Parental Responsibility is one of the most important responsibilities that God has given to human beings. It is a task that requires dedication, hard work, and love. In the Bible, there are many examples of parents who either succeeded or failed in fulfilling their responsibilities. In this class, we will be examining the lives of some biblical characters and their parenting responsibilities.
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Parental Responsibility
I. Eli and Samuel (1 Sam. 2:11-36; 3:2-18; 4:10-22; 8:15)
- Eli was a priest and a judge in Israel. He had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were also priests. However, his sons were corrupt and disrespectful towards God. They were stealing offerings and committing immoral acts with women who served at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Eli rebuked them but failed to discipline them.
- As a result of Eli’s failure to discipline his sons, God pronounced judgment against him and his family. Hophni and Phinehas were killed in battle, and the Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines.
- Samuel was raised in the Tabernacle by Eli after his mother, Hannah, dedicated him to God. Eli was responsible for teaching Samuel about the ways of God. Samuel grew up to be a great prophet and leader in Israel. However, Eli was criticized by God for failing to discipline his sons and for not rebuking them when they sinned.
II. David (2 Sam. 13; 15:1-29; 18; 19:1-8)
- David was a man after God’s own heart, but he had several failures as a parent. His son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, and David failed to discipline him. This led to a series of events that resulted in the death of Amnon and the exile of David’s son Absalom.
- David’s lack of discipline and failure to set a good example for his children had disastrous consequences. Absalom rebelled against David and nearly succeeded in taking over the kingdom.
III. Asa (1 Kings 15:9-15; 22:41-44; Deut. 6:4-9; Prov. 4:1-10; 13:1; 24; 22:6; 23:13-14; 31:10-31)
- Asa was a king of Judah who pleased God by doing what was right in His eyes. He removed the idols from the land and encouraged the people to seek God. He also put his own mother, Maacah, away from being queen mother because she made an idol.
- Asa understood the importance of teaching his children to follow God. He followed the commands of God and taught them to his children. As a result, his son Jehoshaphat followed in his footsteps and became a good king.
Conclusion: Parenting is a great responsibility, and the Bible provides us with many examples of how to do it well and how to fail at it. The examples of Eli and David show us the importance of discipline and setting a good example for our children. The example of Asa shows us the importance of teaching our children to follow God and do what is right in His eyes.
