Declaring or Declining

“There arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel… And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers” (Judges 2:10-12).  “Sing unto the LORD, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people” (Psalm 96:2,3).  “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6).  “The churches… were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied” (Acts 9:31). 

There is another generation

Which now we ought to be preparing

To boldly preach the Lord’s salvation

Which daily we should be declaring. 

The generation we are raising

Shall very soon be on their own. 

If they don’t know the Lord we’re praising,

The seeds of their decline are sown. 

O may we train our children well

To sing the praises of our Savior

And pray that they will long to tell

The Gospel of His saving favor! 

Declare His glory in the earth: 

By grace and truth our sin is purged! 

Declare the need for second birth,

Which Jesus Christ Himself has urged! 

Now let our children learn His fear

That makes His will our great delight,

With confidence that He is near  

To guide and keep us in His sight. 

The Church is thereby edified

And thus we pass the torch of truth

As we declare why Christ has died

And teach this daily to our youth.

O Lord, we see Your love divine

Which, in the Gospel, we proclaim! 

We pray that we will not decline

But rather fan our children’s flame!