Read Psalm 128
Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of song is this (superscript)? Who is blessed (Psalm 128:1a)? What does he do (verse 1b)? What does he eat (Psalm 128:2a)? What will his condition be like (verse 2b)? What will his wife be like (Psalm 128:3a–b)? What will his children be like (verse 3c–d)? How does Psalm 128:4 summarize this? Who will bless him from where (Psalm 128:5a)? With what blessing (verse 5b)? For how long (verse 5c)? With what personal result (Psalm 128:6a)? And what corporate result (verse 6b)?
What happiness does the Lord give? Psalm 128 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord, Who is our happiness, makes us happy in His blessing us in our work and families, and especially in His church.
Happy! That’s the first word in this Psalm (translated “blessed” in Psalm 128:1). This happiness comes by the fear of YHWH—living in wonder at Him and s worship unto Him. What does walking in His ways (verse 1b) look like?
It looks like diligent, fruitful labor (Psalm 128:2a).
Happy marriage, with a thriving wife (Psalm 128:3a), who is at the control center of the household (verse 3b).
Children who shoot up green and alive (verse 3c–d where “plants” is more “shoots”) but with the promise of thousands of years of strength and productivity.
And biblical blessedness goes beyond the home to the church. The blessing comes both from Zion (Psalm 128:5a) and for the good of Zion (aka Jerusalem, verse 5b). The two are tied together. His hope and happiness is that his children’s children (Psalm 128:6a) would be used of God in giving peace, shalom, to the church (verse 6b). O let us fear the Lord, so that we will not only define happiness according to His Word, but obtain that happiness by His grace!
How does your definition of earthly happiness compare to the happiness described in this Psalm? In particular, how does the corporate prosperity and peace of the church relate to it?
Sample prayer: Lord, we have our happiness in knowing You and fearing You. You have made us happy in our work, our marriages, and our generations. And, particularly, You have made us happy in Your church, which is Your holy mountain and your holy city. Now, as we gather to You as Your Israel, give us to rejoice in You with her, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP127 “Unless the LORD Build Up the House” or TPH127A “Unless the Lord the House Shall Build”
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