Read Psalm 128

Note several thoughts from this Psalm.

ŸGodliness 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.

ŸThe 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).

ŸThe 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.

ŸThe 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.

ŸAnd finally, in the words of Matthew Henry,

Those who are truly holy are truly happy.