Read Psalm 128
A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
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 children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.
Editor's Note
Psalms 120-134 are known as the “Psalms of Ascent” or “Pilgrim Songs.” Every year as the Jews traveled uphill towards the city of Jerusalem to participate in one of the three Jewish festivals, these are the songs they would sing. They became a staple of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem back then and now they serve as a helpful template for us as we worship today.
Go Deeper
Psalm 128 gives us courage and promises what the Lord has in store for us if we walk in obedience. If you grew up in the faith, you have heard how obedience leads to blessing in this life. This psalm discusses in detail the blessing obedient, Christian servants will experience on earth before the ultimate blessing of eternity with Him.
The beginning of this psalm states those who fear the Lord and obey Him are blessed. Blessed means to be “endowed with divine favor and protection” (Oxford English Dictionary). As Christians, we know Jesus died for our sins and blessed us with the gift of eternal life. However, verse 1 explicitly says if we fear the Lord and walk obediently, we will see divine favor in our lives before we join Him in eternity. This favor can come in the form of successfully navigating daily challenges.
In these and other challenging situations, the Lord has high hopes we will respond in a way that is honoring and pleasing to the Lord. Fearing the Lord and being obedient can look like being a light to a coworker or asking for God’s wisdom when handling finances. By seeking His wisdom and obeying what He commands us to do, despite the difficulty, our efforts are rewarded in various ways. Verses 2-6 state what our main blessings would look like if we are obedient. The psalmist here knows that a growing, lively family is an example of a blessing the Lord provides a faithful servant. Throughout the rest of the psalm, we see emphasis on the Lord’s blessings as a promise to those who are obedient.
As Christians, we are not perfect. In fact, we never will be (at least on this side of eternity). Only God is perfect. That is why we need Him, seek His wisdom and obey Him throughout our lives. We will mess up. But, by heeding the Lord and being obedient to Him, we will see our reward. As we head into today, ask the Lord how you can obey and fear Him best. Seek His wisdom in prayer and push yourself to obey Him always, even when it’s difficult. The path to all of the blessings God promises His children is obedience.
Questions
- Why do you think the Lord calls us to be obedient?
- What do you think is one area where you struggle in obedience with the Lord?
- What is one step you can take to achieving obedience alongside the Lord?
Pray This
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your son to die on the cross for us. Your love is so powerful and vast, and I thank you for that. As I head into today, I ask for wisdom in my actions to obey you best. I pray for a convicting spirit when I disobey, so I may change next time and obey you better than before. I pray daily you will continuously use me and teach me how to obey you and fear you. I love you, Lord.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
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2 thoughts on “Psalm 128”
To fear the Lord and walk in his ways means that I discipline and inform my heart in wisdom to trust God’s ways are superior. This is the only true way to lasting happiness and blessing. Today, I’m seeking His heart in decisions to be made along the way that I will honor and obey Him wholeheartedly.
Surrendering our lives to Christ is one of the most challenging events you will face in your Christian walk. Could it also be one of the most rewarding events of your life? Yes! Surrender acknowledges who is in control. Once we grasp the depth of this concept it will illuminate for you a vast array of verses in the Bible. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I. Will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 9:10 “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Once we surrender our lives to Christ Philippians 4:7 will come alive in you, “And the. Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and you minds in Christ Jesus.” This gift that God gives us, Peace is very precious. It will take great courage to live your life believing this and showing the world you walk different path. Be strong, be courageous and never forget why you are walking the path you have chosen.