The boys are learning the much more manly focused Psalm 144. I am spending time instructing the young gentlemen that men are to be protectors of the weak & innocent, defending truth & justice, and helping the helpless. They are learning how a man defends ladies, protects their purity, keeps their sisters safe, and treats women as sisters in Christ. It is not common in our culture to encourage boys to learn to fight, and be "trained for war," but it is biblical that men will not go picking fights, yet they will be prepared to stand up for the cause of justice when necessary. I fully expect that these young men will one day be husbands and fathers, and that they will be required to protect their wives, and children.
'But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.' 1 Tim 5:8
Of course, it is not hard to encourage boys to play guns, swords, wrestling, or any other physical activity...they were built for it!
The full text that the boys are learning
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.
O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.
Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
send out your arrows and rout them!
Stretch out your hand from on high;
rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
I will sing a new song to you, O God;
upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
who gives victory to kings,
who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
Rescue me and deliver me
from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
(Psalm 144 ESV)
Here is Pops, showing off his memory verse skills!
