Robes, courtesy of Library of Congress

We were reading from Mark chapter 2 and 3 today when the pharisees are trying to find fault with Christ--and finding it in Jesus' seemingly cavalier attitude regarding their laws.  

All through chapter two Jesus is seen upsetting the Pharisees by forgiving sins, by not encouraging his disciples to fast,  by  walking through the fields--eating heads of grain, and finally, the quietus, healing a whithered hand on the Sabbath.  After which, the Pharisees are seen rushing off to the Herodians to plot against Jesus.

This provided an opportunity to talk about the various things the Pharisees wouldn't allow on the Sabbath.  After awhile, Elliot offered a very profound addition that the Pharisees SHOULD have introduced into their many laws...

I don't think they should be plotting on the Sabbath...

Every Sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.

The Death of Moses, public domain

We've been reading through Numbers for the last few months during Family Worship.  Today, we finished it.  While I am aware that Deuteronomy is important, I've decided to move on to Joshua--to pick up the narrative of God's covenant with Israel and the events in the land of promise.  However, we did read from chapters 5 and 34 of Dueteronomy before starting Joshua.

As we read the account of the death of Moses, I noticed some fidgeting next to me.  I turned to address it and noticed that Elliot was trying very hard not to cry...he was not succeeding.

Sometimes as we read, we don't really appreciate the reality of what it is we're reading.  Elliot reminded us that this was indeed a sad day.  Not just for the Israelites, but for us as a family.  We've been following him through God's word for many, many months; but now Moses would be gone from our lives--burried by God in an unmarked grave, tended by angelic hands, awaiting the resurrection.

From Deuteronomy 34

Sampson *

Currently, we are reading the account of Sampson each evening after dinner.  The kids have had some pretty interesting thoughts...

[Robin regarding the Jawbone]:

"So was it like a whole donkey head and Sampson would make it bite their fingers or something?"

[Elliot on the Nazarite vow]:

"My guess is that he could probably sit on his hair."

[Aelsa jumps in]:

"Or maybe he put it in a big ponytail from up high here (pointing to back of her head) so that it stayed off the ground when he walked."

[In the spirit of the exchange I add my two cents]:

"Maybe he piled it up on his head like Marge Simpson..."

[Not to be out-done, Pamela adds]:

"...or maybe he parted it and wore it in big buns on each side of his head" (think Princess Leigha with biceps).




From Hebrews 11

And what more shall I say?

For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:

who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.



* picture from online French Illustrated Bible

THE COTTER'S SATURDAY NIGHT 
Engraved by T.B. Welch from a picture byT.W. Huffman
Faceplate from THOUGHTS ON FAMILY WORSHIP by James Alexander, 1847

 
This picture is my laptop wallpaper.  It is a daily reminder of my commitment to spend time with my family in God's Word each day.  Some days it is a sweet memory of the morning's gathering, at other times it is a gentle correction that convicts me of the morning that went by without family worship.


From Deuteronomy 6:

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Family Prayer Book, 1843

I have recently purchased a few books on Family Worship.  The latest one is a family prayer book from 1843 by Otis Skinner.  It includes a short devotional thought on a variety of topics and each devotional is followed by a prayer to lead the family in.  I have really enjoyed reading them.  One devotional was on "The Way to Search the Scriptures," here is an excerpt of what Otis Skinner says:

"Jesus...encouraged the study of the scriptures.  His language was--Search the Scriptures.  This is a command binding upon all men, and what cannot be neglected without a violation of God's law.  But how should the Scriptures be searched?"  

1. They should be searched diligently.

2. We must search the Scriptures with a desire to be instructed in truth.

3. We must read the Scriptures with a deep conviction of their inestimable value.

He ends with this prayer:

"Gracious Father, without thy holy Word, we have no sure guide in this dark and sinful world; without its divine spirit we have nothing to sanctify our affections, and without its hopes, nothing to sustain us in the day of trial and death. 

May it therefore be our constant companion; may we search it with sincerity and diligence; and may we never be among those who neglect to consult its teachings.  Oh give us a true sense of its worth, and help us to understand its teachings.  May the aged study it, and have its pure light to cheer them on their way to the grave; may the young study it, and be directed in the paths of righteousness ; may the prosperous study it , and be saved from that pride and self-sufficiency by which so many souls have been ruined; and may the afflicted study it, and have awakened within them a cheerful confidence. 

O grant that it may be to all the power of God unto salvation; and thy name shall have all the praise forever.  Amen."

From Psalm 119

Your word is a lamp to my feet
         And a light to my path.

Looks Complicated, 2006

Last night I was reading to Pamela a short portion of ON FAMILY WORSHIP by Harvey Bluedorn.  It really is a terrific pamphlet (available on his website at this link).  I am grateful for men who have wrestled with these issues and challenged us to biblical fatherhood.  I am also grateful for how the Lord has been at work in our home in this area of "Family Worship" (or family devotions) for the last few years. 

In 2004 we were introduced to the ministries of TRIVIUM PURSUIT and VISION FORUM MINISTRIES at a homeschool convention.   We were challenged with a number of important concepts that weekend, but the committment we brought home was to begin reading the scriptures more regularly in our home.  So each evening, after dinner, we began reading from a narrative book of the Old Testament (we started in 1 Samuel).  In time, God led us to begin gathering each morning as well for time together as a family in His word--we would read a Psalm and another scripture reading.

There had been times earlier in our family life when we had tried to start family devotions, but we always struggled to be consistent, and would often go weeks or months without it (can I admit even years?).  I think it may have been for a few different reasons.  The first was because I was trying to make it too complicated.  I was avoiding family devotions because I hadn't prepared anything thoughtful or devotional, so I didn't do it.  Second, I think I was satisfied with the idea that surely the kids would be getting their spiritual lessons in Sunday School.  This may have been happening, but I was not taking on my God given responsibility to lead in my family's spiritual nourishment, I was merely delegating.  The probelm with delegating is that as men we don't grow and learn how to do it and our children begin to give their hearts to those who are doing it in our absence.

I don't know what your personal experiences may be in leading family worship, but I would invite you to start small, nothing too complicated.  Choose a narrative book of the Bible and read just a few verses each night after dinner and ask God to lead you in your conversation around what you've read.  It might be helpful to pick up a copy of Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible (less than $50) to assit you answer the difficult questions the kids or your wife may ask.  Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know, but I'll find out and tell you what I've learned."  In the process, you'll be teaching your kids how to find out the answers to the questions they have and you'll also be growing together as a family.  It is time for fathers to take back this area of family life, for God's glory.

If you have any thoughts you'd like to share of how you do family worship, or want to share a testimony of how God has worked through family worship in your home, leave a comment.

From Deuteronomy 6

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 

 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

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.