Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 24

Godliness and Fruitfulness

Psalm 128:1-6 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.

Psalm 128 describes for us the quintessential of the godly man. This “man” described in verse 4, is the purest and most perfect example of a Spirit-filled believer, father of a household, with wife and children. This Spirit-filled man is a God-fearer who draws his strength from God through prayer. This man is blessed according to God’s Word. The word “blessed”is derived from the verb that has a root meaning in the Hebrew “to kneel”. The intensive expression in this verb of kneeling is blessing. The action of kneeling is the prayer posture, the act of seeking God and His will for our lives. Therefore, when we pray according to His Word, we are blessed of God, for God answers our prayer according to His will to bless our way. This man, the psalmist says is “Blessed” of the LORD, the first word in this psalm.

This is the same word that the King James translator rightly translated “happy” in verse 2. He is one who walks in his ways, labouring and not idling. There is an activeness in the life of the man blessed of God. He is engaged in labouring for the Lord in the work that God has put his hands to do. He is not afraid to engage in hard work, in honest industry. His labour is guided by God’s Word. He labours within the framework of God’s commandments – He loves the Being of God. He loves the Worship of God. He loves the Name of God. He loves the Day of God. He loves the Representatives of God. He loves the Body of man. He loves the Morality of man. He loves the Property of Man. He loves the Personality of Man. He loves Prosperity of Man.

Psalm 128 is known as a pilgrim’s psalm to be sung for travellers (pilgrims) going to Jerusalem to celebrate the ancient feasts of the Hebrews. These ancient feasts were family affairs. It is called “a song of ascent” since the pilgrims literally ascend or went up to Jerusalem.

The family rejoices together in God’s goodness to them as they travelled toward Jerusalem for the feasts. As they encountered other families, they made new friends and renewed old friendships. Children played together. Adults conversed as they walked. In the evening camps all would gather around cooking fires and share stories and sing. How it reminds us of our annual church camp where the church family would pack and gather to one location to remember the Lord in the study of His Word. This is a description of the enlightened Christian family prospering according to God’s divine blueprint for blessed marriage and family life. Does it not remind us of our annual “pilgrimage” to attend Church Camp, a foretaste of heaven, no household chores, just enjoy fellowship with God and the saints, all other things taken care of.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

This is the image of abundance and divine blessings that is extended here to children and wife. Both wife and children are thriving spiritually. The wife is described here as a fruitful vine. Both the vine and the olive tree were symbols of the economic prosperity of Israel. The vine provided wine and the olive tree supply fruit and oil. The use of olive plants for children signifies their spiritual blessings and prosperity.

Psalms 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” Olive trees take a long time to mature and become profitable. It needs to be patiently cultivated, but they become very precious and profitable crop for hundreds of years, longer than any other fruit producing tree or plant.

A good father, a God-fearing father takes responsibility for the spiritual welfare and nurture of his family. These are the child-rearing years, the family goes through years of training, loving, disciplining, and ultimately releasing the children. Little babies grow up into independent-thinking adolescents. The protective sheltered environment of the home is broken into by school, new friends, alien philosophies, financial strain, illness, hard questions, constant decisions and busy schedules.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children.”

These are the years when one become grandparents – the family is reduced to its original condition – a husband and wife in their twilight light years. What will life be like when the dust settles and quietness returns? What will be the rewards for beginning and cultivating a family according to God’s direction – It is God’s promise of His blessings! We see our grandchildren and peace upon the land. Indeed, as Solomon rightly observed in Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

The psalmist reiterates the fact that the fear of God is a permeating virtue of the heart that results in God’s blessing in all aspects of life. Not only in work, and in the home but also in church life, the blessing extends to the nation. Souls are saved through the witness of the God-fearer. God’s blessing extended.

Let us fear God, follow Him, experience overall fruitfulness bestowed by Him. Blessed Father’s Day to the fathers in our congregation. Amen.

Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee