“What Have They Seen In Thine House?” – II Kings 20:15

by Micky Galloway

Isaiah addressed this question to Hezekiah, a truly great king (II Kings 18:5). In the context of II Kings 20:12-18 we learn that Hezekiah had been sick. Indeed, Hezekiah had been sick “even unto death” (cf. II Chronicles 32:24). Hezekiah’s sickness followed on the heels of the deliverance from the Assyrians when they came to invade Judah. God miraculously killed 185,000 of the Assyrian army and Sennacherib returned to Nineveh only to be killed by his sons as he worshiped in the house of Nisroch his god (cf. Isaiah 37:36-38). After Hezekiah’s recovery the Babylonian king “sent letters and a present” (II Kings 20:12) to Hezekiah. It appears that there was friendship between the king of Babylon and Hezekiah. The king of Babylon had not only heard of his sickness, but he had heard of the miraculous deliverance from the Assyrians (cf. II Chronicles 32:31). The Jewish king lent a favorable ear to the Babylonian ambassadors, and showed them all the resources which he possessed. He showed them all his house of precious things, his store-house containing the regalia and hereditary treasures belonging to the crown, his armory (cf. II Kings 22:8) and warlike stores. He did this in order to induce them to report well of him to the Babylonian king that he might be more inclined to treasure his friendship. This later proved to be a tragic mistake.

However, the question that Isaiah asked Hezekiah is a practical question for every family in every age. “What have they seen in thine house?” Perhaps no one exhibits to children any more than parents. Yes, this is an article for parents. What have your children seen in thine house? What they see in your house will greatly determine what they will become and what your grandchildren will see in the houses provided by your sons and daughters.

Have they seen a recognition of the scriptural status of each one in the family (Colossians 3:18-21)? God appointed man the head of the family (Ephesians 5:23; I Corinthians 11:3). As such, he is commanded to make a living (I Timothy 5:8), love the wife (Colossians 3:19; Ephesians 5:25), and teach the children (Ephesians 6:4). No doubt, the strain and stress of man’s responsibilities as the head of the family are tremendous. The wife, in recognition of God’s law, is to be submissive to her husband (Colossians 3:18). A refusal to do so is blasphemy (Titus 2:5). This does not argue that woman’s intellect is inferior to man’s. However, her role is different from the man’s role. Her characteristics equip her to be the keeper of the home (Titus 2:5), guide the house and be a mother (I Timothy 5:14), and be a companion and help to her husband (Genesis 2:18). Marriage is a partnership, and each must work and assume responsibilities.

Children should have respect for parental authority (Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1-3; Proverbs 1:8, 9). Parents have an obligation before God to train their children (Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Have they seen good influence in thine house? Timothy was a young man who was a second or third generation example of faith. He was one of “unfeigned faith…which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice…” (II Timothy 1:5). It was because of the faithfulness of his mother and grandmother, who taught him the scriptures from the time that he was a “babe,” that he became “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15). I am persuaded that one reason why we may lose our young people to the world is because parents are failing in their responsibility to train unto godliness “from a babe.”

Have they seen fervent, frequent prayer (cf. Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5 :17) ? One must pray to be Christ-like, because Christ prayed much (Luke 6:12; Matthew 14:23; 26:36-44). The very act of prayer is an expression of one’s dependence upon a power greater than his own. Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me ye can do nothing…” Man needs God and He has promised, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). Prayer is not a futile act. God would not draw nigh to men were He not able and willing to hear their prayers to Him. Peter said that we are to cast “all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7). It is reassuring to know that the affairs of the universe are not so absorbing of God’s attention that He cannot give heed to the affairs of the individual soul. Too many children have never heard their parents pray.

Have they seen Bible study? Or do they see us spending time reading unclean and vulgar magazines and use the Bible as only an ornament in our home? As a person thinks, so is he (Proverbs 23:7), and as he reads, he thinks; so one’s reading will help make him what he is. Since the great truths of this life and the next are in the Bible, man ought to want to study it. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15 KJV). Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45). Have we become too lazy or too busy to study this wonderful book?

When our children see these things in our house we have truly exhibited before them our treasures. These are the treasures that will prepare them for this life as well as eternal life. Indeed, it is a sobering question for parents to ask of their own children, “What have they seen in thine house?”