Psalm 128: The blessings of a right heart and life

A song of ascents.

[Preliminary Comments: In this ninth short psalm of ascents, we are shown the links between a right heart [fear of the Lord], right behavior [obeying the Lord], and the blessing of fruitfulness that will be bestowed on your whole life as a result.]

v.1 A General Principle: Blessing comes to the obedient who fear the Lord

v.1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.

v.2 Fruitfulness and prosperity will be part of that blessing

v.2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.

v.3 Your family – wife & children – will flourish

v.3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    round your table.

v.4 Indeed all this will come to the one who fears the Lord

v.4 Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

v.5 So, may God’s blessing flow to you from Jerusalem throughout your life

v.5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life.

v.6 May your years see grandchildren and may His peace be on the land

v.6 May you live to see your children’s children –
    peace be on Israel.

[Additional Comments: The picture portrayed here of the one with a right attitude towards God that leads to right behavior in line with God’s design, is one of fruitfulness that is seen in work [v.2] and in family life [v.3]. Such an awareness should create a desire within us to see others blessed in the same way, bringing about a society that knows blessing and peace. Although there is a strong challenge to obedience, note the various expressions of God’s blessing: fruitfulness and prosperity [v.2], fruitfulness within the family [v.3], prosperity for the land [v.5] and peace on the nation [v.6]. God’s intent is blessing for the individual, the family and for the community of His people.

After perhaps going back and meditating on individual verses, now read it meaningfully out loud straight through

1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labour;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    round your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children –
    peace be on Israel.

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: