Counterfeit: Parenting — Thursday
Psalm 127:4
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. (NIV)
There are a couple of movies that I have seen more times than I can count - not because they are my favorites but because they were my kids’ favorites. Kung Fu Panda will always make me laugh because I can still hear my kids laughing when I see it. One of my children could practically recite the entire script of Finding Nemo on demand, and did many times!
So, when I hear the word “warrior” a lineup of animated movie characters starts to scroll through my mind. But in Psalm 127, Solomon wasn’t thinking about a warrior like Po in Kung Fu Panda when he wrote this. He was thinking of something very different.
The word “warrior” in the Old Testament meant someone like Josheb-basshebeth, whom the book of 2 Samuel tells us killed 800 men in just one battle. It meant someone like Beneniah who killed a lion and was the leader of King David’s bodyguards.
Their success as warriors took practice and it took the right tools. They had to have the right weapons, but their weapons alone did not make them warriors. It was how they used their weapons. They used them in ways that most people could not and that was not by accident. They had to hone their skills to make the weapons they had useful.
The Bible tells us that children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior. That means as parents, we have to practice and train to learn how to use what God has given us. Some parts of parenting are innate, but so much of parenting requires prayer, practice, and learning from others who have gone before us.
This is also a reminder that we are in a real battle. Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) tells us, “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world…” We are training our children for something real - a battle we (and they) are already in. God wants to equip you so that you can equip them to fight against the lies of the enemy and the struggles of this world.
Thursday’s Reflection
We want to help train you as parents. Check out the Weekly Bible Blast from our Children’s Ministry team for ideas and resources to help you get started.