In Proverbs, chapter twenty-two, verse six, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Parents must commit themselves to the godly training and discipline of their children, as in Proverbs twenty-two, verse fifteen, Proverbs thirteen, verse twenty-four, Proverbs nineteen, verse eighteen, Proverbs twenty-three, verses thirteen through fourteen, and Proverbs twenty-nine, verse seventeen, respectively. The Hebrew word for “train” means to “dedicate.” Therefore, it emphasizes the importance of training with a purpose.
Christian training has as its purpose the dedication of our children to God and His will, accomplished by separating them from the world’s evil influences and by instructing them in godly conduct. The same root word can also mean to “give or cultivate a taste for.” Parents must encourage their children to seek God for themselves and genuinely enjoy the spiritual experiences they will never forget.
“He will not depart from it.” The general principle is that a properly trained child will not follow the ungodly ways taught by their parents. However, this is not a guarantee that all children of God-fearing parents will remain true to God and His Word. When living in an evil society where many of God’s people are themselves unfaithful, the children of godly parents can be influenced to sin and to give in to temptation.
In Ezekiel fourteen, verses fourteen through twenty, God speaks of an apostasy so great that even righteous men like Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save their sons and daughters. The section subtitle is about deliverance through righteousness. The sons and daughters of these men are not able to save them, but through prayer and the Word of God, these children will be enlightened to see that the ways of the world differ from God.