The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and someone that lives by the Word of God is a wise person. Psalm 128:1 - Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that worketh in his ways. The followings are discussed: Choose righteousness; Avoid Sinful Living, and Establish God Centered Home.
Choose Righteousness: The psalmist describes three levels of participation in sin which seems to be attractive and offer personal satisfaction; but they are set as a trap and lead to spiritual danger. Righteous living is all about keeping God's word in ones heart and meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-3). Christians can become righteous by prayerfully and faithfully studying God's word and obeying what it says. Psalmist describes those who are righteously following God as a tree planted by the river side and which bears fruits in season. This points to God's care and promise for those who make the word of God foundation of their lives and build upon it.
A different experience was described for those who are wicked and separated from God. It is stated that they are like chaff that would be blown away by wind. In order words they are not desirable in God's presence and all their accomplishments will be temporarily (Psalm 1:4-6). The wicked are preserved to the day of judgment when they shall be eternally separated from God and the righteous. God knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Avoid Sinful Living: Psalm 36 also makes it known that those serving God are fundamentally different from those who reject him. While the righteous seek God's truth and wisdom for living the ungodly dishonor God, make sin part of their lives and believe their own standard of moral living is sufficient for a perfect living (Psalm 36:1-4). Willpower and moral discernment are not adequate to defeat sin and make ungodly person live righteously. Likewise, willpower and moral discernment can not make believers overcome sin and grow in the relationship with God. We should depend on God to overcome sin and experience His faithfulness.
The Psalmist talks about God love for all people irrespective of their spiritual condition. He declares that those who reject God would eventually be treated differently (Psalm 36: 5-12). God's love and blessings are promised for those who have personal knowledge of God and follow His way, but those who reject God would face destruction.
Establish God-Centered Home: Homes are expected to be built on God and children trained the way of God because the first family was instituted by God Whatever comes from the family good or bad flows into the society and will have influence on the nation. Psalmist observes that happenings in the nation can be traced to family responsibilities and calls on the people to trust God and do good (Psalm 127:1-5).
Heads of families are encouraged to commit their works to God through prayer and depend on Him for success and peace in the homes. Children are the blessings to a family and must be taught that they belong to God, and must be useful for His cause. There must be unity in the family and members must fear God to experience the blessings of fruitfulness, multiplication and peaceful living (Psalm 128: 1-6). These psalms highlight the basic principles for living as wise people. Lesson texts: Psalm 1:1-6; 36:1-12; 128: 1-6.
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