Title: Don’t Mock An Elder
Memorize: You shall rise up before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 2:23-25
[23] Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”
[24] So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.
[25] Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Message:
The children in today’s Bible reading must have woken up that morning hale and hearty.
Unfortunately, before the day was over, they lost their lives due to their misbehavior; they mocked an elderly person who happened to be a man of God.
When I was much younger, I had friends with whom l joked and made jest of other people.
We made fun of everything because we were naive and were sometimes under the influence of alcohol; however, in the midst of all that, we did not lose our home training.
Our parents had taught us to respect elders, so if we were joking and an elderly person approached, we would comport ourselves immediately.
This was not the case with the 42 children in today’s Bible reading; they carried on with their jokes and met their end.
I see a trend in this generation, especially on social media, where teenagers and youths hide behind their keypads to insult elders through posts.
I often shake my head because of their stupidity. It is wise for you to keep silent over issues you know nothing about or people you do not know.
Many bloggers are inciting young people through fake headlines, and they are making money.
In the end, such bloggers, their readers, and those who like and comment on their posts will be judged by God. My dear child, be wise!
Key Point:
Honor elders at all times.
HYMN 60: MOST ANCIENT OF ALL MYSTERIES
1 Most ancient of all mysteries,
Before Thy throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most holy Trinity.
2 When heav’n and earth were yet unmade,
When time was yet unknown,
Thou in Thy bliss and majesty
Didst live and love alone.
3 Thou wert not born; there was no fount
From which Thy Being flowed;
There is no end which Thou canst reach;
But Thou art simply God.
4 How wonderful creation is,
The work which Thou didst bless,
And O what then must Thou be like,
Eternal loveliness!
5 O listen then, most pitiful,
To Thy poor creature’s heart:
It blesses Thee that Thou art God,
That Thou art what Thou art.
6 Most ancient of all mysteries,
Still at thy throne we lie;
Have mercy now, most merciful,
Most holy Trinity.
Bible In One Year: Isaiah 57:15-59:21, Philippians 1:1-26
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye