Bible Commentaries
Psalms 128

Verses 1-6

Psalms 128

Fear of the Lord

Scripture v. 1-6:

This psalm declares that the fear of God brings blessedness to a nation, as well as to an individual.

Verse 1 sets forth the premise that obedience to God is an evidence of ones fearing the Lord; To fear God is to walk in His ways, obey Him, do what He bids, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Samuel 15:22; Acts 5:29.

Verse 2 adds "For thou (who walks in His ways) shalt eat the labour of thine hands;" instead of its being eaten by an enemy, an invader, a plunderer, Isaiah 3:10; Deuteronomy 28:33. "Happy shaft thou be, (for fearing and obeying the Lord) and it shall be well (ideal) with thee," as in Zechariah 8:10-13.

Verses 3, 4 assert that the God-fearing follower of .the Lord, who walks in His ways, shall have a happy home, a good wife, and flourishing posterity, with a wife compared with an healthy, fruitful vine beside an house, with numerous children, like olive plants about his table; a symbol of joy and prosperity. After this beautiful manner will the man be blessed, who fears and obeys the Lord, as described Ezekiel 19:10; Psalms 52:8; Psalms 144:12; 1 Samuel 24:3; Titus 2:3; Jeremiah 11:16.

Verse 5 declares that the Lord should bless his people out of Zion, Jerusalem, His seat or sanctuary, from which His benefits flowed, Psalms 20:2. The imperative verbal use here implies the certainty of the promise. The blessings from Zion or Jerusalem, center of Israel’s spiritual life, suggests prosperity for all the land, Psalms 37:27; Psalms 122:3; Psalms 122:6.

Verse 6 promises that those who feared and walked in the ways of the Lord would be blessed to live and see their children’s children, or their great grandchildren, with long life, Genesis 50:23; Job 42:16; Zechariah 8:4. On the contrary those who fear not God die early in times of national distress; Let peace be on Israel, Psalms 125:5.