Topical Bible: Children: A Blessing

◄ Children: A Blessing ►

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In the Bible, children are consistently portrayed as a blessing from God, a gift that brings joy, responsibility, and hope for the future. The Scriptures emphasize the value and importance of children within the family and the community of believers.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 127:3-5 : "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate." This passage highlights children as a divine inheritance and a source of strength and honor for their parents.

2. Genesis 1:28 : "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'" From the beginning, God’s command to be fruitful and multiply underscores the importance of procreation and the continuation of human life through children.

3. Proverbs 17:6 : "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers." This verse reflects the joy and pride that children and grandchildren bring to their families, emphasizing the generational blessings that children represent.

4. Matthew 19:14 : "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Jesus’ words affirm the value of children in the spiritual realm, recognizing their purity and openness as qualities that exemplify the kingdom of heaven.

5. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 : "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." This passage underscores the responsibility of parents to instruct their children in the ways of the Lord, ensuring that the knowledge and love of God are passed down through generations.

Theological Insights:

Children are seen as a divine trust, entrusted to parents to nurture, educate, and guide in the ways of the Lord. The Bible places a strong emphasis on the spiritual and moral upbringing of children, recognizing them as future bearers of faith and tradition. The family unit is portrayed as the primary context for this nurturing, with parents bearing the responsibility to model godly living and instill biblical values.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israelite society, children were considered a sign of God’s favor and a source of economic and social stability. Large families were often seen as a blessing, providing labor for agricultural work and ensuring the continuation of the family lineage. The birth of children was celebrated, and their upbringing was a communal effort, involving extended family and the wider community.

Practical Implications:

For believers, viewing children as a blessing involves recognizing their inherent value and potential. It calls for a commitment to their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This perspective encourages investment in the next generation through education, mentorship, and prayer, fostering an environment where children can grow in faith and character.

In summary, the Bible presents children as a precious gift from God, integral to His plan for humanity. They are to be cherished, nurtured, and guided in the ways of righteousness, reflecting the love and grace of God to the world.

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Genesis 5:29
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.
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Genesis 30:1
And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
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Psalm 127:3-5
See, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
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Proverbs 17:6
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
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Isaiah 54:1
Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, said the LORD.
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Jeremiah 20:15
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born to you; making him very glad.
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Library

Christ Blessing the Children.
... CHRIST BLESSING THE CHILDREN. (See Frontispiece). Jesus had left Galilee, and was
journeying toward Jerusalem, where He was to be put to death. ...
/.../mother stories from the new testament/christ blessing the children.htm

Blessing the Children
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 56 Blessing the Children. [This chapter is based on
Matt.19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.] Jesus was ever a lover of children. ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 56 blessing the children.htm

The Blessing of Little Children. (Luke, xviii. 15-17; Matt. , xix. ...
... As the Saviour was leaving a certain place in Peraea, where he had deeply impressed
the people, they brought their little children to receive his blessing. ...
/.../section 225 the blessing of.htm

Blessing Children. Concerning Childlikeness.
... Part Sixth. From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time:
One Year Less One Week.) XCIX. Blessing Children. Concerning Childlikeness. ...
/.../the four-fold gospel/xcix blessing children concerning childlikeness.htm

The Blessing Secured
... Ghost"? Oh, children of God, have you never felt a hope rise within you,
"I may have this blessing, I hear of from others"? Will ...
/.../murray/the deeper christian life/v the blessing secured.htm

The Blessing of God.
... their GOD would have been upon them; and receiving His blessing themselves, they
would have become a blessing to the world. We who are now the children of GOD ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part ii the blessing of.htm

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... The Teaching of Matthew 13 proves that no era of Millennial blessing precedes Christ's ...
by the Lord Himself: just as the wheat represents the "children of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm

The Blessing of Full Assurance
... The Blessing of Full Assurance. ... to the churches and to believers in Christ should
make you bow the knee and cry to God to put you among the children, that this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the blessing of full assurance.htm

Matt. xix. 1
... So therefore those men went away having drawn upon themselves a curse by their tempting,
but the little children a blessing, as being freed from all these. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxii matt xix 1.htm

How Jacob Deceived his Father
... Now Isaac prayed to Jehovah for his wife, because she had no children; and Jehovah ...
as a deceiver, and I shall bring blame upon me and not a blessing." But his ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how jacob deceived his father.htm