I. Psalm 128.
A Song of Ascents.
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!
Introduction – This is the quintessential picture of what it means to be blessed by God. The blessed man will prosper from his own labor (Deut. 28:1-6). His wife will be a bringer of joy like wine to the home (Ps. 104:15), and the mother of his children. These children will be lively and full of promise and hope for the future, and like olive oil, they will be an anointing of blessing and glory to you. This is not to say such blessings come automatically, for this picture is itself the result of fearing God and walking in His ways. Hard work, loving your spouse, and faithfully training your children in the ways of God is what the family life of a blessed requires. These are the blessings from Zion/Heaven. May these blessings overflow from our own homes to the whole city of God – New Jerusalem, and may we see this prosperity all the days of our life. God’s covenant blessings extend to many generations, blessing us with the gift of grandchildren. A long life and a large family are great blessings from God. With such multi-generational covenant faithfulness and blessedness, shalom (Peace/Wholeness) will indeed be upon God’s people.
Reflect on this psalm with these questions:
- Think deeply on fearing God and what that means for your obedience. Does the fear of God enable you to walk in His ways more, or do you live like a practical atheist?
- This statement is true and faithful: Happy Wife, Happy Life. Husbands, what are some practical ways you could love your wife better so that she naturally brings joy and fruitfulness to the home?
- Children are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Our cultures’ general outlook on children is a negative one. Do you see your children as a blessing from God? Take the time right now to pray for your children’s future faithfulness, and your children’s children.
- Pray that the church would fear God, walk in His ways, and that God will bless all the families of the church (Peace be upon the new Israel).
II. Pray Psalm 128. Write a prayer based on Psalm 128.
III. Sing Psalm 128.
Contributed by Michael Shover, M.Div.
31 Days with God 