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Education
“The Lord is a great God,
And a great King above all gods....
O come, let us worship and bow down:
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”
“It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise:
Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”
Psalm 95:3-6
;
100:3, 4
.
Reverence should be shown also for the name of God. Never
should that name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its
frequent or needless repetition should be avoided. “Holy and reverend
is His name.”
Psalm 111:9
. Angels, as they speak it, veil their faces.
With what reverence should we, who are fallen and sinful, take it upon
your lips!
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We should reverence God’s word. For the printed volume we
should show respect, never putting it to common uses, or handling it
carelessly. And never should Scripture be quoted in a jest, or para-
phrased to point a witty saying. “Every word of God is pure;” “as
silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”
Proverbs 30:5
;
Psalm 12:6
.
Above all, let children be taught that true reverence is shown
by obedience. God has commanded nothing that is unessential, and
there is no other way of manifesting reverence so pleasing to Him as
obedience to that which He has spoken.
Reverence should be shown for God’s representatives—for minis-
ters, teachers, and parents who are called to speak and act in His stead.
In the respect shown to them He is honored.
And God has especially enjoined tender respect toward the aged.
He says, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the
way of righteousness.”
Proverbs 16:31
. It tells of battles fought, and
victories gained; of burdens borne, and temptations resisted. It tells
of weary feet nearing their rest, of places soon to be vacant. Help the
children to think of this, and they will smooth the path of the aged by
their courtesy and respect, and will bring grace and beauty into their