Children a man's power.
"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." They are his effective agents in the battle of life. This is illustrated in many a business. The man is greatly helped as difficulties develop, and responsibilities increase, who has his own sons to share his burdens. The service of hirelings, however devoted and faithful, can never equal that of sons. A man gradually outgrows the toiling part of life. He may think and plan better than ever; but the executive power fails; and it is well if sons arise to be not only arrows, but even arms, for him. In the entire active sphere of life a man's sons may come to take his place.
I. CHILDREN ARE A MAN'S POWER WHEN RIGHT RELATIONS ARE MAINTAINED. The assumption of the psalm is that they are maintained. The godly man's God-fearing children alone are in thought. When children grow up willful, wayward, un-son-like, they are a man's weakness. They are arrows bent from the straight, which may do more mischief than good. So on children the Word of God presses the duty of maintaining the family relation, and "honoring the father and the mother." And the relation must be preserved right up to the close of life. For long a son stands with his father; the time comes when he may have to stand for his father. Neglect of, and cruelty to, aged parents belong to heathenism, not to the religion of the eternal Father.
II. CHILDREN ARE A MAN'S POWER WHEN RIGHT CHARACTER IS CULTURED. What children are to their parents will of necessity depend much on natural disposition. Even an affectionate disposition finds expression in various forms. But it depends very much more on home-training. Parents may make themselves too independent, and, seeking little help from their children, get but little when they sorely need it. True home-culture nourishes mutual service. Only out of the practice of a Common service can the special ministries of times of strain be found to grow.—R.T.