Psalm 128: Run It Well

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.

Your 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

"You will eat the fruit of your labor...Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house." Sometimes I think that people want to live too loudly. They set their standard for success so high and then are disappointed when they don't turn out to be the superstar in their own drama. That's where they have placed their happiness and in their old age they are nursing the memories of their small victories and grudges trying to convince themselves that they have found IT...the think they were looking for. Our life isn't about our achieving success, it is about living well. "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9:9) says Solomon and "...Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,"  says Paul. Life isn't about winning the race. Only one wins but those who run achieve the blessing if they finish well.  

Thats what this Psalm is setting out there: the really blessed people are the ones who live ordinary lives well in a land where they flourish. The phrase "May you" is the start of a blessing indicating how the Psalmist asks God in his grace to make the lives of those who are praying or singing this psalm. The blessed ones are the ones who get to do their job, love their wife, see their children grown and live long enough to see their children. It a reminder that this is the win--not finishing a project or becoming CEO-an what I should be aiming for.

Psalm 128: Could It Be That Much Better?

Reading the story of the return by the Israeli captives in Psalm 126 provides insight into the emotional undercurrent of God's story for those of us who suffer and struggle and persevere:

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. - Psalm 126:1-2

There is a sense of unreality when there is a reprieve from the oppresiveness of the day-to-day. Laughter bubbles up from deep within; dancing erupts; singing comes unbidden from the deep wells of our soul.

Some of this relief comes from knowing that our trust in God was well-placed. Choices we made are reconsidered at length, every day a reminder of where we went off the path. All supports have been removed. We are forced to either trust God or else capitulate to helplessness and despair.  And this decision happens in the spotlight:

Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. - Psalm 126:2b-3

The final consolation for those returning from a period of sorrow was it was worth it all.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. - Psalm 126:5-6

Each farmer must take out the paltry offering of seed and place it within the ground and trust that there will be a harvest. For those who follow Jesus, each tear is a seed sown against the promise of a future harvest of joy. There is hope based on the promise of God. Do I trust?

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  - 2 Corinthians 4:17