Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Those planted and rooted in the house of the Lord are the righteous, and their place there is to flourish in His presence and in His courts. To be planted in that house is to be established in living connection with God, where growth and beauty belong to the Christian life. Their flourishing is pictured as a palm tree and as a cedar of Lebanon, vigorous and covered with foliage. It is upright and fragrant, the outward sign of an inward purity and holiness gained through connection with God.
Those who flourish in this way remain spiritually fresh, vigorous, and full of living foliage rather than withering with time. They continue to bear fruit, and that fruitfulness extends even into old age. Their enduring life is seen in a Christlike character of purity, beauty, and strength. That character is formed by feeding on Christ and on the Word of God, and it is revealed in following Christ and in living in harmony with God's law.
This growth comes as the Holy Spirit displaces the natural, fleshly traits that conflict with Christ's character. As those traits are removed, room is made in the heart for His grace. By that work of the Spirit, through connection with God, men and women are made pure and holy. Flourishing is therefore flourishing in service to God, proved by continuing to do good work in the present. It reaches to fruitfulness in old age, showing that the Lord is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in Him, and a life mercifully spared is to be used to love and serve God.
Children entrusted to parents, especially to mothers, are members and younger members of the Lord's family. They are given to be nurtured, trained, and cared for, and faithful early training and care help shape their character for this growth. Such training to godly character polishes them into a lovely likeness fit for a palace. So polished and prepared, they may flourish in the Lord's presence and shine in His courts, now and forever.
Those planted and rooted in the house of the Lord are the righteous, and their place there is to flourish in His presence and in His courts. To be planted in that house is to be established in living connection with God, where growth and beauty belong to the Christian life. Their flourishing is pictured as a palm tree and as a cedar of Lebanon, vigorous and covered with foliage. It is upright and fragrant, the outward sign of an inward purity and holiness gained through connection with God.
Those who flourish in this way remain spiritually fresh, vigorous, and full of living foliage rather than withering with time. They continue to bear fruit, and that fruitfulness extends even into old age. Their enduring life is seen in a Christlike character of purity, beauty, and strength. That character is formed by feeding on Christ and on the Word of God, and it is revealed in following Christ and in living in harmony with God's law.
This growth comes as the Holy Spirit displaces the natural, fleshly traits that conflict with Christ's character. As those traits are removed, room is made in the heart for His grace. By that work of the Spirit, through connection with God, men and women are made pure and holy. Flourishing is therefore flourishing in service to God, proved by continuing to do good work in the present. It reaches to fruitfulness in old age, showing that the Lord is upright and that there is no unrighteousness in Him, and a life mercifully spared is to be used to love and serve God.
Children entrusted to parents, especially to mothers, are members and younger members of the Lord's family. They are given to be nurtured, trained, and cared for, and faithful early training and care help shape their character for this growth. Such training to godly character polishes them into a lovely likeness fit for a palace. So polished and prepared, they may flourish in the Lord's presence and shine in His courts, now and forever.