by Lisa Metzger

We are doing a study on olive plants as it relates to children as blessings upon a household. We plan on using some of the verses in our Christmas newsletter as our family's verses for the upcoming year. As most of you know, one of our family's passions is letting others know about our conviction to let GOD plan our family. Of course our beliefs must always be Scripturally aligned with our convictions, which is why we seek out GOD’s opinion on the issues first and foremost. Below are some interesting verses about olive plants.

“How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!” Psalm 128

NOTE FROM LISA: This is a complete family picture! A biblically-blessed family consists of a family who eats the fruits of the husband’s labor (no one is hungry), a wife who is fruitful and productive WITHIN the house and children who are like olive plants surrounding the table. The reward for obedience is seeing your children’s children! 

Notice, also, that these children around the table are olive PLANTS, not olive branches. They are individuals, capable of carrying on for generations to come. When the fruitfulness of fertility has ceased, you can look forward to a potential blessing of seeing your children’s children carrying on the faithful obedience to Scripture! This is not only a potential blessing for the immediate family, but a MULTI-GENERATIONAL blessing!!!

Geneva Study Bible Commentary - Because God's favor appears in no outward thing more than in the increase of children, he promises to enrich the faithful with this gift.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary  Psalm 128:1-6 The blessings of those who fear God. - Only those who are truly holy, are truly happy. In vain do we pretend to be of those that fear God, if we do not make conscience of keeping steadfastly to his ways. Blessed is every one that fears the Lord; whether he be high or low, rich or poor in the world. If thou fear him and walk in his ways, all shall be well with thee while thou livest, better when thou diest, best of all in eternity. Such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways, are the only happy persons, whatever their station in life may be. They shall have abundant comfort in their family relations. And they shall have all the good things God has promised, and which they pray for.

[Psalm 128] - A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Psalm 128:1). God's blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Psalm 128:2-4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Psalm 128:5-6).

NOTE FROM LISA: After reading the Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary commentary, I want to note that we do not believe that we are holy by letting God have complete control over our family size. However, we are STRIVING to follow God and live as holy a life as possible by following God’s commands and blueprints that He has laid out for us. By following these blueprints and seeking to follow God’s Word closely, we desire the promised generational blessings he has given within His Word!

With our family, being quiverfull is a “heart-issue” of wanting to follow God and His commandments – seeking those blessings (in this case, children) – not a “praise-issue” of wanting to be viewed as being holy. We do not strive for man’s praise in following God by letting God have control over our family size. Instead, we seek GOD’s praise!

"The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, 'Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.'  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever." Psalm 52:6-8

NOTE FROM LISA: Proverbs 3:5, 6 comes to mind…”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Those who trust in their own ways (including those who believe they have been given knowledge when “planning” blessings) will ultimately fail. Their paths will not be straight. They will be crooked and difficult to follow. Those who are like “olive trees in the house of God,” cling to the walls of God’s house and trust solely in Him. Their paths will be straight when they rely on God’s Wisdom, rather than their own understanding.   

“Rescue me and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, whose mouth speaks deceit and whose right hand is a right and of falsehood. Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up olive plants, and our daughters as polished cornerstones fashioned as for a palace.” Psalm 144:11, 12

NOTE FROM LISA: I think this also applies to those who try to justify their belief in attempting to “control” their family size; the number of blessings they “plan” to receive; the number of children they will welcome in the name of Jesus. Words, spoken out of the wisdom of mere men, are falsehoods. Following the cry for help is a cry for blessing – He desires that his YOUNG sons will be as MATURE olive plants and his daughters as polished cornerstones, fit for a palace. He seeks protection from lies and blessings upon his children; his olive plants and polished cornerstones!

Through this study of olive plants I have discovered the blessings when being faithful to Jesus! Our family has chosen to seek God’s ultimate blessing of children. If He views them as the ultimate blessing, then I want to view children as those kinds of blessings as well! I pray that you will discover and receive the same type of blessings as we have.