FRAMEWORKS:
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
behaviour [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 labour;
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 your 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 behaviour 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.]
Continue
to Psa 129