Happy Is Everyone Who Fears The LORD
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
Happy is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways ...
... it shall go well with you.
-- Psalm 128:1, 2b
Theme: A marriage needs God's blessing
Outline
1-3 -- The happy family is a result and reward of godliness.
4-6 -- Blessings on the ones who revere the Lord.
Notes
• Wisdom
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• This is a companion to Psalm 127. An encouragement to godliness for pilgrim parents and their youth going to Jerusalem and to Christian pilgrims going to the New Jerusalem.
• "Vine" = fruitful, beautiful, precious, dependent, needing care.
• "Olive shoots" = fresh and full of promise.
• "Around your table" = a picture of good fellowship in the family.
• The priest would give the blessing (vv. 5-6), which came from Zion (God's earthly dwelling), promising prosperity for Jerusalem (not in mere material sense, but spiritual, as the people seek to fulfill their mission from the Lord to the world). "Your children's children" could mean not only the grandchildren but also a long line of godly progeny to come.
For Reflection
• Our Lutheran baptism service is as beautiful and awe-inspiring as any such service to be found anywhere. Just to think seriously and earnestly of the words and meaningful rubrics prompts one to pray for the baptized and, in the case of infants, the parents, God's foremost representatives to the child. They need the prayers, encouragement, and blessings of the whole church.
Prayer
Lord God, give to parents the faith, the love, and the courage they need to provide an example to their children of faithfulness to you and to one another. May their homes be marked with reverence, freedom, and good fellowship with you and with one another through the love of Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen.
who walks in his ways ...
... it shall go well with you.
-- Psalm 128:1, 2b
Theme: A marriage needs God's blessing
Outline
1-3 -- The happy family is a result and reward of godliness.
4-6 -- Blessings on the ones who revere the Lord.
Notes
• Wisdom
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• This is a companion to Psalm 127. An encouragement to godliness for pilgrim parents and their youth going to Jerusalem and to Christian pilgrims going to the New Jerusalem.
• "Vine" = fruitful, beautiful, precious, dependent, needing care.
• "Olive shoots" = fresh and full of promise.
• "Around your table" = a picture of good fellowship in the family.
• The priest would give the blessing (vv. 5-6), which came from Zion (God's earthly dwelling), promising prosperity for Jerusalem (not in mere material sense, but spiritual, as the people seek to fulfill their mission from the Lord to the world). "Your children's children" could mean not only the grandchildren but also a long line of godly progeny to come.
For Reflection
• Our Lutheran baptism service is as beautiful and awe-inspiring as any such service to be found anywhere. Just to think seriously and earnestly of the words and meaningful rubrics prompts one to pray for the baptized and, in the case of infants, the parents, God's foremost representatives to the child. They need the prayers, encouragement, and blessings of the whole church.
Prayer
Lord God, give to parents the faith, the love, and the courage they need to provide an example to their children of faithfulness to you and to one another. May their homes be marked with reverence, freedom, and good fellowship with you and with one another through the love of Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen.
