Plead For The Life Of Thy Young Children

by J. PEDDIE, Glasgow | Category: General | May 1964

"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches;

Pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord:

Lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children,

That faint for hunger at the top of every street"

(Lamentations 2.19).

This Scripture refers to what had occurred in Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah. Today we are also living in perilous times. Students of prophecy are all agreed that we are living in days characteristic of the last days described in 2 Timothy 3.1-9. Parents, especially, should see how necessary it is to plead for the life of their young children, as also all those who have young children entrusted to their care. Sunday schools and youth camps have been an inestimable blessing in the lives of many. The coming day of rewards will reveal the extent of the blessing that has accrued from faithful, unremitting labour in these fields of service. What a privilege What a responsibility! to mould and train the lives of young children for Him who said, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19.14). Parents in the Fellowship of God's Son should be especially desirous to nurture their children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6.4), so that they may, in later years, serve God in His house.

The majority of young people growing up today have no knowledge of God, for their parents themselves do not know that the way to heaven is by salvation through Christ. So serious is the situation becoming that we are reminded of the Lord's words, "When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find the faith in the earth?" (Luke 18.8).

Children belong to God by right of creatorship, but they arc not "in Christ" until they put faith in Him. The Lord said, referring to the eleven disciples, "Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me" (John 17.6). God said, "Behold, all souls arc Mine; ....the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18. 4). Therefore it is not enough to belong to God. Saved children are given by God to Christ. Christ gives to them eternal life-the gift of God (Romans 6.28), and they shall never perish (John 10.28).

At the beginning of the last week of the Lord's life on earth He uttered these touching words, "0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ...how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings!" (Matthew 23.87), and on the very day of His crucifixion He said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children" (Luke 23.28), as with divine fore-knowledge He looked into the near future, and saw God's judgements soon to fall on Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

"For this child I prayed" (1 Samuel 1.27), said Hannah, and Samuel, whose name means "heard of God", would often be the subject of his mother's prayers throughout her life. "Children are an heritage of the LORD" (Psalm 127.8), and have been committed to parents as a stewardship. Oh that they all, like Timothy, from babes may know the sacred writings which are able to make wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus! (2 Timothy 3.15).

One further word might be added. A home free from the blight of radio and television is a more conducive atmosphere in which to rear spiritually healthy children, than one in which these twin evils are allowed to take up so much time and attention. The issues at stake arc tremendous. Radio and television foster carnality and worldliness, and will distract the hearts of children away from Christ. Your prayers will be hindered if you allow them in your home. Eschew these evils, and plead for the life of your young children.

Wonderful words, belonging to another day, "And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54. 18).

J. PEDDIE, Glasgow | May 1964
General