"Songs
of Ascent" = ("Degrees") steps, stages, gradations, or ascending
up a mountain, climbing"
The
spiritual life is one of progress.
The
ninth step in the progress of the spiritual life is to have a God-fearing
home: “Blessed are all who fear the
LORD, who walk in his ways.”
Psalm
128 is tied in with Psalm 127. They are
joined by the word “blessed.”
“Psalm 128 follows Psalm 127 for the same reason as Psalm 2
follows Psalm 1. In both instances they are Psalms placed together, of which
one begins with ashre (happy, very happy), and the other ends with ashre.
In other respects Psalm 128 and 127 supplement one another. They are related to
one another much as the New Testament parables of the treasure in the field and
the one pearl are related. That which makes man happy is represented in Psalm
127 as a gift coming as a blessing, and in Psalm 128 as a reward coming as a
blessing, that which is briefly indicated in the word rks, saka, reward,
in Ps 127:3 being here expanded and unfolded. There it appears as a gift of
grace in contrast to the God estranged self activity of man; here as a fruit of
the ora et labora.—Franz Delitzsch.
Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 128
1
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
5
May the LORD bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children’s children.
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children’s children.
Peace
be upon Israel.
Theme: Blessings on the Home of the
God-Fearing
Key thought: All (male and female, every age,
status, situation in life) who fear the Lord are blessed.
Key verse: (:1) “Blessed are all who fear
the LORD, who walk in his ways.”
How is God revealed? He blesses those who fear
Him by enabling them to eat the fruit of their work; spouse will be prosperous,
as will the children; he will be blessed all his days and will see his
grandchildren.
Fear-of-God
Expands Your Life: “God's blessing makes
life rich;
nothing we do can improve on God.” (Proverbs 10:22 The Message)
“It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22 NASB)
And He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22 NASB)
I am reminded of Joseph working for Potiphar. The Scriptures say in Genesis 39:5 “
“From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.”
Barnes gives the following summary of Psalm 128:
(:1) “The blessedness of those who fear
the Lord.
This blessedness is seen in:
(a) their
success in life;
(b) a numerous,
happy family (:3)
(c) being
permitted to see children's children (:6)
(d) being
permitted to see the prosperity of holy religion (:5)
(e) seeing the prosperity
of Jerusalem; and (f) peace upon Israel” (:5-6)
Barnes' Notes on the
Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, a 1987 reprint of the 1878
edition), Vol. III, p. 252.
Verse 2 says: “You will eat the
fruit of your labor.” Labor is not a bad
word! As James Montgomery (1771-1854) said:
Labour, the symbol of
man's punishment;
Labour, the secret of man's happiness.
Labour, the secret of man's happiness.
Verse 3:
“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons
will be like olive shoots around your table.”
Here is a complete family picture: husband, wife, children in the house and
around the table.
Pastor Steven J. Cole shared a wonderful
outline:
Psalms 127
& 128 show us
God’s
blueprint for building a satisfying home.
Taken
together, the two psalms may be seen as
Four stages
in the development of a family:
127:1-2,
Inception of home—“Foundation.”
127:3-5,
Expansion of home—“Building on foundation.”
128:1-4,
Child-rearing years—“Building material.”
128:5-6,
Empty nest years—“Finished product.”
Psalm 127
says: A satisfying home is based on God’s blessing.
Psalm 128
goes a step further:
God’s blessing in the family is based on the fear of the Lord.
Thus, a satisfying home is based upon the fear of the Lord.
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