Emphasis Preaching Journal

David was trying to give his son Solomon a sense of direction, purpose. He wasn't leaving it to chance; he was being utterly deliberate about it. He wasn't just going on blandly about his affairs supposing that something of value would sort of rub off on his son somewhere along the way. He wished Solomon's enlightenment to be specific and purposeful, not merely incidental. He is a good example for all who would be good parents.

Benjamin Franklin wrote a wonderful thing concerning his father. He said that his father made it a point to invite to their home the eminent men of the day, and that he deliberately did this in the interest of his children. The great statesmen, ministers, educators, thus passed frequently in and out of Franklin's home. He wished his children to have the opportunity to meet and look upon the most important leaders of the time, the people who were forming and shaping America. He wanted his children to hear them talk, to have their young minds stretched by thinking their thoughts. Instead of permitting influences to come willy-nilly into his home, Franklin was seriously concerned to bring in the best, and he made a project of doing it year after year while his children were growing up.
- Mann