Dads, Where Are You Leading Your Families
Notes
Transcript
Dads, Where Are You Leading Your Families?
Dads, Where Are You Leading Your Families?
1 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:
2 Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king.
3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth.
5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the authority of the king.
7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
King David had a love for music. He wrote 75 Psalms. That may seem like a lot but I think he wrote a lot more that we do not have record of. All those times watching the sheep, I am sure he wrote numerous songs. So how many do we think he actually wrote? Steven Curtis Chapman wrote 72 songs. Matt Maher wrote 267 songs. Chris Tomlin has written 478 songs. Matt Redman has written 609 songs. Bill and Gloria Gaither have written over 700 songs. Wow. How that has affected our world. But the one who wrote the most songs of all times was King Solomon who wrote 1,007 songs. So, I can only imagine how many songs David actually wrote but we do not have record of.
So King David instituted music as a part of the church service. Music has always been a part of the worship of God, but he made it a focus. He choose 3 men to organize this new official ministry; Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. We are going to focus on Heman this morning. Heman was one of the king’s seers. He would intercede to God on behalf of the king and the Lord would reveal things to him. Remember, the Holy Spirit had not been poured out on people yet. It was only allowed for certain people. People who were completely devoted to the Lord and seeking His will. The king could not just spend time in prayer seeking God’s will for the choices he needed to make in leading the country. If something came up, the king would call for Heman and then Heman would take the matter before the Lord and then give the king the answer on what he should do.
Heman was also a dad. We see here in the scripture what kind of a dad he was. He had 17 children. Now Heman was not just someone who spent time inquiring of the Lord, he was also a musician and singer. He taught his children to use their musical gifts for the Lord. He also taught them how to be committed to their ministry. Dads, are you praying and encouraging your children to seek out what ministry they would have and help to develop it? Ministry is not just being on the platform. Ministry is teaching a Sunday School class. Ministry is working in the nursery. Ministry is hospitality. Ministry is reaching out to other people. Ministry is putting others before yourself and God at the top. Being a dad is a very important ministry. Teaching the things of God to your children and those around you.
We are going to look at 3 dads this morning and the lessons we can learn from them.
1. Heman
2. King David
3. Joseph, the step-dad to Jesus
Heman taught his children very well. His children learned to play and sing expertly and they taught their children. They all served together. Heman lived out his faith and his actions blessed future generations. He was a dad that was an amazing role model.
King David was not a wonderful role model as a dad. Even though he depended on Heman to give him God’s wisdom, he was a totally different kind of dad. Even though he had 19 sons, we do not think he spent much time with any of his sons except Solomon. He allowed an improper situation to continue which led to sin and a son who started a civil war. His family life was nothing like Heman’s and the problems facing the country continued and after the death of Solomon, the kingdom was permanently divided. King David, when he was near death, did not make his wishes known who he wanted to be the next king so another son declared himself as king. These are things to avoid. Dads - spend time with your kids, communicate with your kids, make sure your home life is honorable at all times.
Our last example is Joseph the carpenter. The man who was willing to bear the label of shame and disgrace by marrying a young woman who was pregnant and rumored to be unfaithful to Joseph. Even before he knew this was God’s son she was carrying, he still wanted to extend grace and mercy to Mary. The bible does not tell us much about Joseph but that he was an honorable man. This tells me, based on Jewish custom, he would of taught Jesus the things of God. Joseph obeyed God even when it was not financially beneficial for him and the family. Joseph demonstrated to Jesus that sacrificing for God was more than worth it. Look at our future for eternity; it was forever changed and Joseph played a part in it. He is a wonderful role model as a dad.
Conclusion
Dads - Where are you leading your families?
Dads - you are called to:
Declare and Commit your home to the Lord.
15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
2. Teach the word of God with love and soundness of mind.
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
If you realize that maybe you have exhibited a trait in your home and to your children that you would rather not, today is a brand new day.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.