Isaiah addressed this question to Hezekiah, a truly great king (2 Kings 18:5). In the context of 2 Kings 20:12-18 we learn that Hezekiah had been sick. Indeed, Hezekiah had been sick "even unto death" (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:24). Hezekiah's sickness followed on the heels of the deliverance from the Assyrians when they came to invade Judah. God miraculously killed 185,000 of the Assyrian army and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh only to be killed by his sons as he worshiped in the house of Nisroch his god (cf. Isaiah 37:36-38). After Hezekiah's recovery the Babylonian king "sent letters and a present" (2 Kings 20:12) to Hezekiah. It appears that there was friendship between the king of Babylon and Hezekiah. The king of Babylon had not only heard of his sickness, but he had heard of the miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:31). The Jewish king lent a favorable ear to the Babylonian ambassadors, and showed them all the resources which he possessed. He showed them all his house of precious things, his store-house containing the paraphernalia and hereditary treasures belonging to the crown, his armory (cf. 2 Kings 22:8), and warlike stores. He did this in order to induce them to report well of him to the Babylonian king that he might be more inclined to treasure his friendship. This later proved to be a tragic mistake.
However, the question that Isaiah asked Hezekiah is a practical question for every family in every age. "What have they seen in thy house?" Perhaps no one exhibits to children any more than parents. Yes, this is an article for parents. What have your children seen in your house? What they see in your house will greatly determine what they will become and what your grandchildren will see in the houses provided by your sons and daughters.
Have they seen respect for God's order in the family? God appointed man the head of the family. "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church" (Ephesians 5:23; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:3). As such, he is commanded to provide for his family (1 Timothy 5:8). He is to love his wife, "even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it... Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church" (Ephesians 5:25-29; cf. Colossians 3:19). He is also charged with the primary responsibility of teaching the children (Ephesians 6:4). The Scriptures teach wives to "(be in subjection) unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord... But as the church is subject to Christ, so (let) the wives also (be) to their husbands in everything" (Ephesians 5:22-24; cf. Colossians 3:18). "Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and (let) the wife (see) that she fear (respects - NASV) her husband" (Ephesians 5:33). A refusal to be subject to your husband is blasphemy (cf. Titus 2:5). This does not argue that woman's intellect is inferior to man's. However, her role is different from the man's role. Her characteristics equip her to be the keeper of the home (Titus 2:5), guide the house and be a mother (1 Timothy 5:14), and be a companion and help to her husband (Genesis 2:18).
Children must have respect for parental authority. Paul continues in Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." Parents have an obligation before God to train their children (Colossians 3:20-21; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Have they seen your concern for a good influence in your house? Timothy was a young man who was a second or third generation Christian. He was one of "unfeigned faith... which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice..." (2 Timothy 1:5). It was because of the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother, who taught him the scriptures from the time that he was a "babe," that he became "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). I am persuaded that one reason why we may lose our young people to the world is because parents are failing in their responsibility to train unto godliness "from a babe." Too often our children see an inconsistent standard. We teach that we are to live "soberly and righteously and godly" (Titus 2:11), but at the same time teach by example, "I see no harm in taking a drink once in a while." We teach godliness, but we curse when we are angry. James said, "out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (James 3:10). We teach the importance of worship and Bible study, but then by example teach that it's alright to miss for a weekend vacation. We pour bad language, immorality, and compromise into the minds of our children through television, movies, and our own bad examples, and then act surprised when it comes out in their conduct. Jesus said, "But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings" (Matthew 15:18-19; cf. Matthew 12:34).
Have they seen fervent, frequent prayer expressing our confidence in God? Paul wrote, "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6; cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The very act of prayer is an expression of one's dependence upon a power greater than his own. Jesus said in John 15:5, "Apart from me ye can do nothing." Man needs God and He has promised, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). Prayer is not a futile act. God would not draw nigh to men were He not able and willing to hear their prayers to Him. Peter said that we are to, "Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). It is reassuring to know that the affairs of the universe are not so absorbing of God's attention that He cannot give heed to the affairs of the individual soul. Too many children have never heard their parents pray.
Have they seen Bible study? Or do they see us spending time reading junk and use the Bible as only an ornament in our home? Since the great truths of this life and the next are in the Bible, man ought to want to study it. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "Study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me" (John 6:44ff). It is essential to overcome temptations. David said, "Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:11). Do we have troubles, let's get our head in the book! Have we become too lazy or too busy to study this wonderful book?
When our children see these things in our house we have truly exhibited before them our treasures. These are the treasures that will prepare them for this life as well as eternal life. Indeed, it is a sobering question for parents to ask of their own children, "What have they seen in thy house?"
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