Mother s Day 2012 I. Introduction A. As we have gone through our study of Genesis there has only been one mother worthy of emulation and that s Sarah 1. In the whole book of Genesis 2. Some of you might say well Sarah had some serious problems 3. And you would be right 4. But nearer to the end of her life that changed 5. In fact when Peter wanted to select a woman from the Old Testament for women of the church to model, he chose Sarah B. We don t find another worthy mother until Jochebed apears in the first part of Exodus 1. Now she was a woman of conviction, courage and confidence 2. But after her, who in Exodus is really worthy of emulation C. The next mother I find in the Scripture is Hannah, whose story is related to us in I Samuel 1. Hannah gave her son to God and look at what a man he became 2. The only judge, prophet and priest Israel ever had D. Many mothers who are great mothers don t seem to make it into the pages of Scripture E. But when we celebrate mother s day we usually speak of on e or more of these three women from the old Testament, and at times, Mary from the New Testament Page 1 of 6
F. But when we study these ladies what are a purposes 1. To say that this is how a godly mother should 2. Or to urge mothers to attempt to emulate these women G. I think on this mother s day, we should take a different approach 1. Instead of seeking to know what mothers should be, we look how mother s should be treated 2. In order to do that we will need to consider what God said not to do and then seek to determine what is the opposite of that negative admonition II. Treatment of mothers A. Leviticus 19:3 'Every one of you shall reverence his mother and his father, and you shall keep My sabbaths; I am the LORD your God. 1. arey" yare' {yaw-ray'} Meaning: 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 2. Reverencing or respecting means to 1) honor or respect felt or shown 2) a gesture of respect 3. To properly reverence our mothers, we must not only adopt such an attitude but also demonstrate it B. Proverbs 1:1-9 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their Page 2 of 6
riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck. C. Proverbs 6:20 My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 1. In our time knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom seems scarce 2. The foundation of wisdom is to honor and respect the Lord, to be in awe of His power and to obey His word 3. But we learn values, morals and priorities from our parents 4. The father gives instruction while the mother trains us 5. Which do we retain longer? 6. How our mother trained us should be remembered in our lives 7. That training is something we should be thankful for 8. As we grow up and mature we become independent of our parents 9. And in fact their training is intended to enable us to do exactly that 10. But we should never turn a deaf ear to our parents D. Proverbs 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother. 1. Our mothers do not want us to foolish 2. Their advice and instruction comes from experience and usually seeks to help us to be the best we can be E. Proverbs 15:20 A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his Page 3 of 6
mother. 1. Despising a person means to look down on with contempt or aversion 2. For a man to despise his mother makes him a fool 3. Instead we must treat her with honor whether she is deserving or not F. Proverbs 19:26 He who assaults his father and drives his mother away Is a shameful and disgraceful son. G. Proverbs 20:20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness. H. Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. I. Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocks a father And scorns a mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it. 1. Rejecting your mother brings great shame to you as her child 2. Instead, a wise child seeks her advice and desires to spend time with her 3. There are consequences God says for rejection J. Proverbs 23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her rejoice who gave birth to you. 1. We allow our mothers to be glad and rejoice in us when we include them in our lives an allow them to share in our successes K. Proverbs 28:24 He who robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the companion of a man who destroys. L. Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. Page 4 of 6
1. Do you not think that your mother wearied of disciplining or correcting you 2. That is not something mothers emjoy 3. But getting your own way all of the time promotes pride, selfishness and insensitivity to others 4. Recognize that she wanted what would make you the best person M. Proverbs 31:1-10 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him: 2 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows? 3 Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings. 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, 5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted. 6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to him whose life is bitter. 7 Let him drink and forget his poverty And remember his trouble no more. 8 Open your mouth for the mute, For the rights of all the unfortunate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy. 10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.... 1. This last chapter of Proverbs comes from King Lemuel 2. It is the result of the teaching of his mother 3. She understood that it was important for the king to have a good wife 4. And the end of Proverbs 31 which speaks of a virtuous woman, is not a male originated description, but one that came from a mother who cared for her son Page 5 of 6
26 N. John 19:26-27 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. 1. Jesus requested that John take care of His mother 2. He had four brothers and multiple sisters [Mark 6:3] 3. But He, being the leading male member of his family, made provision for His mother 4. What plans do you have? III. What we take with us A. Reverence your mother B. Remember what your mother taught you and how she trained you C. Mothers have our best interest at heart D. Our mothers should be honored E. Don t reject your mother but include her F. Allow your mother to share in your successes G. She wanted you to become a humble, giving, and caring person H. She wants you to have just the right mate I. A son should aleays take care of his mother Page 6 of 6