A. The whole Bible is written for all people, but it
contains specific instructions that apply to certain categories of people. Persons within those categories should give
even closer attention to those specific instructions.
B.
In this lesson,
let us notice some specific instructions that are given for young people. By no means are these words all that young men
and women need to know, but young people should give them special consideration
because these messages are addressed directly to them or about them.
II. A FEW WORDS TO THE YOUNG
A. In Psalm 119:9-16, young persons are told the key to
success for a pure life.
1.
Psalm 119 is an
acrostic based on the Hebrew alphabet.
This means that it is written in sections according to the twenty-two Hebrew
letters, and each section begins with a different letter.
2.
The second
section (vv. 9-16) begins with the Hebrew letter Beth, and it answers its own question in verse 9: "How can a young
man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Your word.”
a. This question and answer are vitally important to
every young person. Each one is born
with a clean and pure soul, but how shall he keep and maintain a pure way of
life in the midst of the wickedness and corruption of the world?
b. The only effective answer is found in the word of
God. Only God can give the guidance and
instruction that lead to a truly pure life.
3.
Because the word
of God is the only basis for keeping a pure way, the psalmist has some thoughts
about God's word in the remaining verses of this section.
a. Verse 10 shows that God is to be sought in a heartfelt
way by keeping His commandments (consider 1John 5:1-3).
b. Verse 11 shows that treasuring God's word in the heart
is the way to avoid sin and thus to keep a pure life.
c.
Verses 12 and 13
show that young people should be taught God's word and should also teach it to
others.
d. Verses 14-16 present God's word as an object of joy,
meditation, delight, and memorization.
All of these will contribute to success in a pure way of life.
4.
Notice a few
answers that are not given for the question, "How can a young man keep his way
pure?”
a. Imitating the ways of one's peers is not a way to
purity. Generally, this leads only to
sin.
b. Following after popular culture is certainly not the
way to purity. These ways lead to
immodesty, immorality, and many others forms of ungodliness.
c.
The ways of
academia and the wisdom of men are not the way to purity. Such ways may be considered wise in the
world, but they cannot keep a young person pure.
B. In Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7, young people are encouraged
to make the most of their youth by remembering God.
1.
This advice to
the young begins in Ecclesiastes 11:7-10, where a young man is told to rejoice
in his youth but to also remember certain points for the future.
a. The young man is to remember that the "days of
darkness” are coming. This will be
elaborated in the next chapter (vv. 7-8).
b. He is also to remember that he will be brought to
judgment for the things he does in his youth.
He is to follow the impulses of his heart and the desires of his eyes
(v. 9), but those impulses and desires must not be for evil.
c.
He must
understand that "childhood and the prime of life are fleeting” (v. 10). His youthful vitality and strength will not
last forever, so he must not waste them.
2.
This context
continues in Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, where the young are instructed to remember
the Creator before the infirmities of age set in.
a. It is evident that remembering God is not merely an
intellectual effort, but rather it is manifested in the activities of a young
person.
b. Rather than waiting until the opportunities and the
vigor of youth have passed, young people should use the advantages of youth in
the service of God while they can.
c.
The onset of age
is described in a series of figures.
i.
The light of
youth's hope is dimmed by the darkness of age's difficulties (vv. 1-2).
ii.
The watchmen of
the house are the arms that tremble, and the mighty men are the legs that stoop
in weakness (v. 3).
iii. The grinding ones are the teeth which are few, and
those who look through windows are eyes that grow dim in sight (v. 3).
iv. The doors on the street are the lips that are shut as
the sound of the grinding mill (teeth) is low (v. 4).
v. Every sound startles the aged from sleep, and the
daughters of song sing softly because the sense of hearing has been dulled (v.
4).
vi. In verse 5, fears and worries are multiplied as the
almond tree blossoms (the hair turns white), the grasshopper drags himself
along (the decline of the body late in life), and the caperberry is ineffective
(the sense of taste fails).
vii. In the end, death comes, the dust returns to the earth
as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (vv. 6-7).
d. Notice that these figures are not written to remind
the elderly of their infirmities or the brevity of their lives, but rather they
are to inform young people of the fleeting nature of youth and life. Young people often are unaware of these
things and behave as if they will never die.
This passage corrects their perception of life.
C. In Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20, children are
given good reasons to obey their parents.
1.
The first reason
is given in Ephesians 6:1 – "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this
is right.”
a. Obedience to parents is simply right. This fact is naturally and universally
recognized, and each child needs to recognize this in his own situation as
well.
b. Notice that this verse specifies obedience to parents
"in the Lord.” This reveals to us that
even small children who have not been baptized into the Lord (Gal. 3:27) are to
have a relationship with the Lord and to respect His authority over them.
2.
Another reason is
given in Ephesians 6:2-3 – "Honor your father and mother (which is the first
commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may
live long on the earth.”
a. Verse 2 contains a quotation from the Ten Commandments
(Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16). This ancient
commandment has governed children from the beginning, and it remains in effect
during the current dispensation.
b. When Israel received this commandment, the attached
promise pertained to the land of Canaan ("the land which the LORD your God
gives you”). Today, the promise extends
to life anywhere on earth. Therefore, if
a child wants to have a good life on earth, then let him begin by honoring his
parents.
3.
A third reason is
given in Colossians 3:20 – "Children, be obedient to your parents in all
things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”
a. Obedience to parents is not only a matter of making
parents happy, but it also is a means of pleasing the Lord. Therefore, the responsibility of children to
obey parents is made even greater.
b. Conversely, children that disobey parents displease
the Lord. Parents should keep this in
mind when teaching and disciplining their children. A child's obedience to his parents affects
his relationship with God.
III. CONCLUSION
A. There are many other details that young people need to
know in order to live well in this world, but the general lessons of the
passages we have considered teach them what they need to succeed.
B. Young people, if you are not keeping your way pure by
God's word, remembering Him in this crucial time of your life, and pleasing Him
by honoring and obeying your parents, then change your ways. Youth is not a time to be wasted, but it is a
time to be used in the service of the Lord.
