QUESTION: Which of the following, Biblically, would not be considered a good parent?
- The harlot in 1st Kings 3:26, who said concerning a living son: “Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.”
- The cannibalistic mother of II Kings 6:29
- King David, son of Jesse, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel
ANSWER: All of the above.
Yes, David is included with those with poor parenting skills. The Bible is still the standard by which all parenting manuals and handbooks are to be judged. David was a permissive parent who had never disciplined his son, Adonijah, at any time, even by asking, “What are you doing?” (1st Kings 1:6) Is there any wonder that among David’s children:
- Amnon raped his half-sister, Tamar
- Absalom had Amnon killed
- Absalom and Adonijah rebelled against their father, David, and attempted to wrest the Kingdom from him
Yes, David is included with those with poor parenting skills. The Bible is still the standard by which all parenting manuals and and books are to be judged. David was a permissive parent who had never disciplined his son, Adonijah, at any time, even by asking, “What are you doing?” (1st Kings 1:6). Is there any wonder that among David’s children:
(1) Amnon raped his half-sister, Tamar.
(2) Absalom had Amnon killed.
(3) Absalom and Adonijah rebelled against their father, David, and attempted o wrest the Kingdom from him.
Although David did not share in the egregious behavior of the women in examples one and two, he was none the less, not a very good parent. Hear what the Bible says to parents: “And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NLT)
Discipline and instructions, parents, discipline and instructions. “If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them” (Proverbs 13 :24, NLT).
Fathers, be blessed as you pattern your parenting skills after our Heavenly Father, the consummate Father.
Parents, let your discipline be in love, in meekness and for edification. You are your children’s first teacher. Ensure you teach your children this: “The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And thou shalt teach them (His words) diligently unto thy children” (Deu. 6:4, 5 & 7 [a]).
Pastor J. Amos Jones
