Proclaim the Gospel to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Shalom and welcome to the Everlasting Nation, a radio ministry of International Board of Jewish Missions. This is Mark Oshman with the International Board of Jewish Missions, bringing you another radio Bible program. Today we begin a new series on how to rear godly children, as revealed by Solomon in the Book of Proverbs. Philosopher Hannah Arendt opined that, quote, Every generation, civilization is invaded by barbarians. We call them children. Her words underscore the necessity for bringing up sons and daughters in what Paul described as, quote, the nurture and admonition of the Lord, unquote. The Bible contained numerous examples of progeny whose godly parents failed to hear this admonition. Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, massacred the residents of an entire Canaanite city, according to Genesis chapter 34. God judged the family of the high priest Eli as recorded in 1 Samuel chapter 3 because Eli's sons, quote, made themselves vile and he restrained them not, unquote. The author 1 Kings chapter 1 observed that Adonijah, who was the son of David, Adonijah believes himself entitled to claim the throne of Israel, encouraged to do so because, quote, his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, why hast thou done so, unquote. Solomon was David's son and his successor. He became renowned for his God-given wisdom. The Bible revealed that Solomon penned thousands of proverbs, fashioning these examples of sagacity into short, pithy sentences. Several of these aphorisms appeared in the Old Testament book entitled Proverbs. Solomon addressed many of his statements to an individual whom he labeled as, quote, my son, unquote. According to the first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon wanted his son to, quote, know wisdom and instruction. to perceive the words of understanding, and to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity." Furthermore, Solomon continued, following the advice contained in these proverbs would give, quote, subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion, unquote. With regard to his domestic life, Solomon himself had departed from the path of wisdom. Despite the prohibition contained in Deuteronomy Chapter 17, forbidding kings to multiply wives unto themselves, despite that prohibition, Solomon had 300 wives and 700 concubines. Furthermore, some of these women came from nations among whom God had forbidden into marriage for Jews. As the writer of 1 Kings Chapter 11 recorded, there were consequences to this. Solomon probably did not want his descendants to go through that same experience as he did. Yet he knew the allures of this world could influence them to go astray. As an old saying put it, an arrow in flight still feels the pull of gravity. Thus he devoted several of his Proverbs to the subject of rearing children. In the sixth chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, God had instructed the Israelites, quote, Thou shalt teach them, that is God's words, Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, when thou walkest by the way. and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Contemporary parents should do no less in the rearing of their children. This is Mark Oshford with the International Board of Jewish Missions, bringing you another radio Bible study. You've been listening to The Everlasting Nation, a ministry of International Board of Jewish Missions. For more information, you can contact us at 423-876-8150 or go online to ibjm.org. Until next time, may God bless and shalom.