Songs from the Heart Day 29 Psalm 128

Read the Psalm

Psalm 128

Blessings for Those Who Fear God

A song of ascents.

1 How happy is everyone who fears the Lord,

who walks in his ways!

2 You will surely eat

what your hands have worked for.

You will be happy,

and it will go well for you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

within your house,

your children, like young olive trees

around your table.

4 In this very way

the man who fears the Lord

will be blessed.

5 May the Lord bless you from Zion,

so that you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life

6 and will see your children’s children!

Peace be with Israel.

—Christian Standard Bible

Ponder

Before you go on with the rest of your day, take a few minutes to think about what you’ve just read. The following journal prompts can help guide you, if needed. 

• What does this psalm teach you about God’s character? About the peoples’ posture toward or relationship with God? 

• In this passage, “fear” is not terror, but rather awe and reverence that come from a right understanding of God’s character and power. Does that describe you? Why or why not? 

• The idea of verses 1-2 is that those who recognize God’s power and character and live accordingly will experience true happiness. Does that match your definition of what brings true happiness? Explain. 

• Reread verses 3-4, which stress that God blesses those who fear him. Have you ever experienced situations in your life or in the life of your church family that show you this is true? 

• Fearing God, then, is rightly understanding who he is and out of that awe and reverence, living in obedience to him. What does your level of obedience teach you about your level of reverence for God? Explain. 

• If this review revealed any attitudes or patterns of thinking or patterns of disobedience you need to confess, what steps will you take to do so today? 

• Turn your attention to the final verses of Psalm 128, verses 5-6. Obedience to God results in blessings that span generations. How have you seen that to be true in your family? In your church family? 

• Think about the legacy of blessing you want your family and your church family to experience generations from now. How will you choose to live faithfully today knowing your obedience can have long-lasting consequences that span generations?