Focal Passage: Exodus 20:12; 2 Samuel 15:7-14
Funerals bring out the best and worst in families. One thing funerals often have in common is a time when a child speaks about their deceased parent. Normally they talk about his or her life, career and funny stories. The speaker does not usually share flippantly. They take time to prepare their words. Why do we put so much care into the eulogy? It’s a way of honoring our loved ones.
Many of us want to honor our parents when they pass away. I think that is why we need to understand the fifth commandment: “You shall honor your father and mother.”
There are many ways we are called to honor them. For starters we are to honor them even after we have grown up and left the house, before they pass away.
Honor for parents is demonstrated through words and actions. In this lesson we will see the complete opposite of what we are called to do. King David had a son named Absalom; his son did many things that did not honor his father. He lied to his father to be able to kill Amnon.
In 2 Samuel 15 we see some crazy things taking place in this relationship. Absalom comes to his father and lies to him saying he needed to go out of the city. His father allows it, but Absalom goes out and gathers a large sum of men to come back into the city and overthrow his father.
David had to flee.
Honor acts with truthfulness towards parents. We need to be honest with our parents.