Day of the Boys

Over the last few years there has been such a significant focus social focus on children and on gender-related matters. This is quite noteworthy, because children are important, and how they are raised is often an indicator of how we perceive them and our expectations for them.

For this year’s International Boy-child day [which was yesterday], I thought to share from scriptures the peril that confronts us in raising our boys (and girls), and the reason we must trust God for victory.

[11] Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:

[12] That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

Psalm 144:11-12 (KJV)

In quite a number of versions, the train of thought between the above verse is separated. However, I believe that the translators of the King James are correct; the verses are very much related.

As I contemplated on verse 11, it seemed to me like the cry and prayer of a parent, and the concern was about Strange Children.

The Psalmist listed two particular characteristics of these strange children and to my mind there are very relevant to us today we raise boys. These highlighted characteristics are (1) mouths that speak vanity and (2) a right hand of falsehood.

1. Mouths that speak vanity

A random look at our social and societal landscape makes it clear that vanity is the order of the day. The examples we have raised and championed are ‘mouths that speak vanity’, deceit and deceitful lifestyles are celebrated as the new order of the day — and our boys are exposed to them everywhere they turn.

2. The right hand of falsehood

This is quite the jarring point because, in Scripture, right hand often mean action, position or authority. This suggests that these fellows deal falsely in all they do; their “honest’s  day labor” is actually very dishonest.

It suggests that, from the marketplace to the exalted places, falsehood runs free. We have cultivated a ‘fake it till you make it’ culture that exalts lies and dishonesty over truth and trust. And our boys are watching, learning and patterning themselves likewise.

Why do we have to pray desperately? Why do we have to cry out to God? It is because the future of our sons are at stake.

Note verse 12: ‘that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth…’.

It means that if we allow vanity and falsehood to take over the order of the day and become institutionalized, if they become the examples we exalt or the strongest shaping influences that we expose our children to, we render them unfit for the future. We make them weak and unstable.

Therefore, in the day that they should exert themselves, bear the pressure and emerge as bulwarks — in the day that they should be young men of strong character, strength, valor and honor — we will find that they are effeminate, unfaithful, scared and unable to bear the yoke.

They will be accidents waiting to happen.

So, for this year’s International Boy-child day, I join the Psalmist in his prayers:

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

Amen.