Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Psalms of Ascent Part 9

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

This Psalm is on the theme of the blessedness of the godly. This blessedness is not an absence of labour or an abundance of leisure but is instead an enjoyment of the fruits of labour. As it says in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, “There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.”

Speaking specifically of Christ, but applicable also in a measure to those who follow Him in the way of the cross is Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Christ is satisfied in His labour as He enjoys the fruit of many sons brought to glory. Fallen men redeemed and made holy, the spirits of just men made perfect by His atoning sacrifice. In a very real sense His wife is a fruitful vine and His children are olive plants around the table.

The righteous truly do have a wonderful heritage awaiting them both in this life and in the life to come.

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