Tuesday, December 7, 2010

God's Thoughts About Having Children

Psalm 128:1-6 [1] A song of Ascents. Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. [2] When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. [3] Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. [4] Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord. [5] The Lord bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. [6] Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 127:3-5 [3] Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. [4] Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. [5] Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

1 Chronicles 25:4-5 [4] Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. [5] All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.

1 Chronicles 26:4-5 [4] Moreover the sons of Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, [5] Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.

Hosea 9:10-17 [10] "I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal Peor, And separated themselves to that shame; They became an abomination like the thing they loved. [11] As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird-- No birth, no pregnancy, and no conception! [12] Though they bring up their children, Yet I will bereave them to the last man. Yes, woe to them when I depart from them! [13] Just as I saw Ephraim like Tyre, planted in a pleasant place, So Ephraim will bring out his children to the murderer." [14] Give them, O Lord-- What will You give? Give them a miscarrying womb And dry breasts! [15] "All their wickedness is in Gilgal, For there I hated them. Because of the evil of their deeds I will drive them from My house; I will love them no more. All their princes are rebellious. [16] Ephraim is stricken, Their root is dried up; They shall bear no fruit. Yes, were they to bear children, I would kill the darlings of their womb." [17] My God will cast them away, Because they did not obey Him; And they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Exodus 23:25-26 [25] So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. [26] No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.

Deuteronomy 7:13-14 [13] And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. [14] You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.