MARCH 14TH, 2004
DEUTERONOMY 6:6-12
Introduction: The Word of God (and His instructions) is to be internalized by the children of God before they are taught to the children of the children of God. ( verse 6 – “shall be in thine heart.”)
I. What practical role does God play in the Godly home?
A. The adults are to have God’s Word in their hearts (as already stated).
- Psalm 119:11 and Proverbs 23:7
B. The adults are to teach the children God’s Word in the home. (7)
1. How are adults to teach the children? Answer: “DILIGENTLY”
- in other words, teaching the children God’s Word is to be a serious occupation in the home, and it is to be a continual occupation that never stops.
2. God’s Word is to be taught by conversation: (7)
- when sitting at a meal or in the family room.
- when walking outside or down the street.
- when lying down (putting the children to bed).
- when rising in the morning.
3. God’s Word is to be taught visually. (8-9)
- there are to be reminders of God on the walls, doors and obvious places in the house.
4. We have already seen that this is NOT a violation of the second commandment, (the making of graven images), otherwise these two commands would be contradictory.
II. A long-term result of Godly conversation and Godly visual aids in the home is the permanent imprint they leave on the minds of the children – (verse 12: “lest thou forget.”)
A. Moses reminds the Children of Israel that time will change their circumstances, and the circumstances of their children:
1. They will live in another place. (10)
2. They will live in another city. (10
3. They will live in another house. (11)
4. They will work in a different job. (11)
5. They will have different desires. (11)
B. When all of these changes take place, “beware, lest thou forget the Lord…..”
1. In order to keep from forgetting, we are to remind ourselves by conversation and visual aids that God is the main desire of our hearts.
2. In order to keep our children from forgetting God when they are older, we are to impress upon their hearts “diligently” the words of God while they are younger.
3. We are making the memories that our children will remember.
III. When we remember God, what are we to remember about God?
A. We are to remember that God brought us out of bondage. (12)
- see Hebrews 2:14-15
B. We are to remember that God loves us and has blessed us.
C. We are to remember our love for God. (“lest thou forget”)
Conclusion: Your home is to be a sanctuary; a haven of rest, and a constant reminder that you are
a child of God.