“The Psalms are built on one great foundational truth: God rules over the earth.”

~ Jay Younts

Notes by Ken Pullen —

(Mr. Younts column follows these brief comments and portions of Scripture)

All Scripture from the King James Version unless otherwise noted:

Not for children only. The fear of the Lord learned in ones youth blesses a man, a woman from the time of their learning to carrying the foundations of God’s Word in their hearts through life. Do not be ashamed to teach children the ways of the Lord directly from the Bible:

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 13:24

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Proverbs 13:24 — New International Version

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Proverbs 20:11

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Proverbs 29:15

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Psalm 111

Glorious and Majestic Are His Works

1Praise ye the LORD.

א

I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,

ב

in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

ג

2The works of the LORD are great,

ד

sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

ה

3His work is honourable and glorious:

ו

and his righteousness endureth for ever.

ז

4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered:

ח

the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

ט

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him:

י

he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

כ

6He hath shewed his people the power of his works,

ל

that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

מ

7The works of his hands are verity and judgment;

נ

all his commandments are sure.

ס

8They stand fast for ever and ever,

ע

and are done in truth and uprightness.

פ

9He sent redemption unto his people:

צ

he hath commanded his covenant for ever:

ק

holy and reverend is his name.

ר

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:

ש

a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

ת

his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 112

Blessed is He who Fears the Lord

1Praise ye the LORD.

א

Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD,

ב

that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

ג

2His seed shall be mighty upon earth:

ד

the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

ה

3Wealth and riches shall be in his house:

ו

and his righteousness endureth for ever.

ז

4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:

ח

he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

ט

5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:

י

he will guide his affairs with discretion.

כ

6Surely he shall not be moved for ever:

ל

the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

מ

7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:

נ

his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

ס

8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,

ע

until he see his desire upon his enemies.

פ

9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor;

צ

his righteousness endureth for ever;

ק

his horn shall be exalted with honour.

ר

10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;

ש

he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:

ת

the desire of the wicked shall perish.

It is never too late to learn the fear of the Lord and to begin walking on His righteous pathway. It is the only path to life and REAL joy, REAL happiness, REAL comfort, REAL peace, REAL treasure, REAL LASTING wealth — of spirit, of soul, of wisdom, of salvation. God’s ways, the spiritual realm, heaven, the fear of the Lord, being a disciple of Jesus Christ the Lord is REALITY. Everything — EVERY THING of earth, every known thing in this temporal, finite life will pass away and turn to dust. All that is real is God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the prophet, the elder, the angels, and the heavenly hosts, the eternal spiritual realm of either God, Jesus and heaven — or of Satan and his minions, rebellious angels, demons, and the eternal spiritual realm of the lake of fire; hell. Those are the only two truly real REALITIES. Everything known here will pass away. Begin to find wisdom, true joy, peace, and happiness — in the fear of the Lord!

Ken Pullen

ACP

Thursday, July 28th, 2016

Wisdom and joy for your children.

By Jay Younts

Reprinted from: Shepherd Press

Psalms 111 and 112 both focus on the fear of the Lord. Both psalms have the same acrostic poetic structure. Therefore, it is important to see the connection between the end of Psalm 111 and the beginning of Psalm 112. The end of 111 says that the fear for Lord brings wisdom and the beginning of 112 says the fear of the Lord brings joy or happiness. Wisdom and joy are two good things that you want for your children!

The Psalms are built on one great foundational truth: God rules over the earth. Blessed or joyful is the man turns away from the world and delights in the law of God. The appropriate fear of God must always come first. Paul quotes Psalm 36 in Romans 3 when he describes the wicked as having “no fear of God before their eyes.” Positively Psalms 111 & 112 state the blessings of the fear of the Lord as leading to wisdom, joy, and delight in obeying God.

When God is recognized for who he is then life is comprehensible. Here is how Psalm 111 ends and Psalm 112 begins:

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10

Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands. Psalm 112:1

This is a powerful, intentional literary connection! Security, trust, wisdom, joy all start with the fear of the Lord.

What does this look like in everyday life?

There is the explosion of thunder. Psalm 29 says this is the voice of God. Rain comes to end a drought or to bring a great flood. Job 37 and Jesus in the gospels teach this is the work of God. A rainbow graces the sky. This is the promise of God. When spreading the gospel in Acts 14 Paul says it is God who fills hearts with joy. And then in Acts 17 he says the places you live and even your next breath are determined by God.

All of these events and more offer opportunities to be in awe of God, both for you and for your children. But only if you take advantage of them! These things cry out for the awe and power of God to mark everyday life. Once God is seen as this powerful and this involved in life he can be feared and then followed with joy and delight, as the psalmist says. This is what drives us to embrace the gospel. It is our only hope as we stand before a holy God.

Wisdom, joy, and delight all flow from the fear of the Lord!