Psalm 128 - Family Gathering

Psalm 128:1-6 NIV

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. 

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Y

our wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

 your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 

Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord .

May the Lord bless you from Zion;

 may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 

May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.

Psalm 128 is another psalm of ascent. It is instructive like an affirmation of faith and it serves as a blessing. As worshipers journey to the temple, these words would bless their hearts. For pilgrims travel to Jerusalem for the religious festivals required by the law given through Moses. The psalm reminds them of the reward for obedience. The reward is prosperity, blessings of the womb and of the fields. The table of the obedient will be filled with plenty of food and plenty of children and grandchildren to enjoy it in happy fellowship.

Many people will tell you there's nothing better than family. The picture drawn by Psalm 128 reminds me of family gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. These were holy days for us as Christians. All my aunts and uncles, my cousins, and my family would come together at my grandmother's house for the day. We'd get there before lunch and stay until after supper time. It was a day of conversation, games, and much laughter. I'm sure there was conflict too, but as a child I was relatively immune to adult relationship complications. I didn't see that until I was much older. My idealized remembrance of family at the holidays is what I long for every day. Psalm 128 seems to promise this to those who fear the Lord.

Fearing the Lord means to utterly revere God. God's voice is heeded above all others. God's will is pursued. God's word is honored. God's name is hallowed. The things of God are kept holy, set apart as special, not common but extraordinary. Holy days are lived as extraordinary days. Time spent with God on these days with God's people helps us set the day aside as special. Being obedient to our calling as God's people we enjoy the blessings of harmony in our hearts, joy lifting our souls heavenward, and peace with our fellow man.

What does obedience look like to the Christian since we are not bound to God through the law of Moses, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus? Love is our law. Love God with your whole self, your mind, body, and spirit. Give it all you got when loving God. Put your whole self in. No hokey pokey. Love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Be a witness to the good news of God's love and mercy by your words, thoughts, and deeds. Show kindness to those in need. Lift burdens. Share your resources which God has entrusted to you. Forgive quickly. Encourage one another to good works. Always hope in the promises of God. Pray without ceasing.

These are but a few ways we are obedient to the New Testament code of conduct. It looks like more law, but it's not. These behaviors grow out of a heart that's been set free by the love of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

I'm a grandfather now. The Lord has blessed me with health and prosperity, with a faithful and beautiful wife, with family and friends, and with children who enrich my life and fill me with joy. Now God has given me the chance to love a grandchild. I hope there will be a day when our children and their children all join together in happy holy days to celebrate the blessings of the Lord and to acknowledge Him in all we do. For when we love God fully and love neighbor authentically we will know blessing and the peace that comes from God.

Peace be upon you. Peace be upon the people of God everywhere.