TRAIN UP A CHILD

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."
2 Kings 2:23-24

Elisha cursed the youths of Bethel, enough to destroy them. It was not a curse without cause, it was Elisha's character, as God's prophet, that they abused. They chided him to "go up," to "go up," reflecting on the taking up of Elijah into heaven. The prophet acted by Divine impulse. If the Holy Spirit had not directed Elisha's solemn curse, the providence of God would not have followed it with judgment. Wow...

The Lord must be glorified as a righteous God who hates sin, and will reckon for it. Let young persons be afraid of speaking wicked words, for God notices what they say. Let them not mock at any for defects in mind or body. It is especially at their peril, if they scoff at any for well doing. Let parents that would have comfort in their children, train them up well, and do their utmost at all times to drive out the foolishness that is bound up in their hearts.

It will be the great anguish of those parents, at the day of judgment, who witness the everlasting condemnation of their offspring, occasioned by their own bad example, carelessness, or wicked teaching!