The Good Father (How Should We Then Live?)

Psalm 127:1. The full verse states: "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain"

 What is a good father? What should a father do? How do you be a good father?

* The father is a watchman. He serves under Christ, he keeps the family in The Word of God. He works for God to keep Satan at bay. 

 "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God."  (1 Cor. 11:13, ESV)

     The Father is head of the family. Without a head, there can be no unity in the family, and lacking unity, the family has no visible structure. It is like trying to schlepp water for a purpose, but lacking a container. It goes nowhere, but spills out all over the ground. The water does not reach its destination, cannot sustain the life of any crops. 

 

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AI Summary of Father as Watchman: 

In a biblical context, a father's role as a "watchman" means he is a spiritual leader and protector of his household, similar to how Ezekiel was a prophet appointed to warn the Israelites of impending danger. Fathers are responsible for safeguarding their families' spiritual welfare by guarding against sin, setting biblical standards, praying for protection, and teaching the Word of God to their children. They act as gatekeepers and spiritual guides, ensuring their family remains on the righteous path and is protected from negative influences.
 

Key Aspects of a Father as a Watchman

Spiritual Leadership: 

Fathers are spiritual leaders and priests of their homes, representing their families to God in prayer and guiding them in faith.

Biblical Basis

The concept of a watchman is exemplified in the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel, who was appointed by God to stand on a tower and give warning to the house of Israel. This role is now extended to fathers in the family, making them responsible for spiritual oversight

Protection:

They are responsible for spiritual and natural protection, watching for threats from the enemy (Satan) and providing a safe environment for their family.   Discernment and Awareness: A father should be aware of the dangers and "enemies" his family faces, including sin and false teachings, and have the wisdom to understand the times.   

Setting Standards: Fathers establish biblical standards for the family's behavior, clothing, music, and other aspects of life to act as a "wall of protection". 

Prayer: A crucial part of this role is praying for the protection and spiritual health of their spouse and children, as well as praying for discernment.

Example: Fathers must set an example for their children by actively being watchmen themselves, living according to the principles they are teaching Teaching: Fathers are to teach their children the Word of God, instilling faith and biblical values to steer them away from trouble.

 

 

Scott Brown Quote: "Think of the face of Jesus Christ as he looked at the rich young ruler who is all wrapped up in his prosperity.

And what does it say of the face of Jesus toward him? He had compassion on him even though he walked away. He walked away in the face of Jesus Christ was compassion toward him. You know, fathers who have wayward children and, you know, how do they deal with children who are walking away? You know, how do you grapple with that?"  

https://churchandfamilylife.com/resources/60ca72e923fa965169a3c89c

 Scott Brown of Hope Baptist Church, Wake Forest, NC 

From: "Five Ways a Father Protects His Family."   July 22, 2017

"The greatest force in the protection of a child is a father who walks with his children and incorporates them in every part of their life. Well, that's what Jesus did. You know, that's why the that's why the songwriter wrote it like this. He walks with me. And he talks with me.

And He tells me I am His own and the joys we share as we tarry there. Well you know that's That's about a song about a father who walks with his children. The most powerful thing a father can ever do in beholding the face of Jesus is to walk with his children. And I know there are a lot of people in this room right here who spent a lot of time trying to convince themselves and other fathers to walk with their children and there are a bunch of men in this room who've been walking with their children and guess what you can tell you can tell Because children who have their fathers walk with them, they walk different than other children. They really do.

And I, you know, and I've been alive long enough to know that's really true. It's not, It's not fake. It really matters when you walk with your children and when you take them with you wherever you go. And you can find really successful men that rise to the top of their industry or their area of expertise and their children languish because they don't walk with their children. The greatest act of protection that a man can demonstrate as he beholds the face of Jesus is to walk with his children and to be there and to know how they think and what they're doing and what they're looking at"

 
Scott Brown Excerpt:

"And then finally, a father protects his family by showing them how to honor authorities, the lawful authorities that God has put in their lives and to help them to understand how to live in harmony and submit to the authorities that God has put. God has put various authorities in their lives. First of all, there's God himself. Second, fathers and mothers have authority. Thirdly, the civil government has authority.

And you protect your children when you teach them to honor authorities. If they don't honor their father and mother it won't go well with them. You know there are a lot of young people here in this room right now. If you're struggling with honoring of your father and mother, if you keep that up it won't go well with you. You will beat your head against the wall for the rest of your life until you figure that out.

You understand that? If you don't honor your father and mother from the heart it's not going to go well with you. You know there's a guy here in this room who's trying to change the legislation on child custody laws in this state because he believes that the child custody laws are causing the destruction of a generation because the child custody laws, the way the judges rule on them, they give the majority of custody to one parent. And he says it causes children to hate one of their parents. And when you have a child who hates one of their parents, it's not going to go well with them.

Even if they were bad parents, it won't go well. You know, how do you recover a society? You recover it really by returning to God, you know, and His Word. And, you know, fathers are put in this world as protectors and nourishers of a new generation. And fathers protect their families by being aware of the danger they're in and their vulnerability.

They protect them by holding the face of Jesus Christ. They protect them by understanding who God really is, that He is in control, that unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. And he's a man who trusts God. He's a man who teaches the word of God. He does what Moses commanded the fathers of Israel to do in Deuteronomy 6, to teach their children when they sit in the house, when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise up."

    [End Scott Brown Quote] 

Ezekiel Is Israel's Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

(Ezekiel 33:1-8, ESV)


King James Version: Ezekiel 33:1-10

1. Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

3. If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4. Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

6. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

7. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

8. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

10. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?