SPECIAL CHRISTIAN H OM E F E A T U R E
When thou Buildest a New House
By MARTHA S. HOOKER
mother we read, “ and that from a child thou hast known the holy, scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 3:15). Both of these battlements are elements of the family altar, which alas has been broken down in so many homes. This has been a strong contributing factor to juvenile delinquency, and even the crime wave among children and teen agers which has devastated our land in the last few years. What a precious memory and heritage parents can leave to their children who have been faithful to the Lord in faithfully keeping the family altar as an integral part of the home. The pictures and mottoes on the wall in the new home, the books on the library shelves, the current magazines on the library table, the music on the piano are all parts of the battlement that should be erected in the home to keep someone visiting or living therein from falling into sin. Many whose lives have been ruined by the ravages of sin point back to the home as the place where the seeds of deception, worldliness, and a lack of Christian teach ings and practices, were sown. Isaiah’s question to Hezekiah, “What have they seen in thy house?” might well be the Lord’s heart searching question to those today who are stewards of the home. Are you building a new home? Are you furnishing it with the very best and newest in furniture and furnish ings? It will without doubt be a beautiful house, but will it be a home that will glorify the Lord? Let us erect the spiritual battlements; let us rebuild the altars of family worship and seek to build new houses that will really be homes that will exalt and glorify the Lord, for “ Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalms 127:3).
I n Deuteronomy 22:8, we read these words: “When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battle ment for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.” This verse refers to the type of architecture that was used not only in Old Testament times, but in the days of our Lord, and many homes of this kind can still be seen in various parts of the Eastern world. The flat roofs of the houses afforded a splendid place for families to gather. Here children were taught to weave, to memorize portions of the Old Testament, or to hear from their mothers’ lips stories of the Old Testament heroes. Lest anyone coming to the new house should go too near the edge of the roof and thus fall into the street or court below, God gave this law setting forth the necessity of building a balustrade or railing about the roof to prevent an accident which might result in death, and the blame fall upon the owner of the new house. So many are building new houses today and establish ing new homes, but what about the “ battlements” ? Not merely a railing or balustrade that would prevent a fall and physical injury, but the “ battlements” that prevent a fall into sin and thus cause spiritual injury. The battlement of prayer needs to be erected in every home. A family who prays together will be held together by unbreakable cords. The solution of all family problems can be found in the secret place of prayer. With the battlement of prayer, must also be erected the battlement of Scripture reading and faith in the holy Scriptures. The Word of God should have a promi nent place, not only on the living room table but in the hearts of each member of the family. “ Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Of Timothy who had both a godly mother and grand
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