–Elmer Kelton (Badger Boy)
“Then the Lord said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.'”
–Genesis 31:3 (NKJV)
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Psalm 128, the ninth psalm of ascent. This psalm addresses God’s blessings in the home and family; it shares principles for personal wellness.
1 — Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.
2 — When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 — Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table.
4 — Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 — The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 — Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! (NKJV)
Verse one is one of the keynotes in Scripture; one of the foundation blocks for life–fearing the Lord and obedience. “The fear of the Lord is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder.” (NKJV Study Bible) It galls me when I hear people scoff and mock God; when His name is taken in vain and that includes “OMG”. Believers say they love the Lord and want a relationship, yet they do not have an attitude of fearing the Lord. Not one who is running scared, but one who realizes that our very breath is in His hand. W. Graham Scroggie says, “The fear is an inward principle; the walk is an outward expression. No one really fears the Lord who does not walk in His ways. The Christian life is ethical as well as emotional.”
A happy life, most people want this. We have a little direction in verse 2, work and eat of the labor that you produce. The NLT translates it this way, “You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!” There is reward in work and satisfaction in labor. This is a blessing from God. Solomon wrote, “…every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13, NKJV) Even under stress, even in the midst of this sinful and evil world we can be happy and have joy but…we must keep our attitude right and priorities in order.
Since this psalm deals with the family and home, I want to point out a few things that William J. Petersen says.
This psalm is not saying:
–Every good Christian will enjoy marital bliss.
–The primary purpose of a woman is to bear lots of children.
–Every good Christian couple will have scores of children and grandchildren…
What this psalm does teach:
–Family blessings are from the Lord. If you have a wonderful family, praise God for them.
–Joy and peace should characterize the family.
–God cares about your home just as He cares about the church and nation.
Martin Luther declared, “Let the Lord build the home and keep it… The concern for these matters is His, not yours.” We should do our best in this life, raise our children in the admonition of the Lord, love each other dearly. “In other words, live verse 1 day by day, and let God concern himself with the rest.” (Petersen)
“O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
That theirs may be the love that has no ending,
Whom thou forevermore dost join in one.”
–Dorothy Gurney
Psalm 128, the ninth psalm of ascent. This psalm addresses God’s blessings in the home and family; it shares principles for personal wellness.
1 — Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.
2 — When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 — Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table.
4 — Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
5 — The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 — Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! (NKJV)
Verse one is one of the keynotes in Scripture; one of the foundation blocks for life–fearing the Lord and obedience. “The fear of the Lord is an attitude of respect, a response of reverence and wonder.” (NKJV Study Bible) It galls me when I hear people scoff and mock God; when His name is taken in vain and that includes “OMG”. Believers say they love the Lord and want a relationship, yet they do not have an attitude of fearing the Lord. Not one who is running scared, but one who realizes that our very breath is in His hand. W. Graham Scroggie says, “The fear is an inward principle; the walk is an outward expression. No one really fears the Lord who does not walk in His ways. The Christian life is ethical as well as emotional.”
A happy life, most people want this. We have a little direction in verse 2, work and eat of the labor that you produce. The NLT translates it this way, “You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!” There is reward in work and satisfaction in labor. This is a blessing from God. Solomon wrote, “…every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13, NKJV) Even under stress, even in the midst of this sinful and evil world we can be happy and have joy but…we must keep our attitude right and priorities in order.
Since this psalm deals with the family and home, I want to point out a few things that William J. Petersen says.
This psalm is not saying:
–Every good Christian will enjoy marital bliss.
–The primary purpose of a woman is to bear lots of children.
–Every good Christian couple will have scores of children and grandchildren…
What this psalm does teach:
–Family blessings are from the Lord. If you have a wonderful family, praise God for them.
–Joy and peace should characterize the family.
–God cares about your home just as He cares about the church and nation.
Martin Luther declared, “Let the Lord build the home and keep it… The concern for these matters is His, not yours.” We should do our best in this life, raise our children in the admonition of the Lord, love each other dearly. “In other words, live verse 1 day by day, and let God concern himself with the rest.” (Petersen)
“O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
That theirs may be the love that has no ending,
Whom thou forevermore dost join in one.”
–Dorothy Gurney