Then our sons will be like plants nurtured in their youth, our daughters like corner pillars carved to adorn a palace. Then our sonsThe phrase "Then our sons" begins with a focus on the next generation, emphasizing the importance of legacy and continuity in the faith. In the Hebrew context, "sons" (בָּנִים, banim) often represents not just male offspring but the continuation of a family line and the preservation of cultural and spiritual values. Sons were seen as a blessing from God, a theme consistent throughout the Old Testament. This phrase sets the stage for a vision of hope and prosperity, reflecting a desire for the future generations to thrive under God's guidance. will be like plants
The imagery of "plants" (כִּנְטִעִים, kintaim) suggests growth, vitality, and potential. In ancient Israel, agriculture was a central part of life, and plants were a symbol of life and sustenance. This metaphor implies that the sons will be nurtured and will flourish, deeply rooted in the teachings and traditions of their faith. The comparison to plants also suggests resilience and the ability to withstand challenges, drawing on the natural world's cycle of growth and renewal. nurtured in their youth
The phrase "nurtured in their youth" highlights the importance of early development and care. The Hebrew word for "nurtured" (מְגֻדָּלִים, megudalim) conveys the idea of being raised or brought up with attention and love. This nurturing is not just physical but also spiritual and moral, ensuring that the young are equipped with the wisdom and values necessary to lead righteous lives. It underscores the role of parents and the community in shaping the character and faith of the young. our daughters
The mention of "our daughters" (בְּנוֹתֵינוּ, benotenu) alongside sons indicates the inclusive vision of prosperity and blessing. In a patriarchal society, the inclusion of daughters in this vision is significant, suggesting their equal importance in the family and community. Daughters, like sons, are seen as integral to the continuation of faith and tradition, and their roles, though different, are equally valued in the eyes of God. like corner pillars
The metaphor "like corner pillars" (כְּזָוִיֹּת, kezaviot) evokes strength, beauty, and stability. In ancient architecture, corner pillars were essential for the structural integrity of a building, often ornately designed and highly valued. This imagery suggests that daughters are foundational to the family's spiritual and social structure, providing support and grace. It highlights their role in upholding the family's honor and faith, contributing to the community's overall strength and beauty. carved to adorn a palace
The phrase "carved to adorn a palace" (מְחֻטָּבוֹת תַּבְנִית הֵיכָל, mechutavot tavnit heikal) suggests artistry, elegance, and purpose. The act of carving implies intentionality and skill, indicating that daughters are crafted by God with care and for a specific purpose. The reference to a palace, a place of royalty and splendor, elevates the status of daughters, portraying them as precious and esteemed. This imagery reflects the belief that every individual, regardless of gender, is created in the image of God and has a unique role in His divine plan. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of Psalm 144, David is a central figure in the Bible, known for his deep relationship with God, his role as the second king of Israel, and his authorship of many Psalms. 2. IsraelThe nation to whom David belonged and often addressed in his writings. This Psalm reflects a prayer for the prosperity and blessing of the nation. 3. YouthThe period of life referenced in the verse, symbolizing potential, growth, and the future of the community. 4. PalaceA symbol of strength, beauty, and stability, representing the desired outcome for the daughters mentioned in the verse. 5. Plants and PillarsMetaphors used to describe the ideal growth and development of sons and daughters, respectively. Teaching Points The Importance of Nurturing YouthJust as plants need care to grow strong, our sons require guidance and nurturing to develop into godly men. This involves teaching them the Word of God and modeling a life of faith. The Role of Daughters in the CommunityDaughters are likened to corner pillars, essential for the beauty and stability of a palace. This highlights the value and strength women bring to the family and community when they are grounded in faith. The Vision for a Godly FamilyDavid's vision for his family and nation is one of growth, strength, and beauty. This should inspire us to pray for and work towards a family that reflects God's glory. The Impact of a Godly LegacyThe imagery in this verse encourages us to consider the legacy we are leaving for future generations. Are we investing in our children in a way that will lead to a strong and faithful lineage? Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of plants and pillars in Psalm 144:12 inspire you to think about the roles of sons and daughters in a family? 2. In what ways can we nurture our children to grow in their faith and character, as suggested by the metaphor of plants nurtured in their youth? 3. How can the description of daughters as corner pillars inform our understanding of the value and role of women in the church and society? 4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our family reflects the vision of growth and stability described in this Psalm? 5. How do other scriptures, such as Ephesians 6:4 and Proverbs 31, complement the teachings of Psalm 144:12 regarding family and community life? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 128This Psalm also speaks of the blessings of family and prosperity, emphasizing the importance of fearing the Lord and walking in His ways. Proverbs 31The description of a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 can be connected to the imagery of daughters as corner pillars, highlighting strength and dignity. Ephesians 6:4This New Testament verse instructs fathers to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord, aligning with the nurturing imagery in Psalm 144:12. People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Adorn, Becoming, Carved, Corner, Corner-columns, Corner-pillars, Corner-stones, Cut, Daughters, Fashion, Fashioned, Full, Grown, Grown-up, Hewn, King's, Likeness, Palace, Pillars, Plants, Polished, Sculptured, Shining, Similitude, Sons, Stones, Structure, Tall, Well-nurtured, YouthDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 144:12 5211 art
5443 pillars
5746 youth
5778 adorning Psalm 144:12-15 5224 barn Library Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels.
Adoption, a sonship higher than that of nature, [482]255; frequently mentioned in Holy Scripture, [483]255, [484]256; the term of ancient use among the Jews, [485]256; "raising up seed to brother," [486]256; used by St. Paul to express the mystery of our adoption in Christ, [487]256. Adversary, to be agreed with and delivered from, [488]442; not so Satan, [489]442; the Law our, so long as we our own, [490]443; must agree with, by obedience, and so made no longer adversary, [491]443. Affliction, blessing …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testamentPeriod ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500
In the second period of the history of the Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still be regarded as forming a whole. The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both divisions of the Empire and not merely in the one in which they were principally fought out; and in the condemnation …
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History Thankfulness for Mercies Received, a Necessary Duty
Numberless marks does man bear in his soul, that he is fallen and estranged from God; but nothing gives a greater proof thereof, than that backwardness, which every one finds within himself, to the duty of praise and thanksgiving. When God placed the first man in paradise, his soul no doubt was so filled with a sense of the riches of the divine love, that he was continually employing that breath of life, which the Almighty had not long before breathed into him, in blessing and magnifying that all-bountiful, …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
1. Introduction, showing the necessity of proving the similarity of both dispensations in opposition to Servetus and the Anabaptists. 2. This similarity in general. Both covenants truly one, though differently administered. Three things in which they entirely agree. 3. First general similarity, or agreement--viz. that the Old Testament, equally with the New, extended its promises beyond the present life, and held out a sure hope of immortality. Reason for this resemblance. Objection answered. 4. …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation, and Continual Government of the World.
1. The invisible and incomprehensible essence of God, to a certain extent, made visible in his works. 2. This declared by the first class of works--viz. the admirable motions of the heavens and the earth, the symmetry of the human body, and the connection of its parts; in short, the various objects which are presented to every eye. 3. This more especially manifested in the structure of the human body. 4. The shameful ingratitude of disregarding God, who, in such a variety of ways, is manifested within …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion The Godly are in Some Sense Already Blessed
I proceed now to the second aphorism or conclusion, that the godly are in some sense already blessed. The saints are blessed not only when they are apprehended by God, but while they are travellers to glory. They are blessed before they are crowned. This seems a paradox to flesh and blood. What, reproached and maligned, yet blessed! A man that looks upon the children of God with a carnal eye and sees how they are afflicted, and like the ship in the gospel which was covered with waves' (Matthew 8:24), …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Scriptural Christianity
"Whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head." Ezek. 33:4. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 4:31. 1. The same expression occurs in the second chapter, where we read, "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all" (the Apostles, with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren) "with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions Letter Xl to Thomas, Prior of Beverley
To Thomas, Prior of Beverley This Thomas had taken the vows of the Cistercian Order at Clairvaux. As he showed hesitation, Bernard urges his tardy spirit to fulfil them. But the following letter will prove that it was a warning to deaf ears, where it relates the unhappy end of Thomas. In this letter Bernard sketches with a master's hand the whole scheme of salvation. Bernard to his beloved son Thomas, as being his son. 1. What is the good of words? An ardent spirit and a strong desire cannot express …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 144:12 NIVPsalm 144:12 NLTPsalm 144:12 ESVPsalm 144:12 NASBPsalm 144:12 KJV
Psalm 144:12 Commentaries
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