A Father's Joy

June 16

"The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." Proverbs 23:24

We have just celebrated Fathers’ Day, and that warm, familial holiday brought us to some points to ponder regarding our view of parenting as compared and contrasted to that of our ancient counterparts.

The word of God makes it quite clear that a man’s progeny is his great reward. Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring are a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”

The strong implication in the age in which the holy writ was penned by the scribe is that in the multitude of his offspring is a man’s strength established. The more children he had, the stronger was his position in the society in which he lived. Having numerous adult sons meant he was sure to have allies to fight with him against any kind of opposition.

If his sons were as arrows in his quiver, then he was well-armed in battle. He would never be alone in his fight for the army of his sons stood with him in time of conflict. If a man’s confrontation were of a legal nature, his sons would testify in his behalf before the assembly.

As with so many things, our view of having many children has changed with time. Most people of modernity do not view large families as an advantage. Although we love the children we have, we do not see them as a potential army or as our advocates in matters of legal dispute. We tend, in fact, to view our offspring as our ‘responsibility.’

Rearing our youngsters entails far more in our day than merely supplying their food and clothing while they are young and anticipating their allegiance to us as they mature. Our provision of their needs extends into young adulthood where we are responsible for their education and for their sustenance in a troubled economy.

The role of parent to offspring as it is depicted in Psalm 127, could, in fact, be considered role reversal. Instead of expecting our children to align themselves with us against any foe, we maintain our support of them against the onslaught of a materialistic age that may require their on-going reliance upon their more-established, self-sufficient parents.

The one thing that remains unchanged is the premise of Proverbs 23:24, "The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." As the father of antiquity delighted in the support of his sons against any adversary, so today’s father delights in his well-educated son as he becomes equipped to make his way into the world and to face and overcome the challenges of an age fraught with economic and moral upheaval.

Today’s godly father rejoices when his children abide in truth. As the beloved disciple said of his spiritual children in III John 1:2, “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers,” so today’s parent yearns to see his children rooted and grounded in faith in Jesus—faith that enables them to do all they can to oppose the growing tide of evil around them, and, as the Bible says, “When you have done all that you can do, stand,” Ephesians 6:13.