Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.(vs1-4)
We are not ashamed of the gospel, but we declare it to our children, spreading the truth of Christ, which must be heard (vs1-9). It is madness to think that a man can live for this world, and love people at the same time! Scripture says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). If he doesn't live that others know God, it's because he doesn't know God himself. We pass on the best we have, like Peter, when we give men the name of Christ and knowledge of His Person (Acts 3:6).
It is NOT for our children to decide their own way, any more than we let them “decide” to walk in the middle of traffic or “decide” to drink poison. No, we teach them, intervening as parents and as people who care. Proverbs 19:18 says, “Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction”, or, “do not stop because of his tears, thinking that you're killing him”. We must have peace by the blood of God's Son, so we tell our little vipers - our children born born into corruption - the great way of peace with God, the gift of eternal life, and the salvation that produces the obedience it commands. Don't get into this, “Let them decide for themselves”, or, “They'll figure it out, if they're elect”, mentality. Love them enough to be real, even as the Son is truthful to you.
I see men and women bringing their children to hear the gospel, making sacrifices, training them to sit under the word, and I see parents, if this is also lived in the home, doing the BEST they can do! You may not leave your sons millions of dollars or your daughters nice luxury homes, but if they see, by your example and instruction, the gospel doctrine, then you're leaving them eternal wealth and the greatest gift that you could give. Raise them to know God, and tell of His greatness: don't be shy. He says, “For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments”. And, let every believer, when doors are opened, even slivers of openings, speak of Christ, so that others may be saved.
Secondly, it is foolish to unbelievingly question God's provision, as if He can't care for you, murmuring, and then seeking to satisfy yourself (vs9-22). He says, “And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: they said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?”
Be warned against unbelieving rebellion, which says, “He can't help me, so I won't love Him”. This is the devil's lie, because God is faithful to provide joy, peace, and power. He cares for you, and not you yourself. He makes the sun to rise, gives you air and food, and He provides everything that you have spiritually and physically, so that He's to be trusted and loved as the Provider who sacrificed His Son, so that He could give grace to many. Unbelief ruins us; it separates us from God, makes us walk by deceit and force, and it brings God's wrath against sin, “Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust His salvation”.
God isn't to be challenged by our rebellion, as if His job is to be the magic genie for our ambitions. He is to be trusted as faithful to His word, because He has promised and faithfully given us Christ. It may seem your situation is too hard, etc, but not for God! If He could lead Israel, keep and feed them in the desert miraculously, then He can keep you, subdue your lusts, and give you contentment without giving you what you “want”, but need (Phil 4:19). God's grace isn't merely words on the page; it is the actual life experience of the believer, and it is to be walked in, or death will seize us.
Finally, don't think because all is well and you're happy that things are safe with your soul (vs23-31)! It says, “So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest, and struck down the choice men of Israel”. Many people judge God by how THEY feel and what they're doing, so that if I'm OK with the bills, love the wife, and the kids are healthy, then surely, God loves and smiles on me. But, it isn't so.
You may be the happiest man, finally getting that wife that you've craved, and drawing her near by hiding Christ. You may get the house, the scholarship, and much human approval, but it doesn't mean God is for you, because He can be against someone and GIVE them exactly what they want, destroying them while the thing they craved is still in their mouth and the taste of sin is fresh on their palate!
Don't judge by senses; judge by God's word. What am I to believe? The scriptures, all of them. What am I to live by? The word of God, every bit. How do I know that I'm safe? Not because you're happy, but because you're obedient, believing the gospel, walking by faith, and confessing that He can do what He has promised, even though you're sinful and weak. Rom 4:21-22 says, “and being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness”.
This GRACE of God produces holiness, and without holiness, happiness is nothing more than a temporary TRAP setting you up for wrath. He says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). Be wise. Believe and preach the gospel. Trust what's written, and you'll eventually experience unfettered peace.
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