SERIES: Songs of Ascents
TEXT: Psalm 128
MESSAGE: “Living the Truly Blessed Life”
“The fear of the Lord and his blessing are matters of daily life, to do with house and family, work and food, as in 127…By this point in the Psalter, and (if the Nehemiah connection is right) by the time of the return from exile, the composers and singers of these songs had long since lost any naïvety they may once have had. Experience had taught them that Psalm 1 often seemed wrong; deeper experience had taught them that it was always right in the end. If they had been disoriented, they had also been reoriented. There really would be blessing for God-fearers (vv. 1 and 4) and peace upon Israel (v. 6); but such grace does not come cheap.” — Michael Wilcock
Q: How does God open our eyes to His blessing? In three ways from today’s text…(1. Through humble disposition 2. Through everyday moments 3. Through lasting fruit)
- Through Humble Disposition (v. 1)
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!”
2. Through Everyday Moments (v. 2-3)
“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.”
“Children are like olive shoots, representing hope and promise for the future. The olive tree is a symbol of longevity and productivity. Children who have been nurtured and cultivated patiently will flourish and bring joy and honor to the family eventually (Ps 52:8; Jer 11:16; Hos 14:6). The blessedness of a godly man extends beyond his lifetime. Here, many children are viewed as a rich blessing…” — Daniel L. Akin
3. Through Lasting Fruit (v. 4-6)
“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!”
TAKEAWAYS: How can we start to see and receive God’s blessing in our life? We can start by asking ourselves these three questions…
Do I have a humble disposition toward life?
“If you have learned to fear God, this is evidence of God’s grace in your life. Marvel at this grace. Walk in this grace-enabled fear of God until you arrive at your final destination. In the words of John Newton, “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear…And grace will lead me home.”— Daniel Akin
Do I see God in the mundane?
Do I believe God can redeem my future?
“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!” — Psalm 128:5-6