Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128: 1-6, NKJV.
Dear God, as we come into Your presence today, we thank You for helping us through our studies during this month of February. Please grant us, as family members, the desire to be obedient hearers, and doers, of Your holy will. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we humbly pray. Amen.
We have come to the last day of this month of February. During this month we have looked at different characteristics of the members that comprise our immediate families, wife and mother; children, husband and father. We have studied about the relationships with the members, of our immediate, and extended, families. We have also talked about some of the problems, that we, as families, have had to struggle with. But today, we want to end this series on a high note! God is the one who created the family; and He who “began a good work,” is willing, and well able, to complete it until the day that He returns in glory to take us to be with Him (Philippians 1: 6)!
The Psalm that we are looking at today, is a psalm of joy and rejoicing. It is a Song of Ascents! The worshipers would sin these words as they walked to the temple. It speaks of the joy and gladness that is the reward of the person who walks in the way of the LORD. That person will enjoy the reward of his or her work. Unlike the harvest of pain and regret that is the result of disobedience to the Word of God, those who walk in paths of righteousness, reap happiness. The inner-person is at rest, and prosperity attends the labor of their hands.
The spouse of that person is also blessed. There is no barrenness. The fruit of the womb is one of the outward blessings of a marriage. And like olive plants, our children are a great blessing! But the fruit of righteousness is just as great a blessing, and even greater! Not every marriage has children to show as a result of their union, but every union can produce a harvest of righteousness, if the Holy spirit is a part of the household, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2: 6, 7)! No storm of life can destroy such a sure and firm foundation (Matthew 7: 24, 25)! Hallelujah!
The prayer expressed in this psalm is that blessings might accompany the person who “fears” the LORD! In the home where Jesus is lifted up and revered, as God and Savior, where He is worshiped as Creator and Lord, they will not only see prosperity, but will also experience it! What is truly amazing about this prosperity, is that it is not temporary, but permanent. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15: 7). Emphasis supplied.
The word abide speaks of permanence. Such a family “abides” in God’s love from generation to generation. All the days of their lives, they shall see good in the land of their sojourn. For the Jew, Jerusalem was not just a temporary residence; it was their land. They would build and inhabit, they would plant and reap. They would live a long and fruitful life, and see the offspring of their offspring!
For the family, in the twenty first century – in the midst of whatever we are going through, we have the assurance that “good” will be the final result, and that God has promised us “everlasting life,” not in an earthly Jerusalem; but in the New Jerusalem! We hear a lot of talk about what heaven is going to be like. But we do not have the mental capacity to even envision its splendor. I believe that the very best images that our minds are capable of, fall far short of the glories that God has prepared for those who love Him, and desire to spend eternity with Him!
I further believe, that when by God’s grace, we, and our family members are saved at last in the kingdom of glory, we will enjoy heaven together as a family! What our activities will be, I do not know. But heaven, is going to be a place of happy reunion! There will be no disillusionment there! Loved ones who were separated by discord, disappointment, and death, will once again be united, nevermore to part!
Let us be faithful, dear ones! It won’t be long till we see Jesus, and hear from His blessed lips, “Enter into the joy of Your Lord” (Matthew 25: 23c)! Until then, keep praying for one another, keep helping one another, and keep loving one another, till we see Christ! Remember, our families are gifts of love, cherish them!
NOTE: These counsels are shared from a Biblical, not a clinical, perspective.