Psalm 128

Note several thoughts from this Psalm.

Godliness is beneficial in this life as well as in the one to come (1 Tim. 4:8).

Pilgrims who are on their way to heaven have earthly responsibilities (such as work and family).  The early Church Fathers struggled with this.  To many of them conjugal life was an essentially earthly notion and was incompatible with a high view of godliness.  Even men such as Augustine and Chrysostom saw these Psalms as allegories where the wife was viewed as the Church.  This encouraged devotion to the Church and made celibacy a mark of godliness.  Martin Luther, in the reformation, vindicated the truth of God, first by his teaching, and then by his marriage to Catherine von Bora.  Christian marriage was holy.

The same applies to work.  As Charles Spurgeon put it...

God is the God of laborers.  We are not to leave our worldly callings because the Lord has called us by grace; we are not promised a blessing upon romantic idleness or unreasonable dreaming, but upon hard work and honest industry. Though we are in God's hands we are to be supported by our own hands.  He will give us daily bread, but it must be made our own by labor.... Without God it would be vain to labor; but when we are laborers together with God a promise is set before us.  The promise is that labor shall be fruitful, and that he who performs it shall himself enjoy the recompense of it.

The corporate benefit of one man's blessings.

One person who fears God can effect an entire family (v3), even an entire nation (v5-6).  God's blessing for individuals (v1-4) should positively effect others (v5-6).

The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man.

This was noted above in the quote from Spurgeon.  Ps. 127 says that blessing rests on the house God builds.  Ps. 128 says that blessing rests on the house where the father fears God.

The relationship of promise and prayer.

We see here a classic example of praying the word of God.  The prayer of v5-6 is based in the promise of v1-4.  We know God grants that which is according to His will (1 John 5:14-15).  We can do no better than to fill our prayers with the promises of God from His word.

And finally, in the words of Matthew Henry,

Those who are truly holy are truly happy.

In this Psalm we see what we often call the good life.

A.            The promise of the good life, v1-4.

1.             The recipients of the good life, v1,4.

Note that it is God who defines a good life, though His description is not that different from what we might offer.

This promise is to "saints" (v1) and yet to each "saint" (v4).  A "saint" is someone who fears the Lord and who walks in His ways.  A man's heart will be seen in his walk.  Deep reverence for God will be evidenced by regular and constant conformity to His will.

What does the Bible mean by the fear of the Lord?  The Hebrew term used here can refer to being afraid of someone or something.  But it also is used of being in awe, having reverence, honor and respect for someone.  It is a fear joined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather, a family reverence seen in the relationship of a child to his father.  The fear of God is not only an Old Testament concept (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28,29).

Practically, the one who fears God has an underlying and ongoing realization of God's presence and involvement in every event of life.  He acknowledges God at all times (Prov. 3:5-6).

2.             The description of the good life, v2-3.

At work the one who walks in God's ways has an honest livelihood and a comfortable living.  The Bible makes it clear that the man is not necessarily free of pain, even the pain of losing his job.  But he is not jobless because of laziness, insubordination, dishonesty or unwillingness to work at menial tasks.  Nor is his comfortable living the result of having lots of money.  Part of his godly life is his contentment and generosity with God's provision (Matt. 6:19-34; Phil. 4).

At home this man is blessed with an enjoyable marriage and family.  Again, it's not that his home is perfect and without trouble.  But it is that the one who walks in God's ways is finding satisfaction in those God has placed closest to him.

B.            The prayer for the good life, v5-6.

The prayer is for the very thing God has promised.  If we join Ps. 127 and 128, this brings us back to the beginning: unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.  Those who fear God and walk in His ways are faithful to seek their happiness (blessedness) from God by prayer.