SUMMARY
The Scriptures repeatedly speak of the disobedience of specific generations, as well as those like sons of Issachar who “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1Chr. 12:32). We must see our place in history and discern how we are being conformed to the world in our generation. Then, by grace, live faithfully and with transformed minds. The first failure of our generation we will consider is our failure in worship. We must know the awe of coming to true Zion to renew our covenantal bond with God and be satisfied with God's magnificent glories, rather than in any other fading pleasures (Psalm 27:4). We must see how lovely is the place of His glory (Psalm 26:8). People drive across America to see the Grand Canyon; The Grand Church Triumphant joints the Church Militant in worship each Lord’s Day and the parade is stretched from here back and forwards through eternity (Hebrews 12:22).
In this message we turn to consider the failings of our generation in terms of familial responsibilities. The Word gives us hope for blessing, prosperity and a great heritage through fearing the Lord in the context of God’s blessing from Zion, the peace of His people, and the stability throughout all generations. We want to have blessing and prosperity individualistically and in isolation from Zion and the people of God. Further, we want blessing without thinking in a long-term way. This is settling for cottoncandy rather than a banquet. The critical need in our day is to see our children as olive plants which produce oil and fruit and to realize this happens in the community of God’s people.
EXPOSITION
A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.
2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life.
6 Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!
In Psalm 128, the FEAR OF THE LORD brings:
BLESSEDNESS OF HAPPY LABOR
BLESSEDNESS OF A HAPPY HOME
FEAR OF THE LORD
Fear of the Lord, the, is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety Pr 1:7 Job 28:28 Ps 19:9 It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp.) De 32:6 Ho 11:1 Isa 1:2 63:16 64:8 God is called "the Fear of Isaac" Ge 31:42,53 i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence Mt 10:28 2Co 5:11 7:1 Php 2:12 Eph 5:21 Heb 12:28,29
BLESSED - ASHAR
Those who are truly holy are truly happy.
There are two verbs in Hebrew meaning "to bless." One is b¹rak and the other °¹shar. The term in Psalm 128 is °¹shar which is a word of envious desire, "to be envied with desire is the man who trusts in the Lord." To be "blessed" (°ashrê), man has to do something. Usually this is something positive. A "blessed" man, for example, is one who trusts in God without equivocation: Psa 2:12; Psa 34:8 [H 9]; Psa 40:4 [H 5]; 84:5 [H 6]; Psa 84:12 [H 13]; Psa 146:5; Prov 16:20. A "blessed" man is one who comes under the authority of God's revelation: his Torah, Psa 119:1; Psa 1:2; Prov 29:18; his word, Prov 16:20; his commandment, Psa 112:1; his testimony, Psa 119:2; his way, Psa 128:1; Prov 8:32. The man who is beneficent to the poor is blessed (Psa 41:1 [H 2]); Prov 14:21). Note the negative approach of Psa 1, "blessed is the man who does not." He isolates himself and shuns the company of certain people, the ungodly. The psalm ends by noting that it is precisely these ungodly who will in the end be isolated. They will not stand in the judgment. They will be conspicuous by their absence for they will perish.
FRUITFULNESS
Matthew Henry: Her place is by the sides of the house, not under-foot to be trampled on, nor yet upon the house-top to domineer (if she be so, she is but as the grass upon the house-top, in the next psalm), but on the side of the house, being a rib out of the side of the man. She shall be a loving wife, as the vine, which cleaves to the house-side, an obedient wife, as the vine, which is pliable, and grows as it is directed. She shall be fruitful as the vine, not only in children, but in the fruits of wisdom, and righteousness, and good manage