Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 19
The Marriage Institution
The marriage institution calls for a commitment for the married couple to a lifetime of loving and cleaving. The marriage perseveres by the covenant with God as a vow made between the man and the woman before God. Therefore, as it all biblical covenants, it is God’s grace that helps the couple to persevere and it is their responsibility to look to Him always. God never fails and never will.
Psalm 128 describes for us the quintessential of the godly man. Blessed according to God’s Word. This man “gever” used in verse 4, is the purest and most perfect example of a Spirit-filled Christian. This man is fully described to us in Psalm 37 and in verse 23 the King James translator called him the “good man”. Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”
There is five developmental aspects which we shall seek to see from Psalm 128 as we look at the various facets of life for the new family:
- Covenant with the LORD – Spiritual Life (v1, 4)
- Covenant to Support the Family – Working Life (v2)
- Covenant for Family Life (v3)
- Covenant for Church Life (v5)
- Covenant for National and Generational Witness (v6)
- Spiritual Life (v1, 4)
1 <A Song of degrees.> Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
This is the secret of vibrant spiritual life and married life – the fear of the LORD. You notice the word “LORD” capital “LORD”, is the covenant Name of God that describes the personal relationship that a man has with His God. He calls Him LORD because he has sweet fellowship and communion his LORD. Godliness begets fruitfulness.
What is the fear of God? The fear of God is a disposition to give utmost reverence and regard to God in one’s life. This is a man who lives a life of holiness. King Solomon lived this earthly life to the fullest. He summed up the godly life, the blessed life as this in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Fear Him (v1a) and Follow Him (v1b, 2)
… 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.
4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
The essence of our faith consists of imitation of Him whom we worship. Let a childlike fear of offending your Great Father restrain you from sin. Indeed, blessed is the man that feareth always (1 Peter 1:15-21). The blessing or the fruitfulness of a God-fearer is received by faith not by measured by our feeble senses. In the church, we are endeavouring to read through the Bible in
one year, firmly believing that unless we set a discipline to meditate upon God’s Word, how can we even make a start to be blessed by God.
The God-fearer knows he needs God at all times and in all circumstances and will resort to Him. And he also understands he is a sinner and needs the blood of Jesus Christ to wash away his sins. Indeed, the genuine fear of God is not taught by human authority, nor enforced by humans but only by the laws and ways of the LORD. The fear of the LORD has no torment in it, its outworking is a godly life, a holy life, walking according to God’s requirements.
- Working Life (v2)
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well (good – tov) with thee.
The literal translation is “the toil of his hands, for he shall eat”. The emphasis is not the eating but on the toiling.
1 Timothy 5:8 (KJV) But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
There is indeed a curse resting on the toil which God exacts of man; but the fear of God goes far towards converting that curse into a blessing.
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 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 an 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.
- Family Life (v3)
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
A good wife makes large contributions to the good cheer of the household.
This is the image of abundance and divine blessings that is extended here to children and wife. Both wife and children are thriving spiritually. Fruit as an image of abundance – Abundant fruit is symbolic of the richness and creativity of God. The wife is described here as a fruitful vine (Genesis 1:11-12). Cultivating a vineyard requires the utmost care of the vinedresser. Love is the priority for husbands.
Material provision is not the priority. Many Christian husbands think that their main responsibility is to provide an increasingly comfortable lifestyle for their wives and children. In fact, they would say that the long hours that they work are an expression of their love for their families. The truth is, many men find it easier to give their wives and children things than to spend time with them and share their hearts with them in deep, loving relationships.
Both the vine and the olive tree were symbols of the economic prosperity of Israel. The vine provided wine and the olive tree supplied fruit and oil. The use of olive plants for children signifies their spiritual blessings and prosperity.
… thy children like olive plants round about thy table. The family that prayers together, eats together, do things together, and stays together. That is the picture of the father spending time with the children to nurture them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
- Church Life (v5)
5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
Zion was the seat of God’s visible kingdom over Israel. The Jews expect national and personal blessings. There too was the centre of the visible church and the affections of the godly to thriving church life, actively serving in the church.
- Generational Witness (v5b-6)
… 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.
The propagation of the generational witness for the glory of the LORD (Psalm 78:1-7). May the Lord bless His Word for His Namesake. Amen.
Yours lovingly
Pastor Lek Aik Wee