Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways. (Psalm 128:1)
Defining the ‘Fear of the Lord’
1. In Hebrew, the word is "YIR'AH" and is used in the Old Testament to describe:
a. fear, terror
b. awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)
c. fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety
2. The Greek word is "PHOBOS", and it is used to describe:
a. fear, dread, terror
b. that which strikes terror
In many places, the creature's due honour and respect for the Creator are described as the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, and Ecclesiastes 12:13). So it's only natural that such sensible living results in a blessing.
The man Christ Jesus was blessed beyond all the sons of men, and the author of all blessings, since He reckoned, adored, and submitted over all else, and for all.
This blessing is offered to everyone who honours and respects God. It has nothing to do with race, social class, education, or even IQ.
Happiness does not belong just to the wealthy, powerful, and fortunate; rather, the man who 'fears the Lord’ is blessed in every situation and circumstance.
Who follows in His footsteps: This clarifies the meaning of the psalmist's phrase "fear of the LORD." It wasn't so much about having certain attitudes towards God but rather about leading a lifestyle of obedience.
The basic and most fundamental truth about him is that he is fearful of the Lord. The fact that he walks in the Lord's ways demonstrates the seriousness of his fear. Such a person is truly blessed or fortunate in the truest meaning of the term.)
It's pointless to talk about honouring the Lord while we act as if we don't mind whether or not there is a God. When we have a genuine reverence for God, His ways will become our ways: if indeed the heart is united to God, indeed the steps will pursue fiercely after him.
God Will Bless the Work of Your Hands
When you eat the labour of your hands,
You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:2)
This does not imply that you will become affluent or prosperous, but rather that you will be satisfied with your work and that it will meet your needs. Apostle Paul says the same thing in Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
When you consider that God cursed the ground after Adam and Eve sinned back in Genesis 3:17-17, God's promise to bless your work is indeed amazing.
Too often in life, we work hard, but we still don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Is it because we are not fearing God and walking in his ways? It is certainly something to consider. The prophet Haggai in the Old Testament warned the Jews who returned to Jerusalem: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much but have harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:5-6) The Jews were working hard but not getting anywhere. That is the opposite of the blessing God offers to those who fear him and walk in his ways.
In life, we put in a lot of effort, and yet many times we always seem to go around in circles. Could it be because we don't fear God and obey His Word? It's definitely something to think about. Prophet Haggai urged the Jews returning to Jerusalem in the Old Testament:
5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
6 “You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:5-6)
The Jews worked hard but were unable to achieve anything significant. That is the polar opposite of the blessing that God bestows on people who fear him and follow his instructions.
God wants you to enjoy the fruit of your labour. That was His original plan right from the start. We read in Genesis 2:15: “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” Before Adam and Eve sinned, they worked in the garden and knew that God’s blessing was on their work. It was productive and fruitful work with a good reward.
But as it is written in Psalm 127, without God, work just becomes fruitless toil. Apart from God, you will not find genuine blessing or satisfaction in your labour. As Ecclesiastes 2: 24-25 (AMPC) says:
24 There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink and make himself enjoy good in his labour. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God.
25 who can eat or experience satisfaction apart from him?
God Will Bless Your Marriage
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house, (Psalm 128:3a)
This speaks of both fruitfulness and faithfulness.
The vine is a picture of fruitfulness. Remember God’s initial blessing on Adam and Eve when he first created them? Genesis 1:28 (AMPC) says: “And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.”
God’s blessing is linked to productivity and fruitfulness. This includes not only having children but also living a full and useful life - an abundant life. The image shown depicts a lovely vine that is growing, flourishing, fertile, and producing.
And then there is faithfulness or loyalty. Loyalty in relationships is so rare these days. The fact that the vine is “in the very heart of the house” speaks of faithfulness and loyalty in marriage. This is in stark contrast to the adulterous wife described in Proverbs 7 who is never at home: “She is loud and rebellious, Her feet never remain at home. She is outside most of the time, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.” (Proverbs 7:11-12)
What’s the sign of a happy marriage?
Fruitfulness and faithfulness. Who could ask for anything more?
Marriage is one of God’s great blessings in life. Proverbs 18:22 says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” We may also add, "She who finds a spouse also finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord."
God will Bless Your Children
Your children like olive plants
All around your table. (Psalm 128:3b)
The olive tree is an important aspect of Israeli agriculture. It is also a picture of productivity and blessing in the Bible. In Pslam 52:8, for example, we read: “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)
The image of olive shoots on the table depicts a mature, established olive tree with new branches sprouting out from the earth all around it. This was a common occurrence in Israel. The olive shoots represent youth and vitality, and most importantly, potential. When you sit down to dine with your family, your children, they represent the hope and promise of the future. Psalm 144:12 offers a similar image when it says: “That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style;” (Psalm 144:12)
The olive tree grows slowly. It can take ten to fifteen years for the olive tree to bear fruit, but once established, it requires little maintenance or monitoring and will produce fruit for years to come. The same is true concerning your children. It will take some time for them to achieve independence and maturity. As parents, we must be patient with our children as we raise them in the Lord's training and guidance. But all of your hard work and training will pay off; it will not be in vain. Proverbs 22:6 tells us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
The Lord bless you out of Zion….All the days of your life. (Psalm 128:5)
This is a prayer of blessing not just for a time or a season but for the rest of your life. It borrows from Psalm 23, which says: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Psalm 23:6) God is the source of all blessings, and this prayer serves as a reminder that every blessing comes from God alone.
Once again, Zion is the dwelling place of God. It is the meeting place of God and His people. Blessings come into our life when we connect with the Lord in His presence on a regular basis.
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50
- Chapter 51
- Chapter 53
- Chapter 54
- Chapter 55
- Chapter 56
- Chapter 57
- Chapter 58
- Chapter 59
- Chapter 60
- Chapter 61
- Chapter 69
- Chapter 70
- Chapter 71
- Chapter 72
- Chapter 76
- Chapter 77
- Chapter 79
- Chapter 80
- Chapter 81
- Chapter 82
- Chapter 83
- Chapter 85
- Chapter 86
- Chapter 87
- Chapter 88
- Chapter 89
- Chapter 90
- Chapter 105
- Chapter 127
- Chapter 128
- Chapter 130
- Chapter 131
- Chapter 132
- Chapter 133
- Chapter 138
- Chapter 139
- Chapter 140
- Chapter 142
- Chapter 144
- Chapter 145
- Chapter 148
- Chapter 149
- Chapter 150