Sharpening Arrows

What subject does your child excel in? What vocation would you like your child to have? What goals do you place for your children? Do you want to see them land a good career? Do you want them to enter college? Parents of children of any age have lofty goals and daydream about their success in the world. These are noble goals for parents to place for their children, and subjects such as math or science help prepare children for an ever-changing economy and workforce. However, the commands of God do not change.

In the Shema, God commands His covenant people to love YHWH with everything they have and do as well as to read and study His Word and meditate on His Word. Then, God commands His people to "teach (the Word) diligently to your children" (Deuteronomy 6:7a). The primary subject commanded by God to teach, and teach diligently, is His Word to our children. The Christian home is a home that excels in the subject of theology above all other subjects.

A Competent Teacher

The Christian parent is commanded to be a competent teacher of the Word of God. The Shema requires the faithful believer to love God with all our desires, intellect, and deed (heart, soul, and strength). This requires reading, studying, meditating, and putting into practice the Word of God. Note what YHWH commands in the Shema regarding the Word of God:

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. 

There is not a square inch of space or a moment of time when you are not to take to heart and mind the Word of God. Any parent that refuses to advance in the wisdom of the Scripture not only places danger in their own lives, but the lives of their entire household.

In modern America, education of our children has been transferred from parents to government. This could lead to tyranny, seeing that a secular government holds a monopoly of worldview and forces children to adhere to secular philosophy and religion. If your children attend school outside the home, allow me as a pastor-theologian to warn you: if the subject of God's Word is not foremost taught in your home, you are setting your children up for destruction. You have reason to be anxious over your children. As Tedd Tripp says, "In the absence of biblical formative instruction, secular formative instructors take over" (Instructing a Child's Heart, 15). Thus, parents must be intentional and knowledgeable in biblical instruction.

Sharpening Arrows

When God commands parents to teach children diligently, the word translated "teach them diligently" is from the root שָׁנַן, or shanan, meaning to sharpen. The dynamic to this word would be best stated to sharpen in preparation for piercing. This is the Hebrew way of expressing careful and constant teaching, to sharpen our children to prepare them to pierce. Hence, the Psalmist plays on this theme by saying, "Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the children of one's youth" (Psalm 127:4).

The Christian parent is commanded to be knowledgeable in biblical instruction and competent to teach their children like a warrior sharpens arrows (and is blessed to have a "quiver full"). All of life is a classroom meant for biblical instruction. From what your child's teachers are saying to why you save money in the bank to why you attend church and Bible study, your child must be instructed according to the Word of God. Biblical instruction might be a set hour during the week, be fulfilled in that dead time in the car ride to and from school, or taught to a child attending grandma's funeral (a great resource for this is Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware).

The Church a Mighty Fortress

Imagine a church filled with parents devoted to the study and teaching of the Word of God. Imagine a church where there is a pulpit in every home and each member was raised a child fully instructed in the Word of God. Imagine a church where each home had theology as the foremost subject. Imagine a church where each member said, "As for me and my house, we will serve YHWH" (Joshua 24:15b). This church would be a mighty fortress wearing the full armor of God where their shield of faith extinguishes the flaming arrows of Satan (Ephesians 6:16), and has a quiver full of sharpened arrows to attack the enemy.

Do not let this wish remain in your imagination. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Parents, sharpen your mind and heart with the diligent study of the Word of God. Then, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), parents will be able to sharpen other parents and sharpen their arrows in preparation to pierce the armor of the enemy. The church of Jesus Christ would be a mighty fortress, and His arrows a sharp weapon.