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  [2 Timothy 1:5 ESV]

Timothy’s grandmother and mother were instrumental in his teaching.  Spurgeon offers the following words of encouragement specifically for mothers:

“Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true…Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Christian women, by teaching children the Holy Scriptures, are as much fulfilling their part for the Lord, as Moses in judging Israel, or Solomon in building the temple.”

While the Bible is clear that fathers are given the responsibility for leading their families, Spurgeon reminds us of the very important role that mothers play in the spirituality of their kids.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Sixteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc16.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 15 – King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers

Chapter 17 – Witnesses for God Converted in Youth: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
2. “Come, Ye Children” – The Psalmist’s Invitation (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 14)
3. The Child Timothy and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 8)

Lest we should ever start to feel like our work with kids is pointless, in this short chapter, Spurgeon offers two words of encouragement to both parents and teachers for dealing with kids.  The two examples are found in the lives of David and Jesus.

Encouragement #1 – Working with Children is a Noble Endeavor

David was renowned King of Israel and author of numerous psalms.  Appointed by God in his early years, David replaced Saul and led the nation of Israel for 40 years.  Jesus was, and is, the Son of God who came to earth in human form to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins so that we could be reconcile to God forever.  One thing they shared in common was a desire to teach children.

David said:

Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. [Psalms 34:11 ESV]

And Jesus proclaimed:

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 19:14 ESV]

They both had a special place in their heart for working with children.  As those involved in Children’s Ministry, we share that love of kids with David and with our Lord.  But, we are not alone in that desire.  Spurgeon provides a long list of noble people who have engaged in Children’s Ministry throughout history:

“In the United States we have heard of Presidents, of Judges, Members of Congress, and persons in the highest positions, not condescending, for I scorn to use such a term, but honouring themselves by teaching little children in Sabbath-schools. He who teaches a class in a Sabbath-school has earned a good degree. I had rather receive the title of S.S.T. than M.A., B.A., or any other honour that ever was conferred by men. Let me beg you, then, to take heart, because your duties are so honourable.”

Spurgeon points out that teaching kids is not a condescension but an honor, and we should view our work in that way.

Encouragement #2 – Be Encouraged By the Prospect of Success

Spurgeon points to the words of David, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord” and contrast it with what he might have said instead – “I might teach you the fear of the Lord.”  David seemed assured of the success of his efforts working with kids. Spurgeon suggests that those of us who work in Children’s Ministry should be encouraged by this prospect of success as well.

Spurgeon reminds us that when we get to heaven, we will finally have the opportunity to see the success of our efforts:

“Up yonder, where the starry hosts perpetually sing God’s high praises, up where the white-robed throng cast their crowns before His feet, we shall behold the success of Sabbath-schools. There, too, where infant millions assemble Sabbath after Sabbath, to sing,—

“Gentle Jesus meek and mild,”

we see with joy the success of Sabbath-schools.”

We not ever see the outcome of our work with children here on earth, but we will have the joy in heaven of seeing how our hard work has impacted the kids we have ministered to.

Finally, Spurgeon reminds us that we should be encouraged to further action by the success from our efforts that God does let us see here on earth:

“Go on with your holy service; much has been done already, but more shall yet be done. Let all your past victories inflame you with fresh ardour, let the remembrance of your triumphs in previous campaigns, and all trophies won for your Saviour on the battle-field of the past be your encouragement to press on with the duty of the present and the future.”

While it is easy to get discouraged in our efforts with God’s kids, Spurgeon reminds us of the eternal impact of our ministry.  When things in the present are not going as you hoped, looked to the past and look forward to the future.  God has given us great honor and great responsibility in working with kids.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Fifteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc15.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 14 – “Come, Ye Children”—The Psalmist’s Invitation

Chapter 16 – Childhood and Holy Scripture: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. Instructions for Teachers and Parents (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 11)
2. The Child Timothy and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 8)
3. Model Lesson for Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 12)

David and the Children

In Chapter 14, Spurgeon exegetes the verse in Psalm 34 that serves as the title for this book:

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” [Psalms 34:11 ESV]

NOTE: Spurgeon’s book was, of course, based on the wording of the King James Version of the Bible which is slightly different than the ESV Version.]

Spurgeon notes that this Psalm was written by David following the change in his behavior in front of Abimelech.  In those events, which are related in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, David pretended to be insane before the King of Gath in order to escape from him.  Spurgeon points out that, only after David had lowered himself to pretending to be a drooling madman subjected to the scorn of children did he finally discover his duty. Spurgeon explains:

“In after days, when David sang songs of praise to Jehovah, recollecting how he had become the laughing-stock of little children, he seemed to say, “Ah! by my folly before the children in the streets, I have lowered myself in the estimation of generations that shall live after me; now I will endeavour to undo the mischief,—”Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.’”

Having once rejected the sovereign protection of the Lord in favor of scorn children, David felt compelled to teach children the true nature of God.

Fear of the Lord

The second half of Psalm 34:11 reads, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”  The implication is clear.  David clearly understood that Children were, and are, quite capable of grasping the doctrine of the fear of the Lord.  Spurgeon goes on to lament the unwillingness to teach the deep doctrines of God to children:

“We have heard it said by some that children cannot understand the great mysteries of religion. We even know some Sunday-school teachers who cautiously avoid mentioning the great doctrines of the gospel, because they think the children are not prepared to receive them. Alas! the same mistake has crept into the pulpit; for it is currently believed, among a certain class of preachers, that many of the doctrines of the Word of God, although true, are not fit to be taught to the people, since they would pervert them to their own destruction. Away with such priestcraft! Whatever God has revealed ought to be preached. Whatever HE has revealed, if I am not capable of understanding it, I will still believe and preach it.”

Spurgeon’s point is clear.  As teachers of the Word of God, we do not have the option to pick and choose which parts of God’s Word we want to teach.  We do not get to determine what is easy enough and what is too hard to teach to children.  Spurgeon states unequivocally, and I agree, that there is NO doctrine which a child capable of salvation is not capable of understanding.  Not only are the capable of understanding these doctrines, Spurgeon argues that oftentimes they are actually in a better position to  understand these doctrines because of their young age:

“In fact, children are capable of understanding some things in early life, which we hardly understand afterwards. Children have eminently a simplicity of faith, and simplicity of faith is akin to the highest knowledge; indeed, we know not that there is much distinction between the simplicity of a child and the genius of the profoundest mind. He who receives things simply, as a child, will often have ideas which the man who is prone to make a syllogism of everything will never attain unto.”

We should never approach Children’s Ministry or enter a classroom with an idea that the children are not capable of understanding what we are trying to teach.  As teachers, if we cannot make the children in our ministry understand a doctrine or concept or teaching, it is likely the result of our not understanding it ourselves.  In order to teach kids, we must first understand what we are trying to teach.  As teachers, if you cannot find a way to teach a child the things of God in an understandable way, we might not be fit for the task.  Spurgeon holds that if the child cannot understand a lesson, it is not the fault of the child but the fault of the teacher.  If you find yourself saying things like, “they just don’t get it” the first place you should look for a reason is in the mirror.  Frankly, I find the process of finding ways to convey the deep truths of God to young children to be one of the most exciting parts of working with kids.

On Children Being Saved

Spurgeon next turns his attention back to a frequent refrain in this book – that children are as capable, if not more so, of attaining salvation as adults.  Many people argue over the so called “Age of Accountability” – the age at which children are accountable for their actions and must accept Jesus in order to obtain eternal life.  In fact, I contributed to a Children’s Ministry Think Tank on this very subject. In terms of the age at which kids are capable of understanding the gospel, Spurgeon says:

“As soon as a child is capable of being lost, it is capable of being saved. As soon as a child can sin, that child can, if God’s grace assist it, believe and receive the Word of God. As soon as children can learn evil, be assured that they are competent, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to learn good.”

Many people remain suspect of kids who claim they have been saved.  Spurgeon warns that we should never look suspiciously on what he calls child-piety.  As Spurgeon points out:

“It is better sometimes to be deceived than to be the means of offending one of these little ones who believe in Jesus. God send to His people a firm belief that little buds of grace are worthy of all tender care!”

Rather than being suspicious of childhood salvation, we should rejoice in it.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Fourteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc14.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 13 – “Come, Ye Children” – Three Admonitions

Chapter 15 – King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)
2. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)
3. Of Such Is The Kingdom of Heaven (Synopsis of Come Ye' Children – Chapter 5)

In this chapter, Spurgeon offers three admonitions of particular importance to those who work with kids.  These admonitions are based on the following verse which provides the title of the book:

“Come, Ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. [Psalms 34:11 KJV]”

Admonition #1 – Recollect Whom You Are Teaching

Even when working with kids, perhaps especially when we are working with kids, we need to remember to respect our audience.  By respect, Spurgeon does not mean that you give people special treatment because of their status or position.  Instead, he means that we must remember that we are working with people who have souls, and we should not waste their time filling their heads with things that are not worth hearing.

Spurgeon argues that those who teach kids are in a position of greater responsibility than even those who would teach adults.  Those who minister to adults minister to people who are, at least theoretically, capable of making their own judgments and their own decisions about what they are and are not going to do.  When you teach children, they have no other option. They cannot choose, on their own, to go find a different teacher or a different church.  Accordingly, we must be all the more careful about what we teach them.  As Spurgeon explains,

“If you teach the child wrongly, he believes you; if you teach him heresies, he will receive them; what you teach him now, he will never forget. You are not sowing, as some say, on virgin soil, for it has long been occupied by the devil; but you are sowing on a soil more fertile now than it ever will be again,—soil that will produce fruit now, far better than it will do in after days; you are sowing on a young heart, and what you sow will be pretty sure to abide there, especially if you teach evil, for that will never be forgotten.”

Children are much more susceptible to what we teach them, and what they learn is likely to stick with them longer than an adult might retain it.  Spurgeon goes on to point out:

“Put poison in the spring, and it will pollute the whole stream. Take care what you are after! You are twisting the sapling, and the old oak will be bent thereby. Have a care, it is a child’s soul you are tampering with, if you are tampering at all; it is a child’s soul you are preparing for eternity, if God is with you. I give you a solemn admonition on every child’s behalf. Surely, if it be murder to administer poison to the dying, it must be far more criminal to give poison to the young life. If it be evil to mislead grey-headed age, it must be far more so to turn aside the feet of the young into the road of error, in which they may for ever walk.”

We should be always mindful of this fact and burden when we prepare to teach children.  We must prepare with an appropriate fear of the Lord in mind.  Teaching children is not something that should be taken lightly!

Admonition #2 – Recollect That You Are Teaching For God

The first admonition is to remember who you are teaching.  This second admonition is that we must remember who we are teaching for.  Working with kids is not just an exercise in baby-sitting.  Rather, you are there to teach them on behalf of the God of this Universe.  What we teach to children about God and eternal matters is immeasurably more important than anything else a child will learn:

“If you, as teachers, were only assembled to reach geography, it might not injure them eternally if you were to tell the children that the North Pole was close to the Equator; or if you were to say that the extremity of South America was hard by the coast of Europe; or if you assured them that England was in the middle of Africa. But you are not teaching geography, or astronomy, nor are you training the children for a business life in this world; but you are, to the best of your ability, teaching them for God… Wound the child’s hand if you will; but, for God’s sake, do not wound his heart. Say what you like about temporal things; but, I beseech you, in spiritual matters, take care how you lead him. Be careful that it is the truth which you inculcate, and only that. With such a responsibility, how solemn your work becomes!”

We must take care to please God in how we teach his kids.  We should tremble at the thought of doing God’s work.  It is an awesome responsibility and one that we are not capable of fulfilling absent God’s grace!

Admonition #3 – Remember That Your Children Need Teaching

Finally, we must remember that teaching children the things of God is an absolutely necessary endeavor:

“Your child needs teaching. He was born in iniquity; in sin did his mother conceive him. He has an evil heart; he knows not God, and he never will know the Lord unless he is taught.”

Unless someone teaches a child, he cannot come to a saving knowledge of God!  We must teach kids the fear of the Lord:

“Be careful, then, how you teach, remembering the urgent necessity of the case. This is not a house on fire, needing your assistance at the engine; nor is it a wreck at sea, demanding your oar in the lifeboat; but it is a deathless spirit calling aloud to you,” Come and help me.” Therefore, I beseech you, teach the fear of the Lord, and that only; be very anxious to say, and to say truly, “I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Finally, we must remember that in order to teach the fear of the Lord to children, we must possess it ourselves.

Personal Observations

Many in Children’s Ministry will complain that they are underappreciated or people do not take their ministry seriously.  This is likely a valid concern, but I think the bigger travesty is that there are many people in Children’s Ministry who do not take what they do seriously.  They decided that, because they are just teaching kids, they can throw something together at the last second or just “wing it” and get by.  This attitude ignores the absolute importance of kids to God!  For those of us who work with and teach kids on weekly basis, we must invest an adequate amount of time (both in preparation and prayer) to ensure that we convey God’s truths to kids in whatever way possible.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Thirteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc13.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 12 – Model Lesson for Teachers

Chapter 14 – “Come, Ye Children”—The Psalmist’s Invitation: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. “Come, Ye Children” – The Psalmist’s Invitation (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 14)
2. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)
3. Obadiah’s Early Piety (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 18)

In this chapter, Spurgeons offers 5 lessons for Children’s Ministry teachers on teaching kids about morality.  Spurgeon utilizes Psalm 34 as the basis for these lessons and begins the chapter with the following verse:

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. [Psalms 34:13-14 ESV]

In order for kids to understand the holiness of God, we must teach them about morality.  However, we must be clear in our teaching that leading a moral life is not the way to salvation.  Instead, Children must be made to understand that Christ and Christ alone is the means unto our salvation.  Once salvation through the blood of Christ is obtained, only then does God gives us a thirst for moral living.  In Spurgeon’s words:

“I have always found that the gospel produces the best morality in all the world.”

As we work with kids in Children’s Ministry, we are in a special position to talk to them about their sin and their need for a savior.  Spurgeon offers the following advice:

“I would have a Sunday-school teacher watchful over the morals of the boys and girls under his care, speaking to them very particularly of those sins which are most common to youth.”

In talking to kids about sin, it is important that we be very specific.  Talk to them about the sin of disobedience.  Explain the sin of lying.  We must give kids clear examples of sins (as David did in this Psalm) while making sure that they understand that God’s focus on sin is the attitude behind the action and not necessarily the action itself.

Spurgeon proceeds from here to offer five practical lessons about teaching kids morality.

Lesson #1 – The Tongue

The first bit of advice in this Psalm is to:

“Keep your tongue from evil”

Children must be taught the power for both good and evil that the tongue possesses.  James explained the power of the tongue this way,

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  [James 3:5-8 ESV]

We must teach kids that what they say, and how they say it, is important.  The old adage with which kids will be familiar that “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” could not be further from the truth!

Lesson #2 – Look After the Whole Conduct

Spurgeon argues that morality, in and of itself, is relatively small thing.  The ultimate goal is to teach kids godliness:

“Morality, however, by itself is comparatively a small thing. The best part of what you teach is godliness. I said not, “religion,” but godliness.”

There is a risk in giving kids a list of rules that they must follow when teaching them about sin.  The risk is that they may start to focus on the external appearances rather than internal heart issues, and if you are not careful you will do nothing more than teach them how to be hypocrites.  Spurgeon explains,

“He who does not respect God, pray to God, love God, is an ungodly man, whatever his external religion may be.”

We must remind kids that God knows their hearts and is not fooled by exterior appearances.  They must always have an eye towards God and know that he is watching them.  Spurgeon argues that this is fundamental to working with kids:

“No Sunday-school teacher discharges his duty unless he constantly lays stress upon the fact that there is a God who notices everything that happens.”

Lesson #3 – The Evil of Sin

Understanding the evil of sin is a prerequisite to learning the way to heaven.  When working with kids, we must teach them that sin is abominable.  Spurgeon explains:

“If the Holy Ghost does not teach us the exceeding sinfulness of sin, we shall never know the blessedness of salvation. Let us seek His grace, then, when we teach, that we may always be able to lay stress upon the abominable nature of sin.”

Spurgeon points to a later verse from the same Psalm:

“The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. [Psalms 34:16 ESV]”

We must not be afraid to teach kids the full consequence of sin.  Spurgeon relates a story of a father whose son died prematurely.  Convinced that his son had not gone to heaven, the father tells his others children when asked about their brother, “I fear he is in hell.  You knew his life and conduct, you saw how he behaved; and now God has snatched him away from his sins.”  He proceeded to tell them about hell and begged them to shun it.  Many in that circumstance might have proclaimed, “We hope he is in heaven,” but this father, understanding the solemnity and seriousness of the situation, was frank with his children.  If the father in this story had not boldly proclaimed the truth of his dead son’s destination, his other children likely would not have seen any reason to repent of their own sins and turn towards God.  Likewise, when we shy away from telling kids about the consequences of their sin, we risk that they will not appreciate their need for a savior and turn to Jesus.  Sometimes, Spurgeon explains, in the face of eternity, honesty of purpose is more important than tenderness of heart.  Spurgeon further explains:

“Be honest, then, with your children, and teach them, by the help of God, that ‘evil shall slay the wicked.’”

Lesson #4 – Absolute Necessity of A Change of Heart

The prior lessons are insufficient without an understanding of the fourth lesson regarding the absolute necessity of a change of heart.

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  [Psalms 34:18-19 ESV]”

In teaching kids about sin and salvation, we must make certain that this truth is always before them.  The Lord is with those who have a broken heart.  Indeed, for many who become Christians, it is exactly when we are most broken-hearted, contrite and humble that we are finally shown our need for God.  Kids must understand that no amount of good works or outward gestures will make them right with God.

Spurgeon implores:

“Be sure, whatever you leave out, that you teach the children the three R’s,—Ruin, Redemption, and Regeneration. Tell the children they are ruined by the Fall, and that there is salvation for them only by being redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.”

As Spurgeon explains, when we keep these truths before kids, we get the honor and “pleasing task of telling them the sweet subject of the closing lesson.”

Lesson #5 – The Joy and Blessedness of Being Christians

The final lesson is the blessedness that comes with being a Christian.  Spurgeon goes to the final verse of Psalm 34:

“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. [Psalms 34:22 ESV]”

Indeed, any of us who have tasted of the grace and love of knowing Jesus should find sharing this aspect of the Christian faith with kids quite easy.  We must teach kids that those redeemed by God are blessed here below and blessed for eternity in Heaven above.  That said, we must also teach them that being blessed here below is based on God’s idea of blessedness and not some human view of blessedness lest they fall under the mistaken notion that accepting Christ as Lord always leads to material blessings.  The most effective way to teach kids the joy and blessedness which comes from knowing Christ is to let them see it in you.  We must model the peace and joy and blessedness that comes from accepting Christ in such a way that the kids will see and take notice.

Keeping Things In Perspective

Finally, Spurgeon offers the following quote to keep things in perspective and remind us that despite what we do, or don’t do, God is always in control:

“You are simply at pen; God can write with you, but you cannot write anything of yourself. You are a sword; God can with you slay the child’s sin, but you cannot slay it of yourself. Be ye, therefore, always mindful of this, that you must be first taught of God yourself, and then you must ask God to use you to teach; for unless a higher Teacher than you work with you, and instruct the child, the child must perish. It is not your instruction that can save the souls of your children; it is the blessing of God the Holy Spirit accompanying your labours, May God bless and crown your efforts with abundant success! He will surely do so if you are instant in prayer, constant in supplication. Never yet did the earnest teacher or preacher “labour in vain in the Lord,” and often has it been seen that bread cast upon the waters has been found after many days.”

Personal Observations
Teaching kids about sin involves a lot of balance.  We must teach them what sins are in very practical specific ways, but we must be careful not to give the impression that sinning is simply a list od dos and don’ts.  I wrote about this topic in a recent series called 5 Things Kids Must Know About Sin.
Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Twelve can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc12.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 11 – Instructions for Teachers and Parents

Chapter 13 – “Come, Ye Children” – Three Admonitions: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. The Child Timothy and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 8)
2. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)
3. Instructions for Teachers and Parents (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 11)

Get them to come in

Spurgeon begins this chapter of instructions for teachers with the following simple instruction:

“First, get the children to come to your school.”

Spurgeon implores teachers to get kids to come to their churches “by all fair and right means.”  Indeed, Spurgeon advocates every persuasive means short of bribery to get kids to come to church.  Indeed, we should try all means to get kids into our Children’s Ministries.  Spurgeon puts the endeavor in the correct spiritual context:

“Go and catch the children. There is no law against it; all is fair in war against the devil. So my first instruction is, get the children, and get them anyhow that you can.”

Many in the church today feel that Children’s Ministries cater too much to kids and should be a lot more serious.  While I do believe that part of our duty as teachers of children is to teach them reverence for God and his word, I agree wholeheartedly with Spurgeon when he says:

“Better do strange things than have an empty chapel, or an empty schoolroom.”

If we must seem foolish and juvenile to the adults in order to get the children to come back, then that is what we must do!

Get them to Love You

Spurgeon’s second piece of advice to teachers is to “get the children to love you.”  Spurgeon points to the biblical lesson of David who in Psalm 34:11:

“Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Spurgeon explains that rather than telling kids to “go” do this and “go” do that, David beckoned the children to come to him.  Children appreciate and like a teacher who they feel wants to know them.

Spurgeon explains:

“The fault of many teachers is that they do not get their children near them; but endeavour to foster in their scholars a kind of awful respect. Before you can teach children, you must get the silver key of kindness to unlock their hearts, and so secure their attention.”

Children pick up on non-verbal clues perhaps even better than adults.  Teach a child about the love of God when you bring bitterness and contempt to the classroom and they will see straight through you!  Spurgeon further explains:

“So, if a boy has a teacher who talks to him about Jesus, but who always wears a sour look, what does the boy think?”

We must always be on the top of our game when it comes to working with Children.  If you do not love the children and get them to love you, your opportunity to influence them and teach them about God is gone.  Spurgeon wraps it up this way:

“If you drive a boy from you, your power over him is gone, for you will not be able to teach him anything. It is of no avail to attempt teaching those who do not love you; so, try and make them love you, and then they will learn anything from you.”

Get their attention

If you can’t find a way to get the kids to pay attention to you, no matter what you say, you will not have an impact on their lives.  No matter how eloquent you speak, no matter how well prepared you are, if they do not pay attention, you have labored in vain.  Spurgeon explains that getting kids to pay attention is actually quite easy – if you give something worth hearing they will definitely pay attention.  He also advises that you include a number of stories each week to keep the kids interested:

“Do try and gather as many good illustrations in the week as you possibly can; wherever you go, if you are really a wise teacher, you can always find something to make into a tale to tell your children.”

Spurgeon furthers advises that when you read and when you listen and when you watch, no matter what you are doing, watch out for illustrations and stories you can use in teaching kids.

Personal Observations

Beginning next week, I am starting a multi-week (probably multi-month) series full of numerous tips for dealing with a large group of children.  This series includes a number of good ideas for getting and keeping your kids attention and “giving them something worth listening to.”  I hope you will check it out!

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Eleven can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc11.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 10 – Samuel and His Teachers

Chapter 12 – Model Lesson for Teachers: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)
2. Model Lesson for Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 12)
3. The Child Timothy and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 8)

“O that those who are diligent about the souls of others, would look well to their own households. Alas, poor Eli, like many in our day, they made thee keeper of the vineyards, but thine own vineyard thou hast not kept. As often as he looked upon the gracious child, Samuel, he must have felt the heartache. When he remembered his own neglected and unchastened sons, and how they had made themselves vile before all Israel, Samuel was the living witness of what grace can work where children are trained up in God’s fear, and Hophni and Phineas were sad specimens of what parental indulgence will produce in the children of the best of men.”

Eli’s kids were evidence of what happens when parents indulge their children.  Spurgeon contrasts Eli’s raising of his sons with Samuel parents.  Sameul had a gracious father and a holy mother.  Hannah was a woman of great poetic talent and a woman of prayer as indicated in the following verses:

And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. “There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.”  [1 Samuel 2:1-10 ESV]

In giving Samuel to the service of the Lord, Hannah gave up that which was most important to her.  Spurgeon sees this as a lesson for godly parents that they should dedicate their children unto the Lord.  What blessed parents we would be to see our children grow in the knowledge and service of the Lord.

The story of Eli and Samuel seems to indicate that Eli taught Samuel the spirit of religion but did not teach him the particulars about how God speaks to people.  Perhaps because “the word of the LORD was rare in those days,” Eli never imagining the time would come the following would happen:

And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” [1 Samuel 3:10 ESV]

Samuel was not able to discern the voice of God because he had not been taught.  Samuel was however obedient repeatedly answering what he thought was Eli calling him.

The scriptures relate the following account of God’s interaction with Samuel:

Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” Then the LORD said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. [1 Samuel 3:4-11 ESV]

It is clear from the text that Samuel had been taught the idea of obedience.  Despite the dark temple, he was willing to leave his warm bed three times to go see what Eli needed.  Spurgeon says:

“Better far to have the young heart trained to bear the yoke than to fill the childish head with knowledge, however valuable. An ounce of obedience is better than a ton of learning.”

Eli’s response to Samuel’s inquiry was to teach him a simple prayer – “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears”.  Christian parents should teach their kids to pray.  We must teach them what prayer is and that God answers prayers. I contributed recently to the Children’s Ministry Think Tank on teaching kids to pray.  You can read my response there as well as responses from several other people who work in Children’s Ministry.  In teaching kids to pray, point them to their Savior and encourage them to express their desires in their own words.  Listen to them pray.  Offer suggestions on their needs and remind them of God’s promises.  You will be amazed, and sometimes humored, at their expression, their confessions and their desires.  Furthermore, in teaching kids to pray, Spurgeon reminds us that spontaneous prayer is much superior to teaching them forms for prayer and warns that if you do teach them a form prayer or catechism you should, at the very least, make sure that it is true!  Spurgeon elaborates:

“Better to supply no sign-posts to the young traveller than to mislead him with false ones. The light of a wrecker’s beacon is worse than darkness. Teach our youth to make untruthful statements in religious matters, and Atheism can scarcely do more to corrupt their minds. Formal religion is a deadly foe to vital godliness. If you teach a catechism, or if you teach a form of prayer to your little ones, let it be all true; and, as far as possible, never put into a child’s mouth a word which the child cannot truly say from his heart.”

Spurgeon warns that e must teach our kids truth, and we must teach them to be truthful in all respects.  For example, don’t encourage kids to take the Lord’s Supper unless you know there is a work of grace in their heart.  Following God is not something that should be faked or mimicked.  Spurgeon further explains that we shuld:

“seek to bring the child to understand that there is no vice more abhorrent before God than hypocrisy.”

Finally, he offers the following words of advice to those who teach children:

“I beseech you, the teachers of the Sunday-school—though I scarcely need to do so, for I know how zealous you are in this matter—as soon as ever you see the first peep of day in your children, encourage their young desires. Believe in the conversion of children, as children; believe that the Lord can call them by His grace, can renew their hearts, can give them a part and a lot among His people long before they reach the prime of life.”

Personal Observations

I saw a quote on Twitter recently (I wish I could remember the source so I could cite it) that said something to the effect “To be good parents, we need to stop putting our kids on a pedestal and instead put them on the alter.”  In our society today, so many parents set their kids up for failure by placing them on a pedestal and idolizing them.  When we make our kids the center of our life and the basis upon which we find our joy and satisfaction, they will buckle under that pressure.  Instead, we must give our kids to God and trust him to lead them through a life that brings honor and glory to his name.

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Ten can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc10.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 9 – What Mean Ye’ By This Service?

Chapter 11 – Instructions for Teachers and Parents: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. The Child Timothy and His Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 8)
2. Model Lesson for Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 12)
3. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)

This week marks the end of our look at the Old Testament prophecies of the lineage of the coming Messiah.  In past weeks, we have looked at prophecies related to some notable Old Testament characters including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Jesse and David.  Today, we will look at a prophecy related to a slightly lesser known Old Testament character: Zerubbabel.

Haggai the prophet informs us that the Lord chose Zerubbabel to be like a signet ring (his signature).  This is an indication that the Messiah (God’s signet ring on his right hand) would come from Zerubbabel’s lineage:

On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.” [Haggai 2:23]

As we have in prior weeks, let’s look at the genealogies of Christ from the New Testament books of Matthew and Luke to see if Jesus was indeed descended from Zerubbabel.  Let’s start with Matthew (as with prior weeks, I have highlighted the relevant sections in red):

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, ⁷ and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, ⁸ and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, ⁹ and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, ¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  ¹² And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, ¹⁵ and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. [Matthew 1:1-16]

Luke confirms:

²³ Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [Luke 3:23-38]

As indicated earlier, taken in isolation, none of the prophecies regarding the lineage of Christ prove that Jesus was the Messiah.  Taken all together though, they provide a clear indication (given hundreds of years prior to his birth) of the linage of Jesus Christ.  Next week, we will begin to look at prophecies regarding the miracles of Jesus.

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Related posts:

1. Monday Morning Prophecy #21 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jesse
2. Monday Morning Prophecy #19 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jacob
3. Monday Morning Prophecy #20 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Judah

In this chapter, Spurgeon looks at what kids should be taught about Jesus and the doctrines of the Christian faith.  Far from shying away from teaching kids doctrine, Spurgeon demands they be taught and explains why they are foundational for faith in Christ beginning with what he see as the most important concept – redemption!

Redemption

More than just a doctrine which should be learned, Spurgeon views redemption of the lens through which we should view all of life.  Spurgeon explains:

“It makes a wonderful change whether you view Providence from the standpoint of human merit or from the foot of the cross. We see nothing truly till Jesus is our light. Everything is seen in its reality when you look through the glass, the ruby glass of the atoning sacrifice. Use this telescope of the cross, and you shall see far and clear; look at sinners through the cross; look at saints through the cross; look at sin through the cross; look at the world’s joys and sorrows through the cross; look at heaven and hell through the cross.”

We must do whatever we can to keep the doctrine of the atoning sacrifice of Christ always before men.  It is the lens through which we were meant to view our lives here on Earth.  After all, as Spurgeon points out,

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV]

Next, Spurgeon points to a series of verses which should be familiar to any parent or worker in Children’s Ministry:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV]

Spurgeon notes that even our view of Scripture changes when taught and viewed through the lens of redemption:

“The law in the hand of Christ is not a sword to slay us, but a jewel to enrich us. All truth taken in connection with the cross is greatly enhanced in value. Holy Scripture itself becomes dear to a sevenfold degree when we see that it comes; to us as the redeemed of the Lord, and bears upon its every page marks of those dear hands which were nailed to the tree for us.”

Presentation of the Bible to Children

Spurgeon “jumps” from a discussion of redemption to a warning on how to teach the Bible.  He turns to a series of verses found later in the chapter of Deuteronomy for inspiration:

“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.” [Deuteronomy 6:20-24 ESV]

Our goal in Children’s Ministry should never be simply to tell kids Bible stories.  We must take the revelation of God and find ways to help them make it their own.  We must encourage them to get excited about it, dig into it, and ask question about it.

I can imagine one of these men who watched God part the Red Sea and drown the Egyptians behind them wince as they listed to a monotone retelling of the story..something like:

“Then God moved to the back of the people as a cloud and protected them from the Egyptians so that they could not hurt them.  The people did not know what they should do.  So, God pushed the water to either side so the Israelites could walk through on dry land.  Then God caused the water to drown the Egyptians. The End.”

No! He would proclaim.  You must tell the story with the fear, the excitement, and the overwhelming awe at the awesomeness of God.  How dare we take stories of the great and miraculous workings of our God and make them boring for kids!

We must encourage their imagination and their sense of wonder.  We must prompt them to think about hoe the truth of God’s Word applies to their life.  We must help them to view things through the lens of Christ’s death on the cross, not because we say so, but because they understand that is the only accurate way to look at things.  We must be excited about the Word, convey our excitement and help the kids to catch that excitement.  We want them to read their Bibles because they want to, not because we tell them to!

Some kids are anxious to ask questions.  Other seem indifferent.  We must deal with both kinds.  Many times this involves prompting questions, or asking leading questions.  While back I wrote a post called Teaching Kids How Think Not What to Think that addresses exactly this questions.

Teaching the Sacraments & The Cross of Christ

Spurgeon explains that it is important that kids learn and understand the meaning of the sacraments given in the New Testament, namely Baptism and Communion and expressed regret that kids do not see the ordinances more often.  The sacraments should both be done in the presence of kids.  If they never witness these acts commanded by God, they will never have the chance to ask why we do them, and O’ that they would ask that question!  What an opportunity to explain the grace and power and love of God.  How wonderful to explain the symbolism of baptism to a child!  It is the ultimate word picture given to us by God to show his salvation and our rebirth.  The Lord’s Supper affords us the opportunity to talk about the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Explain to them that baptism and communion are merely symbols of the awesome work of a really big God!

Spurgeon explains that the Lord’s Supper sets forth the symbol of the death of Christ.  Spurgeon explains the importance of kids understanding and being confronted by the death of Christ as it is the basis for our redemption.  He explains:

“dwell much and often in their presence upon the sufferings and death of our Redeemer. Let them think of Gethsemane, and Gabbatha, and Golgotha, and let them learn to sing in plaintive tones of Him who laid down His life for us.”

We must teach them the weight of sin born by Christ on the cross.  We must teach them about his suffering that he endured out of his love for us.  We must explain why he had to suffer and what it meant that God himself hung on that cross.  It all points to the cross!  As Spurgeon explains, Children are most definitely capable of understanding the doctrine of the expiatory sacrifice because it was meant to be a gospel to the youngest.  Spurgeon explains:

“The gospel of substitution is a simplicity, though it is a mystery.”

The words we choose must be age appropriate, but we have not done our job until our kids understand the fact, meaning and implication of Christ’s death on the cross.  The cross of Christ is essential to all other spiritual teaching.  It is the foundation that our kids will build their spiritual lives on.

Teaching Kids About Their Sin and Need For A Savior

In order to teach kids the cross, we must teach them their need for the cross.  We must show children their sin and pray that the Holy Spirit would convict their heart.  Last week, I published a series of articles on What Children Must Be Taught About Sin based on my participation in a Children’s Ministry Think Tank in which that was the question at hand so I won’t reiterate much of that here.  However, as Spurgeon explains:

“Do not flatter the child with delusive rubbish about his nature being good and needing to be developed. Tell him he must be born again. Don’t bolster him up with the fancy of his own innocence, but show him his sin.”

We must show a child his sin and pray that the Holy Spirit would convict his conscience.  We should not deal with the sin of a child any differently than we would deal with the sin of an adult.  We must be thorough in explaining to them what sin is and why particular things are sins, and we must be honest with them.  Despite their age, the consequences of sin are the same for young and old alike.  In Spurgeon’s words:

“Do not hesitate to tell the child his ruin; he will not else desire the remedy. Tell him also of the punishment of sin, and warn him of its terror. Be tender, but be true. Do not hide from the youthful sinner the truth, however terrible it may be. Now that he has come to years of responsibility, if he believes not in Christ, it will go ill with him at the last great day. Set before him the judgment-seat, and remind him that he will have to give an account of things done in the body. Labour to arouse the conscience; and pray God the Holy Spirit to work by you till the heart becomes tender and the mind perceives the need of the great salvation.”

The Salvation of Children

When it comes to those teaching children, Spurgeon offers the following advice on approach and perspective:

“Go on, dear teachers, and believe that God will save your children. Be not content to sow principles in their minds which may possibly develop in after years, but be working for immediate conversion. Expect fruit in your children while they are children. Pray for them that they may not run into the world and fall into the evils of outward sin, and then come back with broken bones to the Good Shepherd; but that they may by God’s rich grace be kept from the paths of the destroyer, and grow up in the fold of Christ, first as lambs of His flock, and then as sheep of His hand.”

Spurgeon reminds his readers, yet again, that young believer are good for the church in general.  First they bring a new life to the church:

“If He would bring into our churches a large influx of young people, how it would tend to quicken the sluggish blood of the supine and sleepy! Child Christians tend to keep the house alive. Oh, for more of them!”

And, secondly, in teaching them, we actually teach ourselves:

“There is no way of learning like teaching, and you do not know a thing till you can teach it to another. You do not thoroughly know any truth till you can put it before a child so that he can see it.”

We must teach kids about the redemption to be found only in Christ and warn them against false gospels.  There are so many false Gods and false prophets in our world today, many who hold themselves out as Christians, that we must give kids a firm foundation in the truth while they are young in order to avoid the lure of these false gods.  We must teach kids the doctrines of Christ for their own good, and to raise up a new generation of Christ followers to maintain and perpetuate the faith.  Most parents pray that their kids will lead a better life than they have.  As a church, we should pray that the children learning the gospel today are better stewards of that gospel than we have been.

Personal Observations

I get excited about working with kids.  I get really excited about teaching kids the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  That said, when people ask me why I work with kids, my answer is always the same.  First, I work with them because I feel like that is what God wants me to do.  And, secondly, I work with them because I have learned so much more doing that than I could ever hope to teach to them.   In preparing lessons, I have deepened my faith and expanded my understanding.  If fielding questions from kids and trying to both come up with the answers and words to convey the answer, I have learned to rely on God.  In seeing, enjoying and participating in their child-like faith, I have come to realize why Jesus told his followers that we must have faith like a child.  Indeed, they have, and continue, to teach me more about God than I will ever be able to repay!

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Nine can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc09.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 8 – The Child Timothy and His Teachers

Chapter 10 – Samuel and His Teachers: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. The Shunammite Woman’s Son – II (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 23)
2. Of Such Is The Kingdom of Heaven (Synopsis of Come Ye' Children – Chapter 5)
3. Do Not Hinder the Children (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 2)

Last week, we looked at the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line of Jesse.  This week we will examine the Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from the line of Jesse’s son David.

In 2 Samuel, the Lord commissions Nathan to go the David:

Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. [2 Samuel 7:8-13]

God assures David that the eternal kingdom would come through his linage.  There are also several passage from the Psalm which indicate that God promised David that his offspring would endure and rule forever.  As indicated when we looked at the prophecies that the Christ would come from the line of Judah, only the Messiah fulfills any promise of eternal rule.

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah [Psalms 89:3-4]

Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. [Psalms 89:35-36]

There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. [Psalms 132:17]

There are also a number of Old Testament prophecies related to the Branch of David.  Jeremiah indicates that he would be king and people would be saved by the Branch:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ [Jeremiah 23:5-6]

So, what does the New Testament have to say about Jesus coming from the line of David?  First, there are a number of instances where Jesus is actually referred to as the Son of David.  The following are some selected instances:

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” [Matthew 9:27]

And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”  [Matthew 15:22]

And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” [Matthew 20:30-31]

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” [Matthew 21:9]

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, [Matthew 21:15]

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, [Matthew 22:41-43]

The angel, in telling Mary that she would be pregnant with the Messiah tells her that Jesus will be given “the throne of his father David:”

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” [Luke 1:32-33]

In Acts, Luke confirms that God brought Jesus from the offspring of David to be a Savior:

And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. [Acts 13:22-23]

Finally, Jesus confirms the he is the descendant of David:

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” [Revelation 22:16]

Obviously, the New Testament is replete with proof the Jesus came from the linage of David, but to be certain, let’s refer once more to the genealogies of Jesus presented in the books of Matthew and Luke.  Let’s start with Matthew (relevant sections highlighted in red):

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, ⁷ and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, ⁸ and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, ⁹ and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, ¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  ¹² And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, ¹⁵ and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. [Matthew 1:1-16]

Luke concurs:

²³ Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [Luke 3:23-38]

Next week, we will look at a prophecy that the Messiah would come from the line a person from the Old Testament who is a little less well know than David – Zerubbabel.

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Related posts:

1. Monday Morning Prophecy #21 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jesse
2. Monday Morning Prophecy #19 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jacob
3. Monday Morning Prophecy #20 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Judah

Over the last several weeks, we looked at prophecies made thousands of years before the birth of Jesus that indicated that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham through Isaac through Jacob through Judah.  This week, we will skip a number of generations and look at Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from the line of Jesse (a descendant of Judah and father of King David).

The prophet Isaiah prophecies hundreds of years before the birth of Christ that the Messiah would come from the line of Jesse:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. [Isaiah 11:1-2]

In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples–of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. [Isaiah 11:10]

In the New Testament, Paul refers to the prophecies of Isaiah in talking about Jesus:

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” [Romans 15:12]

As we have in past weeks, let’s look to the genealogies of Christ included in Matthew in Luke to see if Jesse was indeed an ancestor of Jesus (relevant sections again highlighted in red):

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, ⁷ and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, ⁸ and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, ⁹ and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, ¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  ¹² And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, ¹⁵ and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. [Matthew 1:1-16]

Luke’s genealogy also indicates that Jesse was an ancestor of Christ:

²³ Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [Luke 3:23-38]

Next week, we will look at additional prophecies from the Old Testament that indicate that the Messiah would come from line of Jesse’s son David.

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Related posts:

1. Monday Morning Prophecy #23 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Zerubbabel
2. Monday Morning Prophecy #20 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Judah
3. Monday Morning Prophecy #19 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jacob

The need for the modern day Children’s Ministry has grown, in part, because of the lack of godly role models at home.  Fewer and fewer kids are receiving adequate spiritual training in the home.  The primary role for instructing children in spiritual matters is given to parents, but the church naturally steps in to fill the void where that is not happening.  Those people who work in Children’s Ministry spend a lot of time and effort in that pursuit, and the kids we teach and shepherd often become as precious to us as our own children.

That said, Spurgeon warns against parents abdicating their own personal responsibility for bringing their kids up in the admonition of the Lord:

“Let no Christian parents fall into the delusion that the Sunday-school is intended to ease them of their personal duties. The first and most natural condition of things is for Christian parents to train up their own children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Despite such a warning, there are parents who do abdicate this responsibility, and where there are no parents available or capable of teaching children the things of God, it is both proper and necessary for godly people to step in and fill that role.

Spurgeon reminds us:

“The Lord Jesus looks with pleasure upon those who feed His lambs, and nurse His babes; for it is not His will that any of these little ones should perish.”

Teaching Kids A Reverence for Scripture

This chapter is based upon the instruction Timothy received as a child.  In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” [2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV]

Spurgeon notes that one of the first things instilled in Timothy from youth was an acquaintance “with the sacred scriptures.”  Timothy was taught a reverence for scripture that we should be teaching to the children in our churches each Sunday.  If our children do not hold a proper view of scripture, or an indifference to scripture, the results can be eternally devastating.  Spurgeon explains:

“This indifference to Scripture is the great curse of the church at this hour. We can be tolerant of divergent opinions, so long as we perceive an honest intent to follow the Statute-book. But if it comes to this, that the Book itself is of small authority to you, then we have no need of further parley: we are in different camps, and the sooner we recognize this, the better for all parties concerned. If we are to have a church of God at all in the land, Scripture must be regarded as holy, and to be had in reverence.”

Spurgeon’s high view of scripture is obvious and well-founded.  Once the authority and inerrancy of scripture is sacrificed, “Christianity” becomes a pick-and-choose religion where its followers put themselves in the position of God and choose those portions of Scripture which they would like to follow and ignore those parts that they don’t care for.  We cannot allow our children to start down this slippery slope!  Spurgeon emphasizes this point:

“Lay much stress upon this; tell your children that the Word of the Lord is a pure Word, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Let their esteem for the Book of God be carried to the highest point… Suppose we get the children together on Sabbath-days, and then amuse them and make the hours to pass away pleasantly; or instruct them, as we do in the week-days, in the elements of a moral education, what have we done? We have done nothing worthy of the day, or of the church of God. Suppose that we are particularly careful to teach the children the rules and regulations of our own church, and do not take them to the Scriptures; suppose that we bring before them a book which is set up as the standard of our church, but do not dwell upon the Bible—what have we done? The aforesaid standard may or may not be correct, and we may, therefore, have taught our children truth or have taught them error; but if we keep to holy Scripture we cannot go aside. With such a standard we know that we are right. This Book is the Word of God, and if we teach it, we teach that which the Lord will accept and bless. O dear teachers—and I speak here to myself also—let our teaching be more and more Scriptural! Fret not if our classes forget what we say, but pray them to remember what the Lord says. May Divine truths about sin, and righteousness, and judgment to come, be written on their hearts! May revealed truths concerning the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Ghost, never be forgotten by them! May they know the virtue and necessity of the atoning blood of our Lord, the power of His resurrection, and the glory of His second coming! May the doctrines of grace be graven as with a pen of iron upon their minds, and written as with the point of a diamond upon their hearts, never to be erased! If we can secure this, we have not lived in vain. The generation now ruling seems bent on departing from the eternal truth of God: but we shall not despair if the gospel be impressed upon the memory of the rising race.”

Giving Kids an Effectual Knowledge of the Scriptures

Spurgeon also points out that our teaching of children must be effectual.  He notes that the scriptures cited above indicate that Timothy thoroughly knows the scriptures.  It is not enough just to teach the scriptures, we must help kids to make the Scriptures their own.  We must show children how the scripture is relevant to their daily lives and their relationships with God.

Spurgeon explains:

“Children can get that: it is by no means an impossible attainment. God blessing your efforts, dear friends, your children may know all of Scripture that is necessary to their salvation.”

In terms of the role of the teacher in that process, Spurgeon explains:

“Do lay a good groundwork for the children. Let not Sunday-school work be slurred, nor done in a slovenly manner. Let the children know the holy Scriptures. Let the Scriptures be consulted rather than any human book.”

In teaching kids, we must emphasize the Bible for what it is – the inerrant Word of God.  God forbid that kids would walk out of our classes with the notion that the Bible is simply of collection of stories that teach them how to act!

The Bible and Salvation of Children

Just because we teach a child the Bible does not make them children of God.  Likewise, a child need not know all the doctrines of the Bible to be saved.  Salvation, of course, comes in knowing and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Spurgeon offers the following encouragement:

“May we not hope that even earlier in life than Timothy, our dear children may catch the thought that Christ Jesus is the sum and substance of holy Scripture, and so by faith in Him may receive power to become the sons of God? I mention this, simple as it is, because I want all teachers to feel that if their children do not as yet know all the doctrines of the Bible, and if there be certain higher or deeper truths which their minds have not yet grasped, still children are saved as soon as they are wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

I find two warnings in this quote.  First, children must be taught the Scriptures because that is where they must go to learn about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Secondly, it is easy to fill a child’s head up with biblical knowledge and miss the meaning of Scripture – the good news of Jesus Christ.

A Final Word From Spurgeon on Teaching Kids The Bible

Spurgeon offers the following summary:

“So let us pray for our children, that constantly they may know and believe more and more; for the Scripture is able to make them wise unto salvation, but only through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Faith is the result to aim at; faith in the appointed, anointed, and exalted Saviour. This is the anchorage to which we would bring these little ships, for here they will abide in perfect safety.

Sound instruction in holy Scripture, when quickened by a living faith, creates a solid character. The man who from a child has known the holy Scriptures, when he obtains faith in Christ will be grounded and settled upon the abiding principles of the unchanging Word of God.

O teachers, see what you may do! In your schools sit our future Evangelists. In that infant class sits; an apostle to some distant land. There may come under your training hand, my sister, a future father in Israel. There shall come under your teaching, my brother, those who are to bear the banners of the Lord in the thick of the fray. The ages look to you each time your class assembles. Oh, that God may help you to do your part well! We pray with one heart and one soul that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with our Sunday schools from this day and till He cometh.”

Personal Observations

In our culture today, the Bible is equated about the same level authority as one of those Fill-In-The-Blank For Dummies books you find in the local book store.  Many people view it as one place to consult for guidance amongst many others.  If I have a problem, I check what Oprah has to say about it, I read my self-help book or magazine, and I might have a look to see what the Bible says about it.  While I don’t believe that this is the way the Bible is intentionally taught in many Children’s Ministries, I do fear that we may fail to stress the high view that scripture deserves to our kids.  In doing so, I think we leave the children we are teaching ill-equipped to combat the popular low view of scripture in our culture. It is essential that our kids understand that the stories we tell them out of the Bible are more than just stories.  They are part of God’s bigger plan and they either point to, or tell us about, God’s plan for redemption.  It is critical that the kids know that the Bible is not the work of human minds, but the very words of God given to us.  It is crucial that they realize that every word in the Bible is true and useful.  And, it is foundational that they understand that it is through the Bible that we know about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Finally, they must understand that while we have a high view of the scripture, it is not the Bible that we worship but the one that the Bible tells us about!

Links to Complete Text

If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm

The complete text of Chapter Eight can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc08.htm

<<LAST TIME: Chapter 7 – Feed MY Lambs

Chapter 9 – What Mean ‘Ye By This Service?: NEXT TIME>>

Return to the Come Ye’ Children (A Synopsis) index page.

Related posts:

1. King David’s Two Encouragements to Parents and Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 15)
2. Childhood and the Holy Scriptures (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 16)
3. Model Lesson for Teachers (Synopsis of Come Ye’ Children – Chapter 12)

In the last three weeks, we have looked at Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from the line of Abraham through Isaac through Jacob.  Unlike his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, Jacob had many more sons – 12 to be exact.  You might know them as the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob was renamed Israel by God).  They were (in order of birth):

1. Reuben
2. Simeon
3. Levi
4. Judah
5. Dan
6. Naphtali
7. Gad
8. Asher
9. Issachar
10. Zebulun
11. Joseph
12. Benjamin

Indeed, roughly the last half of the book of Genesis deals primarily with the story of Joseph (think coat of many colors!).  However, the Old Testament is clear that the promises of a blessing to the world and a coming Messiah would be fulfilled through the line of Judah.  In blessing his sons at the end of his life, Israel offers the following blessing to Judah:

Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.  [Genesis 49:9-10]

The line of Judah would be rulers forever.  Only the Kingdom of the Lord is eternal.  In another prophecy which we looked at earlier in this series, Micah tells us that the Messiah would come from the line of Judah:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. [Micah 5:2]

Finally, in case any of these prophecies seem a little vague, Zechariah makes it clear that the Messiah (the cornerstone) would come from the line of Judah:

“My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler–all of them together. [Zechariah 10:3-4]

Now, let’s have a look at the New Testament to see what it has to say about Judah.  The writer of Hebrews leaves no doubt:

For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. [Hebrews 7:14]

That said, I would be remiss if we didn’t go back to the genealogies of Christ included in Matthew and Luke (which we introduced several weeks ago) just to be certain that they reflect Judah in the linage.  As always, let’s start with the genealogy from Matthew (relevant section again highlighted in red):

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, ⁷ and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, ⁸ and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, ⁹ and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, ¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.  ¹² And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, ¹⁵ and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. [Matthew 1:1-16]

And, Luke:

²³ Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [Luke 3:23-38]

Again, the Lord leaves no doubt about which of the sons of Israel (Jacob) would continue the line of promise down to the Messiah.  God chose one man, Abraham, to start the line that would eventually lead to the Messiah.  He then proceeds to narrow the line from which the Messiah would come in successive generations.  Next week, we will skip a number of generations and look at another prophecy regarding the ancestry of Jesus.

Return to the Monday Morning Prophecy index page.

Image courtesy of Abby Reed

Related posts:

1. Monday Morning Prophecy #19 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jacob
2. Monday Morning Prophecy #21 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Jesse
3. Monday Morning Prophecy #23 – The Messiah Would Come From the Lineage of Zerubbabel