This psalm is like a song of blessing on the home life of godly families. It is a wisdom psalm with basic teachings, not just sung on the way to Jerusalem or the house of God, but at all times in a home where God is honored. The very first word, “blessed,” means in this verse, “happy.” The same English word is used near the end of the psalm, but it means to be praised or congratulated there. Between these two words are descriptions of a home where God is honored and of how it affects the pilgrim’s wife and children.
To begin reading this psalm, it is helpful to think thoughts similar to what the writer must have had. He is saying, “May my children and their mates be… God-fearing and God-honoring in verse one. That kind of happiness is what we want for our children and their families. Evidence of God’s influence in a family is usually easy to see. There is a calmness and respect that come with God-consciousness. The way we speak, the words we use, the attitudes of parents and children, and the way siblings treat each other are obvious.
In verse two, the pilgrim desires that his family be hard-working and happy in their work. There are obvious benefits from useful labor that provide for all in a family. The next verse describes a fruitful and helpful family in which the pilgrim’s wife and children are fully engaged in the everyday life activities needed for happiness. Then, in verse four from the home life of the pilgrim, he is blessed, and they are all a blessing. May I, a grandfather, pray to God to see my children and grandchildren living for the Lord in peace and contentment.
This psalm teaches fundamental wisdom and normality, likely not just to be sung on the way up to the house of God in Jerusalem, but at all times. The principles given are basic and simple to understand and apply in everyday life. One can be happy when they choose to fear the Lord and walk in His ways. He will eat the fruit of his labor, and his wife and children will flourish because of his wise leadership. Contentment, joy, prosperity, and fruitfulness lead to real happiness. The values we learn from the word of God shape our relationships and make home life the way it should be.
There are conferences one can attend and books to read about how to make family life good. But the real secret to a happy family life comes when they all walk and daily live in the fear of the Lord. The distinctness of roles in the family is made plain in the scriptures. “Family altars,” family worship, and learning from the Bible how to live, what to believe, and make the right choices keep family life good and relevant to what life should be like. When we acknowledge the Lord, there are the rewards of happiness and productivity - sometimes prosperity and long life. Proper conduct and the right relationships go hand in hand. Hard work and enjoyment also go together, but not prosperity and pleasure.
The latter part of this psalm concerns blessings on the community, not just on the family. “Thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem.” There are blessings from Zion, not just from our homes. When God is honored, some blessings extend outward to those around us. There is no substitute in a community for those who live godly lives. Their influence may not be dramatic, but consistent, and that is what is needed for daily contentment among a society of people. Home life, like community life, may either be a battlefield or a peaceful park, depending on the attitudes of those involved. Israel is presently a battlefield, but there will come a time when it will be a peace park.
PSALM 128 A HAPPY FAMILY v.1-4. Blessing on the Home. “Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord.” v.5-6. Blessing on the Community. “Thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem.”