How does Deuteronomy 32:46 connect with Proverbs 22:6 about teaching children? Two Verses, One Mandate “Take to heart all the words I testify to you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law.” “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” What Moses Emphasizes • The words of God must first be treasured in the parent’s own heart. • Parents are then to pass those very words to their children with diligence (“command your children”). • Obedience to Scripture is presented as a matter of life and longevity (v. 47). What Solomon Underscores • Early, intentional training sets a lifelong trajectory. • “The way he should go” refers to a path shaped by God’s wisdom, not human preference. • The promised outcome—perseverance in righteousness—rests on the reliability of God’s Word. How the Two Passages Interlock 1. Same focus: both center on God’s words, not merely moral suggestions. 2. Same audience: parents are the primary instructors, not schools or peers. 3. Same method: proactive, directive teaching (“command” and “train,” not passive exposure). 4. Same goal: children who grow into faithful, steadfast adults. 5. Same assurance: God Himself links obedience to blessing (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Proverbs 3:1-2). Confirming Voices in Scripture • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “These words... shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children.” • Psalm 78:5-7 – God established a testimony “so that the next generation would know them… and put their confidence in God.” • Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers are to bring children up “in the training and admonition of the Lord.” • 2 Timothy 3:15 – From childhood Timothy knew the Scriptures, “able to make you wise for salvation.” Practical Takeaways • Start with your own heart: daily reading and obedience give credibility to instruction. • Make Scripture the curriculum: read, memorize, sing, and discuss the Word together. • Teach diligently and naturally: at meals, in the car, during chores (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7). • Model what you teach: children learn doctrine and devotion by watching lifestyle. • Trust the promise: faithful sowing in childhood will, by God’s grace, bear fruit in adulthood. |
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