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While we often find the search for curriculum a complicated task, God can bring crystal clarity to our search. What is presented below is a very simple, yet powerful, concept for training our children to be "kings" in God's Kingdom. What is presented came out of considering what the Bible says about how we are to train ourselves in His ways. The concept comes from the Old Testament, and I Corinthians 10:11 points out that the things that happened then are an example for our instruction. Our purpose here is not to establish a law but to learn from the examples God has given us as New Covenant people who belong to Jesus.

Most Christians know the story of King Solomon and the glory of the Lord that filled the temple that Solomon built for the Lord. Solomon's reputation in the earth for his wisdom and his wealth reached every nation, and he was visited by many kings and queens to see if the stories they had been told were true. The queen of Sheba said this,

I Kings 10:6
6. Then she said to the king, "It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom.
7. "Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed {in} wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard.
8. "How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually {and} hear your wisdom.
9. "Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness."

In this passage we see the ruler of a pagan, polythestic nation acknowledge and bless the One True God. Many Christians would be so grateful if we could have such a testimony from humanistic political leaders. Solomon's kingdom achieved such great heights that we often overlook the rebellious seeds he was sowing at the same time. His disobedience to God's laws would divide the kingdom. Most Christians point to his accumulation of foreign wives as the root cause of the downfall of his glorious kingdom. However, his numerous wives which helped him to worship foreign gods and his move into idolatry are both symptoms of a much deeper root problem. Solomon, like much of the visible modern church, presents an inconsistent message to those who are observant. Solomon was not alone in his disobedience. Every king, including David, failed to obey the written word of God which He had prescribed specifically for kings.

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20 we read God's exact standard of behavior which he set down for a king. Lest we think God's standard was designed only for the kings of Israel let us first examine the New Testament writers to see that God's standard for kings also applies to us. Paul told the Corinthians,

I Corinthians 4:8
8. You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and {I} would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

In this passage we see that Paul wanted them to be kings, but he knew they were not functioning in the pattern of true kings under the KING OF KINGS. Paul's desire was to see the Corinthians be kings who could join him in true rulership. Paul aligns this true ability to reign with the ability to endure. In II Timothy 2:12 he says, "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him."

God's plan for humanity is best seen in the last book of the Bible. Here God reveals His ultimate intention concerning His true kings. Revelation 5:8-10 shows us how God's kings are to reign and where God's kings are to reign. Notice that prayer and intercession marks the true priests of God who rule on the earth. The whole passage says,

Revelation 5:8
8. And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9. And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood {men} from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10. "And Thou hast made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

This same idea of being priests who know how to reign is mentioned again in Revelation 20:6 which says,

Revelation 20:6
6. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

The last scriptural reference to the ability to reign shows that it is something that is necessary for eternity. Revelation 22:5 says,

Revelation 22:5
5. And there shall no longer be {any} night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever.

If hometraining parents believe the above quoted verses to be God's intention for His family, then the examination of God's patterns for the kings of Israel takes on a different significance and meaning.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 says,

Deuteronomy 17:14
14. "When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and live in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations who are around me,'
15. you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses, {one} from among your countrymen you shall set as king over yourselves; you may not put a foreigner over yourselves who is not your countryman.
16. "Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never again return that way.'
17. "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.
18. "Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
19. "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes,
20. that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left; in order that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

In this passage we see God's foreknowledge at work. He knew Israel would eventually reject Him by rejecting His established rule of the prophets. However, in this passage we also see God's foreknowledge of HIS KING who would fulfill every one of these requirements. When God decided to allow Israel to have a king, he set down very strict guidelines for that king just as he also set down very strict guidelines for the priests of Israel. Both serve as types of Jesus who was the perfect prophet, priest and king. But we must also remember that these guidelines also serve as a spiritual guideline for those who would follow after Jesus to be God's prophets, priests and kings. Jesus fulfilled all three of the governmental principles of His Father. He was the perfect prophet, priest and king. However, God's true church is made up of individuals who are prophets (who speak forth the clear word of God); priests (who seek God's face and intercede for those who do not know Him); and kings (who know how to endure and rule over situations and circumstances through prayer and right choices).

In this passage of Deuteronomy we learn the following:

1. The king was chosen by God from within Israel.
2. The king was not to multiply horses for himself.
3. The king was not to have many wives.
4. The king was not to greatly increase silver or gold for himself
5. The first act the king was to perform when he sat upon his throne was to write out in his own hand a copy of God's law. The reason for this act was to teach the king to fear the Lord his God by:
   1. Obeying what he had written and continually was reading.
   2. Stopping pride in his position.
   3. Not lording his position over his fellow Israelites.
   4. Keeping him humble.
   5. Keeping him from diverting to the right or to the left.

A study of the kings of Israel beginning with Saul all the way down to the last king, Zedekiah, proves most interesting. The Bible does not record any of them obeying God's first law for kings. There is not one Biblical reference to a king writing out in his own hand the laws that God set forth. Even though there are kings who read God's law when it was rediscovered, we find huge gaps of God's law that was forgotten and thus disobeyed. For example: David is considered to be the best Old Testament example of a king who followed God with his whole heart (Acts 13:22). Yet David had many wives which was in direct violation to God's commands concerning the behavior of kings. A study of the kings shows rediscovery at various times of portions of God's laws and commandments. Thus we see the restoration of the passover, the priestly service, cleansing of the temple, etc. under the more obedient kings. However, each king always had a problem that eventually ensnared him. Because no king had obeyed God's laws for kings as set down by Him through Moses, no king ever ruled God's people as God had desired. Jesus Christ was the first King to show mankind how God's kings were to rule and to reign on earth.

In the process of the restoration of all things which must occur before Jesus returns (Acts 3:19-21), there must be a return to the word of God. Jesus' title as KING OF KINGS implies He desires to have righteous kings who are capable of ruling under Him.

The church has been most proud in pointing out the Jewish propensity to have a Messiah who would place the Jewish nation at the top of the political nations and squash all others. There have been numerous explanations asserting that the Jews missed the first coming of Jesus because he came as a servant rather than as a king. Most of the church is absolutely convinced that the second coming of Jesus will be to establish his Kingship. However, a close examination of God's requirements for a king shows that Jesus fulfilled all those requirements when He made his first appearance. The pride of the church has blinded her, just as it once blinded the Jews, from seeing rulership and kingship from God's perspective. The earthly, worldly demonstration of kings and rulers has almost obliterated the perfect pattern that God established thousands of years ago. If we look back at Deuteronomy 17:14-20 we can see the following behavior in Jesus that establishes Him as God's true pattern and example for all of God's kings to emulate. We see:

1. Jesus was chosen by God from among God's chosen people.
2. Jesus didn't multiply horses for Himself from Eygpt. He rode on a humble donkey (Matthew 21:5).
3. Jesus didn't have many wives. He didn't even have one!
4. Jesus didn't greatly increase silver or gold for Himself. He seemed to have money when He needed it (John 13:29; Matthew 17:24-27).
5. Jesus must have written out in his own hand a copy of God's law which he read all the days of his life because at the age of twelve, he amazed all the teachers with His understanding and answers to questions (Luke 2:46-47). We can see that Jesus learned to fear the Lord because:
   1. He obeyed what he had written and read.
   2. He didn't lord His kingship over anyone.
   3. He was humble and meek.
   4. He never diverted from God's law to the right or to the left.

It is most obvious from this list that Jesus was the first man to perfectly obey God's law for kings. Yet this is not the way the world or the church wants to view kings or rulers. However, we who are hometraining our children and also retraining ourselves in the ways of our God, need to take this list most seriously. Even though Jesus was the first man to obey the law for kings, God clearly set these laws down for human beings to obey and not just for the Son of God. God intended the kings of Israel to demonstrate to the world a nation whose rulers were so separate from the ways of the world that all ungodly nations would desire to run their kingdoms by the same principles. However, Israel failed to follow the will and purposes of God. Now the church is being asked by God to represent the same godly standard for the rulers of the world. However, the modern church, like Israel, has adapted the worldly view of kings and has patterned her rulership like the nations around her rather than the other way around. The church is the first place where righteous kings should be found. This is the pattern the world should see:

1. God's kings are chosen by Him from among all humanity.
2. God's kings don't look to the world for protection and defense.
3. God's kings understand the mystery of marriage and its stability to the church.
4. God's kings do not accumulate wealth for themselves. All wealth is for the KING OF KINGS and at His disposal.
5. God's kings have copied all the law at least from Genesis to Deuteronomy to learn to fear the Lord by:
   1. Obeying what they have copied and what they continually read.
   2. Forgoing pride and walking in humility.
   3. Submitting one to another.
   4. Refusing to lord their position over one another.
   5. Refusing to divert to the right or to the left of God's laws.

David had many wives, and also committed murder and adultery. Thus he diverted from God's laws. Solomon had many horses from Eygpt, had many wives, accumulated much wealth and committed idolatry. An examination of the kings shows that not one walked consistently as God had required. An examination of the problems of each king is merely a study into symptoms and does not deal with the root causes. The prophets whom God would send over and over again to His people beginning in Judges 6:8 always had the same message, "You have not obeyed Me." It is not adultery, idolatry, fear of man, love of money etc. that ensnared the kings of Israel and is today ensnaring the church. Man's root problem is not that complicated. From the garden of Eden to the present moment man refuses to obey explicitly what God has said. We have no record of any king of Israel writing out God's law in his own hand on the first day he sat on his throne. How many of God's people today have accepted their kingly roles in God's kingdom and also have neglected to obey the first command God set down for His kings. We have excuses, explanations, strategies, structures, Bible studies, seminars, seminaries, etc. that conveniently replace what the Lord has set down for His kings to obey. By doing so, we continually help one another disobey the written word of God. If we want to be part of God's restoration to the whole earth, if we wish to be kings who rule and reign with rightousness and justice in every situation and circumstance we face in life, we must take God's word to kings most seriously. We must be willing not only to take the time to read God's word, but we must also find the time to write down God's word with our own hand so that we can walk on this earth as Jesus walked. I John 2:3-6 says,

I John 2:3
3. And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5. but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6. the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

The inconsistency of Israel's kings and the inconsistency of the church's witness to the world must be dealt with at its roots and not at the symptom level.

Many Christians have tried to walk as Jesus walked. Thus we have had healing evangelists, teaching ministries and deliverance ministries. All these ministries are valid expressions of the deeds Jesus did while on the earth. However, we have seen many of these same ministries bring reproach to the name of Jesus by accepting the flattery of men, living extravagantly like the world, and often falling in adultery and the idolatry of self-worship. This is the result of pride. We have seen this compromised witness to the world but have not fully understood where the seeds of rebellion first occurred. The kings in the Body of Christ have fallen into the same pattern as the kings of Israel. We have not written and read the word of God. We have not obeyed the law of God as set down for kings, and thus we see all the same sins flagrantly evidenced in the life of Israel reoccurring in the life of the church. As we do take the time to write and read the law of God which he set down for kings, the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to teach us how to fulfill the whole law. Galatians 4:14 says, "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 makes the contrast between rebellious kings and that of Jesus so obvious. Because Jesus came as a true king and obeyed the law of God no one recognized him as a king. Because the Israeli nation had been so deceived by the lavish lifestyle of Solomon and the military might of David, they expected the Messiah to come with power and wealth to overthrow their captors.

The church today is in the same danger of missing its calling to be like its true king. Deuteronomy 17:20 clearly describes the life of Jesus when he came as King of the Jews. Jesus was humble not proud. He never turned aside from the Father's commandments. Even in Gethsemane, He willingly embraced the Father's perfect will for Him. Jesus obeyed the word of God that was first set down for human beings. We hometraining parents cannot excuse ourselves and say, "Jesus could do it, but we can't." In our concern to find Bible-based curriculum, it may be wise to pause in our search and carefully delve into the Father's curriculum and His methods of inculcating His truth which He knows are perfect. These requirements for kings were set down by God for kings, and God never asks a human being to do something without enabling that person to obey that command. What was that enabling power for human kings that God knew would help them be a consistent testimony for Him? What was it that Jesus did that enabled Him to walk humbly with His God? How can we obey the prophet Micah who says,

Micah 6:6
6. With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves?
7. Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my first-born {for} my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8. He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

The answer is quite simple - Jesus obeyed Deuteronomy 17:18 through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because we see verse 19-20 of this passage fulfilled in the life of Jesus, because we know He feared the Lord and not man, because we know Jesus was humble and not proud, because we know He obeyed His Father in deed and word, because we know He never deviated from the will of the Father, then he must have done what the word says in Deuteronomy 17:18. Jesus must have written out His own copy of the Law of Moses in the presence of God's priests. Perhaps it was done in the presence of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Jesus must have studied the first five books of the Bible diligently so as to understand not just the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law. His parents must have helped Him to do all that was necessary to have the true fear of the Lord operating in His life.

*For those who are using the Spalding method of phonics, spelling, writing and reading, God's pattern of writing the law fits in very nicely. How grateful we are to know that God is truly teaching us to understand how "learned" men and women can be trained effectively in the home for the glory of God.

In the life of Paul we have an example of a man who understood that God's kings did not look at all like the kings of the world. In I Corinthians 4:8-16 he says,

I Corinthians 4:8
8. You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and {I} would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
9. For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
11. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;
12. and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
13. when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, {even} until now.
14. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet {you would} not {have} many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16. I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.

This passage could also describe the earthly life of Jesus. Thus we can see that God's pattern of lifestyle for His kings is totally opposite of what we see in the world and in much of the church today. If we hometraining parents wish to be God's true kings and to train our children to be true kings of God, we all must follow wholly in the footsteps of Jesus and Paul. It is correct for God's kings to be trained by His methods and not by the methods of man. God's true kings are those who know how to rule and reign over their own self-wills and obey the will of God totally.

In the life of Peter we get a glimpse of another man who knew how to rule as a true king. Acts 3:6 says,

Acts 3:6
6. But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!"

The Greek word translated "possess" comes from the root word archo (757) (1) which means "to rule" or "to begin". In this situation Peter begins his journey as a true king under the KING OF KINGS. It is obvious Peter had the power and the authority to see the name of Jesus Christ rule over the man's useless legs. One command from Peter and a man who had never walked in his life was leaping, walking and praising God.

Many in the Body of Christ would like to possess the same ability to demonstrate the love and power of our God to our fellow human beings. However, are we willing to obey the words of our Lord as Peter did so that we may be entrusted with similar demonstrations of God's glory? Peter's words about himself indicate He must have been set free from the love of money and possessions. They no longer ruled him. He ruled them. He understood and obeyed the Lord's words given to the rich young ruler. Jesus says,

Matthew 19:21
21. Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go {and} sell your possessions and give to {the} poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

In the life of the early church we also see rulership over possessions, over daily activity and over fear which clearly demonstrates obedience to God's commands concerning His kings as set down by Moses in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Acts 2:42-45 says,

Acts 2:42
42. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common;
45. and they {began} selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

This ability to devote themselves to the word of God and to forsake ownership of property and possessions clearly shows that those early converts to Christianity represented God's true kingdom to their generation. They were true kings functioning correctly under the KING OF KINGS.

The early church understood that to be true kings they had to forsake their selfish ownership of time and possessions which caused them to be ruled by the spirit of the world rather than by the spirit of Christ. By devoting time and energy to the word of God and obedience to that word, their lifestyle demonstrated to those around them that they were God's kings clearly representing His kingdom under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS.

In Acts 4:29-31 we read,

Acts 4:29
29. "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence,
30. while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus."
31. And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and {began} to speak the word of God with boldness.

In this situation we see the early church reigning as true kings. The visible demonstration of their lifestyle had challenged those within their own religious system. Their obedience to the risen Lord had exposed the inconsistent lifestyle of those who hadn't heard and obeyed. They are not intimidated by the threats of persecution and harassment; nor are they tempted to defend themselves with the weapons of Egypt - swords, horses, chariots, etc. The early church understood that God's kings wage war in a totally different manner than that which the world employs. Desperate prayer and belief in the name of Jesus were their only defense against the temptation to obey the threats of men and disobey the words of their KING. Their fear of man and their fear of ridicule or bodily harm was countered only by their trust in God to help them remain obedient to His commands.

Jesus and his early followers have clearly set the example for all to follow. Will hometraining parents be willing to do all that the word of God commands to help our families faithfully reign as God's true kings in our generation? Will our lifestyles bring conviction upon those who watch us? Will we respond to temptations to disobey the word of God with desperate prayer and trust in our God to keep us obedient and faithful to our calling as true kings?

Joshua is the only Old Testament example who obeyed what God set down through Moses concerning kings. Joshua 8:30-35 says,

Joshua 8:30
30. Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal,
31. just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no man had wielded an iron {tool;} and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32. And he wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel.
33. And all Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them {stood} in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had given command at first to bless the people of Israel.
34. Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.

In this passage we see the exact fulfillment of God's requirements for kings being obeyed. Joshua actually wrote all the Law of Moses onto stones. How can we today balk at writing out the first five books of the Bible on paper with pen in hand? Our obedience is much easier today than that of Joshua. He then took the time that was necessary to read the whole Law of Moses to all the sons of Israel. Notice the women and the little children were present for this meeting! How can we balk at the idea of reading it to ourselves and to our children in the comfort and warmth of our own home? It takes about eleven hours to read through the first five books of the Bible. We don't know of anyone today who has written the first five books, so an estimated guess of the number of days this occasion would have taken is not appropriate. However, the value of such an obedient step is set forth in Joshua 24:31 which says,

Joshua 24:31
31. And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel.

God knows the capacity for waywardness that lies within the human heart. Thus He set down strict requirements for His kings to observe when the events of Egypt and the conquest of Canaan were no longer able to be shared by eyewitnesses to those events. He knew He could entrust the Holy Spirit to breathe life into those accounts, if He could find someone who was willing to sit down and do what He commanded. Jesus, whose Hebrew name is Joshua, was that person, and once the way had been clearly established by Jesus' obedience on the cross and in the power of the resurrection, others were able to follow. Will we be willing to repent and change our ways and methods of learning to follow in the footsteps of Joshua, Jesus, Peter, Paul and the early church? Are we willing to take the time, the effort, and the diligence to obey what the scriptures have revealed? Will we be able to persevere and endure the pressure, the ridicule or censure that others may inflict because we have chosen such an ancient curriculum for our families to copy, read and obey? Will we give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to fulfill His role in our lives as Teacher? (I John 2:27). Will our own lifestyle demonstrate to the world that we obey the rules of the KINGDOM of heaven?

Listen to the warning of Hosea which reveals God's view of our disobedience. Hosea 8:11-14 says,

Hosea 8:11
11. Since Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, They have become altars of sinning for him.
12. Though I wrote for him ten thousand {precepts} of My law, They are regarded as a strange thing.
13. As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice the flesh and eat {it,} {But} the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their iniquity, And punish {them} for their sins; They will return to Egypt.
14. For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; And Judah has multiplied fortified cities, But I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings.

This passage makes it so obvious that all of man's efforts that have been achieved in violation of God's commands concerning kings will be destroyed by His fire. May hometraining parents be willing to forsake the better to find the best. Will we seek God's wisdom and revelation concerning the methods and subject matter which has been reviewed in this booklet? Jesus is waiting for the restoration of all things. Acts 3:19-26 says,

Acts 3:19
19. "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20. and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
21. whom heaven must receive until {the} period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.
22. "Moses said, 'The Lord God shall raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed in everything He says to you.
23. 'And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'
24. "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and {his} successors onward, also announced these days.
25. "It is you who are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
26. "For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one {of you} from your wicked ways."

Paul wrote, "and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." (I Corinthians 10:6)

May we truly be part of this restoration process and heed the words and lifestyle of Jesus, our perfect example of priest, prophet and king and be families of blessing to others. The Lord spoke these words through Jeremiah,

Jeremiah 6:16
16. Thus says the Lord, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk {in it}.'
17. "And I set watchmen over you, {saying,} 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'
18. "Therefore hear, O nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19. "Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their plans, Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.
20. "For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba, And the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me."
21. Therefore, thus says the Lord, "Behold, I am laying stumbling blocks before this people. And they will stumble against them, Fathers and sons together; Neighbor and friend will perish."

This passage promises rest if we seek, ask and walk in the ancient paths that God has made for us, but it also shows that death will come to those who refuse to walk God's ways or refuse to listen to the watchmen who sound the trumpet. God's mercy is always extended when He raises up a prophet; rest always occurs when that prophet is obeyed.

May families who have made the ancient choice to train their children at home continue to walk on the ancient paths which are revealed in the written word of God.

May the following choice of Joshua also be said of us,

Joshua 24:14
14. "Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15. "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Copying God's Law may be used also to teach spelling, reading, penmanship, English grammar (sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization). Every verse can be used to teach these communication skills. History (man's time on earth), geography (physical study of nations, maps), social studies (relationships in family, church, nations), arithemtic (numbers, exactness, etc.) can also be taught. Parents decide how little or how much each day's copying lesson must cover and what subject emphasis those verses may have "hidden" within them. Please remember, that much learning will take place simply by "copying". This is a Biblical method that will produce much good fruit.

1. The number of the word is the numbering system used inthe New American Standard Concordance This is the same system used in the Strong's Concordance.