Psalm 128 NLT
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!
Psalm 128:1 (NLT)
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
Deuteronomy was written 400-600 years prior. Jewish handbook.
Deuteronomy 5:29 (NLT)
29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.
Deuteronomy 8:6 (NLT)
6 “So obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NLT)
12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NLT)
15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
FEAR – FOLLOW – FRUIT
New Determination to FEAR
Psalm 128:1 (NLT)
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord…
Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)
10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
New Determination to FOLLOW
Psalm 128:1 (NLT)
1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
all who follow his ways!
FEAR is the mindset.
FOLLOW is the action.
Deuteronomy 5:33 (MSG)
32-33 So be very careful to act exactly as God commands you. Don’t veer off to the right or the left. Walk straight down the road God commands so that you’ll have a good life and live a long time in the land that you’re about to possess.
New Determination for FRUIT
FEAR – Mindset
FOLLOW – Action
FRUIT – Vision
Psalm 128:2-6 (NLT)
2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
How joyful and prosperous you will be!
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
as they sit around your table.
4 That is the Lord’s blessing
for those who fear him.
5 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
May you tsee Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
6 May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
May Israel have peace!