Psalm 128:1-6. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! [2] 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. [4] 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! (ESV)
If you were to think of the picture of an ideal man, what would that look like? Would he be rugged, strong, brave and fearless? A quality like fear, is one of those factors that nobody desires. But what about in the sphere of relating to God? The idea of fearing God has vanished from the contemporary worldview. We suppose that it is left over from the Middle Ages. Some Christians have taught the monstrous opinion that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath and that the God of the New Testament is a God of love. Not only does this destroy the very idea of the covenant, which is based on grace, but it casts a dark shadow upon Judaism and the whole foundation for the Christian faith. This opinion also fails before the facts. Jesus often warned of God’s judgment that is to come. He prophesied the destruction of the temple as a sign of the end (Mark 13:1ff.). The rest of the New Testament joins Him in witnessing to God’s wrath as well as to His grace. In fact, we only can understand this grace in light of His wrath. We need to learn to fear God. Such a disposition is not only biblical; it is also healthy. It is healthy to fear the judge who can sentence us to prison. It is healthy to fear the soldier who can invade our territory and plunder our goods. It is healthy to fear God who can send us to hell. The man who through wisdom knows what to fear and what not to fear has a life in healthy balance.
Psalm 128 calls the person who fears God “blessed.”. This Psalm is a Psalm of Ascent which are psalms that were sung or recited when families would travel to Jerusalem to worship there…Psalm 128 lays the foundation for God and the home. (It) is one of the clearest and simplest pictures of God’s desire for the home. (Platt, D. (2008). The Gospel and Manhood. In David Platt Sermon Archive (p. 1414). David Platt.)
The lesson here for the godly father is the lesson for all of us: We will become discouraged, if we look for encouragement from a fleeting source. This Psalm directs the father, and as extension, all wise people, who fear God and show compassion to others that they shall be blessed. It clarifies for the father and the rest of the household where true encouragement and happiness lay. In Psalm 128:1-6 we see the 3 blessings of a: 1) Blessing Announced (Psalm 128:1) the 2) Blessing Described (Psalm 128:2–4) and it concludes with the 3) Blessing Pronounced (Psalm 128:5–6).
For a godly father and his family we can receive:
1) Blessing Announced (Psalm 128:1)
Psalm 128:1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! (ESV)
Blessing is a wonderful word. In spiritual matters it has to do with God’s particular favors to His people. Because God is generous and great, His blessings are generous and great as well. Once we have begun to experience them they seem to be without limit. God’s blessings go on and on, both here and in the life to come. (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms (Pbk. ed.) (1123). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books )
Please turn back to Psalm 112
In verse 1 of Psalm 128, the blessing of God is announced for “everyone who fears the LORD.” The word “blessed” is written in the plural, denoting a sense of fullness. It means “happy,” giving us “well-being.” It comes with the good news of God’s favor upon us. Those who are blessed are those who fear God. These actions and attitudes, however, are not arbitrary commitments; rather, they are commitments that signal that a person’s life is congruent with the larger purposes of God. To reinforce this understanding, the writer of Psalm 128 further describes the “blessed” person as one who “walk[s] in obedience” to the Lord (v. 1b) (Tucker, W. D., Jr. (2018). Psalms 107–150. In T. Muck (Ed.), Psalms (Vol. 2, p. 802). Zondervan.).
Psalm 112 explains this concept:
Psalm 112:1-6. [112:1] Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! [2] His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. [3] Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. [4] Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. [5] It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. [6] For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. (ESV)
This fear means a sense of awe and reverence before God's majesty. It presupposes that He is the sovereign King, reigning in glory, who holds all of the issues of our lives in His hands. What does it mean to fear the Lord? It is customary to say, when Bible teachers are talking about the fear of the Lord, that fear does not mean being afraid. The intent of the word is reverence or respect. Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary calls this respect “a profound reverence or awe, especially toward God”, therefore fear, at least in the sense of holy awe, is not far from what we are talking about as a proper God-directed attitude. God must be taken seriously. He must not be trifled with. He is not merely the first thing of our to-do list, but He must be, as he actually is, the center of everything we are, think, or aspire to do. He must be our starting point for every project, the strength we seek for every valuable endeavor, the one we earnestly desire to please and honor as our goal. There is no point at which the profound difference between the world and those who are truly God’s people is more radical than here. We are to have wonder before His glory and also fear before His holiness and justice. His mighty works, the signs and wonders that He performs, also evoke this sense of awe. When He unleashes His power, we stagger in fear before Him. On Sinai He veils Himself in smoke and fire and warns that anyone who touches His mountain will die (Ex. 19:12). This should strike fear in us. God is unapproachable in His purity; He is a consuming fire. Thus, when Isaiah sees Him in the temple, he cries out “Woe!” (Is. 6:5). (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms (Pbk. ed.) (1125). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.).
• At a time when everything seems to be about the individual, we need to recapture this sense of the fear of God.
• For a man, husband and father, this causes him to examine his way, consider his means of life and the ends thereof.
Amazing as it may seem, those who fear God are happy. In light of what we have just said, we would expect that they would be cursed. To the contrary, they are happy because they have bowed before the Creator who is also their Redeemer. They have acknowledged Him to be God, and, having made that submission, they now belong to the covenant, know Him, and worship Him. They are blessed in this relationship. The psalmist gives evidence that this surrender is real in the next clause: “[Blessed is every one] who walks in His ways,” that is, who obeys Him, who does what He says. Merely thinking about God is not enough in itself. Right thinking leads to right acting. Here is traditional wisdom teaching, presented evidently in the context of a religious festival at Jerusalem. Before the pilgrims or a representative member of their ranks is set the ideal of a life of reverent obedience to God’s moral will. “The spirit of pilgrimage always incorporates walking in the ways of the LORD” (Allen, L. C. (2002). Vol. 21: Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150 (Revised). Word Biblical Commentary (244). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.)
• Why do dad’s often have the most difficulty in getting their children to obey? Because the kids look at Dad’s life to see if he obeys what he says. In politics, business or in the home, hypocrisy destroys harmony and leads to rebellion.
Illustration: Consider just a few ways in which your image of your father possibly may have affected your perception of God, which in turn affects your self-image. If you father was distant, impersonal and uncaring, and he wouldn’t intervene for you, you may see God as having the same characteristics. As a result, you feel that you are unworthy of God’s intervention in your life. You find it difficult to draw close to God because you see Him as disinterested in your need and wants. If your father was a pushy man who was inconsiderate of you, you may see God in the same way. You probably feel cheap or worthless in God’s eyes, and perhaps feel that you deserve to be taken advantage of by others. If your father was like a drill sergeant, demanding more and more from you with no expression of satisfaction, or burning with anger with no tolerance for mistakes, you may have cast God in his image. You likely feel that God will not accept you unless you meet His demands, which seem unattainable. This perception may have driven you to become a perfectionist. If your father was a weakling, and you couldn’t depend on him to help you or defend you, your image of God may be that of a weakling. You may feel that you are unworthy of God’s comfort and support, or that He is unable to help you. If your father was overly critical and constantly came down hard on you, or if he didn’t believe in you or your capabilities and discouraged you from trying, you may perceive God in the same way. You don’t feel as if you’re worth God’s respect or trust. You may even see yourself as a continual failure, deserving all the criticism you receive.
In contrast to the negative perceptions many (children have grown to believe) about God, let me give you several positive character qualities of a father. Notice how these qualities, if they existed in your father, have positively influenced your perception of God. If your father was patient, you are more likely to see God as patient and available for you. You feel that you are worth God’s time and concern. You feel important to God and that He is personally involved in every aspect of your life. If your father was kind, you probably see God acting kindly and graciously on your behalf. You feel that you are worth God’s help and intervention. You feel God’s love for you deeply and you’re convinced that He wants to relate to you personally. If your father was a giving man, you may perceive God as someone who gives to you and supports you. You feel that you are worth God’s support and encouragement. You believe that God will give you what is best for you, and you respond by giving of yourself to others. If your father accepted you, you tend to see God accepting you regardless of what you do. God doesn’t dump on you or reject you when you struggle, but understands and encourages you. You are able to accept yourself even when you blow it or don’t perform up to your potential. If your father protected you, you probably perceive God as your protector in life. You feel that you are worthy of being under His care and you rest in His security.(Always Daddy’s Girl by H. Norman Wright, 1989, Regal Books, pp. 193-195)
The importance of a Father who truly loves God and obeys Him is significant not only for the Father's personal welfare, but as we will see, impacts those of his household and society at large.
For a godly father and his family we can receive:
2) Blessing Described (Psalm 128:2-4)
Psalm 128:2-4.[2] 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. [4] Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. (ESV)
What does it mean to be blessed by God? First, the psalmist promises that the results of our work will be enjoyed. Rather than losing the labor of our hands to pestilence or invading armies, we will be able to eat it in peace. As he says, “You shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you” (v. 2). The word well denotes a sense of completion according to God’s purpose. For this reason, God calls each day of creation “good” or “fulfilled” as it is completed by Him (Gen. 1:10). Work done not only provides for daily physical needs, but brings with it contentment and satisfaction (Davidson, R., M.A. (1998). The vitality of worship : A commentary on the book of Psalms (420). Grand Rapids, Mich.; Edinburgh: W.B. Eerdmans; Handsel Press.)
• A Godly father will show his son or daughter what it means to work. A task begun, should be undertaken until it is completed. Not only does this reflect how God worked, but if we fail to instill and model this trait we rob ourselves and those who would also fail, of the joy of a job completed.
Second, the psalmist promises to the husband in verse three, that "your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.”. First off, the context is monogamy: "your wife". God blesses faithful marriages. Common law, or any other association, is not designed by God, and will experience his correction for Christians either if it is their own mistake, or within the context of a society. To be fruitful here means, of course, that she shall have many children. We learn from the story of Abraham and Sarah about the curse of being childless (Gen. 16:2–5). The Israelites, regarded a closed womb considered to be a sign of God’s judgment. A fruitful womb means blessing, because it fulfills the command in creation when God blessed us and said, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). There seems to be a double entendre regarding the referent to within your house. The man’s wife will be fruitful in terms of bearing children and that is accomplished by the husband and wife in the privacy (inside corner or private and inaccessible recesses) of the house (Tesh, S. E., & Zorn, W. D. (1999). Psalms. The College Press NIV commentary. (427). Joplin, Mo.: College Press.).An old motto that was often placed above fireplaces read: “The beauty of the house is order; The blessing of the house is contentment; The glory of the house is hospitality; The crown of the house is godliness.” (As cited in Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). With the word Bible commentary (Ps 128:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
• Above a job, recreation or hobbies, a father’s primary earthly responsibility is to his house. We can be successful in every other spere of life financially, esteem, or power, but if we fail to fulfill our household responsibilities, then we fail before God.
Beyond this, in scripture the vine with its grapes and the wine that is made from them is a symbol of refreshment and lavish enjoyment, including sexual enjoyment (see Song of Songs 7:8–9; Judg. 9:13), and it is linked to times of national and family celebration (see Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13–14; John 2:1–10). Wine stands for harvest abundance at the end of a long, dry summer. It “gladdens the heart of man” (Ps. 104:15). The psalm is promising that however hard the day-to-day work in the fields may be for a laboring man, to come home to a good wife is somewhat like coming home to harvest. It is a time to forget the hard summer work and enjoy God’s bounty (Boice, J. M. (2005). Psalms (Pbk. ed.) (1128). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.).
• Fathering a child does not make one a godly father. A godly father is one who regards his wife in a holy and tender way.
The imagery of vine and olive tree are reminiscent of the eras of David and Solomon (1 Kings 4:25) and the blessings associated with the messianic era (Mic 4:4; Zech 3:10) (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (796). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
• The fruitfulness is messianic. Ultimately, it is only through Christ, that the family is fruitful, meaning, it is only through a faithful belief and devotion to Christ upon with the family will be blessed.
The blessed man will have “children/sons like olive shoots/plants around your table” . In the mind’s eye one can see the little “sucklings” coming up around the old olive tree. The olive was greatly prized in ancient Israel, for its products could make one rich if harvested properly. But it was also a great source of enriching food. The picture is one of potential (“shoots”). So are all our children as they are seated around the table for supper. Each one has great potential for producing happiness, and joy. Many children are also a blessing. They provide emotional satisfaction and safety for the family (Ps. 127:4), but they also provide labor and the transmission of the bloodline. (Tesh, S. E., & Zorn, W. D. (1999). Psalms. The College Press NIV commentary. (427). Joplin, Mo.: College Press.)
Please turn back one Psalm, to Psalm 127
To sit under one’s vine and fig tree was an expression of a state of tranquility, peace, and prosperity. Even when the country faces adversity, the man who fears the Lord is insulated against adversity by wife and children as the blessings of the Lord are found under the roof of his house. The metaphor of the fruitfulness of the vine extends, not only to the bearing of children, but also to everything the wife contributes to the welfare of family (cf. Prov 31:10–31). The children, who are likened to olive shoots, are strong and in due time will continue the work that their father has begun (cf. 52:8; Jer 11:16; Hos 14:6). Though the olive tree may not bear after it has been planted for forty years, it is a symbol of longevity and productivity. So are children within the household of faith! They are not like grass, which is here today but is gone tomorrow. Rather, they are olive trees that in due time bear their fruit. The blessedness of the godly man will extend to other generations. What a privilege God bestows on his children in this life that we may already taste the firstfruits of our heritage! (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (796). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
This is explained in Psalm 127:
Psalm 127:1-5. [127:1] Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. [2] It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. [3] Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. [4] Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. [5] Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (ESV)
• What an ungodly and foolish notion to see children as either an inconvenience or mere liability. Christian parents today tend to have few if any children. We already see the impact on western societies by other religions. Muslims and other faiths are having a greater and greater impact by the number of children that they raise to influence society.
The conclusion to this section is now given in verse 4: “Behold, thus shall the man be blessed / Who fears the LORD.” It is important to see here the affirmation of creation: work, marriage, sexuality, and family. None of this is related to the Fall. It is only corrupted when sin enters into the world. God’s covenant with Israel, however, restores His reign over her and with that comes the renewal of creation and its blessings. In the New Covenant in Christ, we also find creation restored. Thus, the New Testament affirms the very same blessing of God upon us in work, marriage, sexuality, and family (Ephesians 4–5). As children grow up fearing the Lord, not only are the parents blessed (verse 4), not only is the community blessed (verse 5), but the entire nation is blessed by the contribution they make as adults (verse 6). (Courson, J. (2006). Jon Courson’s application commentary: Volume two: Psalms-Malachi (p. 156). Thomas Nelson.)
Illustration:
Los Angeles Dodger baseball player, Orel Hershiser—was interviewed in the Wall Street Journal. When asked for his strategy of success, said “I give my credit to my personal submission to Jesus Christ. Each time I assess my major league career, I ask myself these questions: Am I still married? Are my children happy? And, do they know that their father loves them and is committed to their mother and to them? And, when I’m finished with my baseball career, my most important goal is not to make the hall of fame but to see that my family is successful as the result of my influence.” This great man, wealthy because of his baseball prowess, said, “I’m not trying to get in somebody’s hall of fame but in God’s hall of fame by raising my family as I ought to raise them.”
But, the sad thing is, one week later, in USA Today, they were doing a story on another baseball player—his name, Pete Rose. And, they thought they’d find out about the real Pete Rose; and so, they interviewed his daughter, and this is what his daughter said: “He’s the worst father in the world. I will never understand why he never had any time for any of us. We really didn’t expect anything from him; we just wanted him to like us. Even if I wanted to call my dad, I couldn’t. He will not give me his phone number. I have to call his agent and then wait for him to return the call.” When they asked Peter Rose about that, you know how he responded? Here’s how he responded: “I don’t know what she’s complaining about. I bought her a new Mercedes last week and had it sent to her.” Two men, two sets of values, two radically different results (Rogers, A. (2017). Faith of Our Fathers. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Ps 128). Rogers Family Trust.).
Finally, for a godly father and his family we can receive:
3) Blessing Pronounced (Psalm 128:5-6)
Psalm 128:5-6. [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! (ESV)
Having announced the blessing and having described the blessing, the psalmist actually now pronounces the blessing upon God’s people. Thus, he says, “The LORD bless you from/out of Zion.” Blessing is God’s to bestow. A fruitful life comes from Him. It comes from Zion, the mountain of God where His house or temple is located (cf. Pss. 2:6; 48:2). Those who are devout and faithful may confidently anticipate the LORD’s blessing on their labors and on their families. And that blessing will take the form of the enjoyment of the good life, the flourishing of the marriage, the vigor and vitality of the children, and long life under God’s peace and prosperity (Ross, A. P. (2016). A Commentary on the Psalms (90–150): Commentary (Vol. 3, pp. 696–697). Kregel Academic.).
• How foolish for many Father's who see their primary task to just earn a living. What good is earning a living if you lose a life, be that your own or that of your wife or child. A life apart from God, no matter how well provided for, is just a life that will one day go to a horrific eternity.
The blessing of the individual, however, is also dependent upon the blessing of the nation. As the psalmist continues, “May you see the prosperity/good of Jerusalem / All the days of your life”. For the OT saints to be in Jerusalem during a pilgrimage festival was an assurance of God’s blessing on their lives. But v. 5 clearly teaches that God’s blessing goes with His people even when they are not in Jerusalem. For the NT people of God, it signifies so much more clearly the blessing of God on all those who are indwelt by his Holy Spirit (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 5: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (797). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
• Arthur A. Hicks puts this application to the home now in proper focus: "No church, nation, or civilization rises higher than the spirit of religious reverence and worship that prevails in the home life of its people. The home that is not genuinely Christian is not a true home. It is God’s first institution of human society and is the ultimate basis of society. It is the citadel of both church and state which so nobly serves our social order" (Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (96). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.).
For the godly father, it concludes in verse six: “May you see your children’s children /your grand children].” In seeing the generations continue, they will carry the blessing and we also will be blessed. The blessing is not only for us, it is also for our inheritance. Three generations are represented in the psalm, and all of them walking with the Lord. We are so prone to remember that God judges the succeeding generations if they imitate the sins of their ancestors, but we must remember that He also passes along the blessings when the ancestors have been godly (Ex. 34:6–7; Num. 14:18–19; Deut. 5:9–10). It is often the third generation that abandons the faith (Judg. 2), so we must pray much for our children and grandchildren, that the Lord will keep His good hand of blessing on their lives for His glory (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 167). Cook Communications Ministries.).
• The reason we want to live a godly life as fathers is not only for our household, but in raising godly children for the good of society as a whole. There was a time when fatherhood was respected and as a society, people looked at fathers as ones who have experience and were valuable to solicit for their insight.
Please turn back to Psalm 103
Due to an abrogation of the role of Father, feminist attacks, and the ungodly attacks that are relentless upon fatherhood in marketing, dads are a laughingstock; the objects of ridicule to sell products. There are more than happy to relinquish that role. Boys then don't know how to grow up into men and women don't know what to look for in a man. Men then think it's all about using women for gratification, and more and more women just go it alone. As a society, we experience greater children without fathers, mothers having to raise kids alone, greater crime, sexually transmitted disease, or abortion.
Notice how Psalm 103 relates the role of the father and a legacy:
Psalm 103:13-18. [13] As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. [14] For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. [15] As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; [16] for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. [17] But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, [18]to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. (ESV)
• Tragically, many fathers if we have failed to do our jobs, we will not be involved in the lives of our grandchildren. I know there are many that are not as blessed as I am. Sometimes children feel threatened and close out their fathers. It may take many years of patient prayer or intervention for an opportunity to arise. Sometimes as guys we need a peer to point out our foolishness. I take great pleasure in seeing and experiencing the godly impact that godly mentors have and continue to have on my children. Not only do I learn from their patience and willingness to help, I can see the impact on my kids.
Finally, this blessing of Psalm 128:6 is concluded by a postscript: “Peace [‘wholeness’] be upon Israel!” There is power in the pronouncement of the blessing. These are not just empty words. They come with divine authority, and they accomplish the work of blessing. We learn that it is not enough to announce the blessing and to describe the blessing we must also pronounce it. We learn in this psalm, however, that word and work must go together. This sums up the urgent concern of Paul that God’s people should not put up barriers against each other, but show themselves true citizens of ‘the Jerusalem above’ (Gal. 4:26), our common metropolis. It is still a prayer to echo. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 480). InterVarsity Press.)
• If our children are to be blessed, as fathers, we must bless them. As the word is pronounced in the power of God’s Spirit, it does its work. And as Fathers, we see it work as we will have a healthy fear of God. We will be in awe of His authority and might as He moves in our lives, those of our household, our congregation and community.
(Format Note: Outline and some base commentary from Williams, D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1989). Vol. 14: The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 14 : Psalms 73-150. The Preacher's Commentary series (416–419). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.)
