Scripture
Psalm 128: 1-4 How happy are those who fear the Lord- all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord’s reward for those who fear him.
Observation
The passage teaches that God rewards certain people. I want to know 1) who does he reward and 2) what is the reward.
1) The Lord rewards those who fear him. Verse 1 says those who fear the Lord- all who follow his ways. So what does it mean to fear God? It means to obey Him. If I fear God, I will obey His word. Fear means respect and reverence. It means I understand God’s authority over my life. If God can reward me, he can also discipline me. He has that authority over my life. He is the boss. I love God for his mercy and grace. I also respect God’s authority as Lord over my life.
2) The reward to me for respecting him is to bless my family. My wife and children will know the favor of God. The verse speaks of vigorous which indicates healthy. The olive tree indicates fruitfulness and success. When I live my life God’s way and by His Word, my family reaps the benefits! That is a great truth.
My life will be rich and happy. This does not mean I will never face difficulties or be persecuted for my faith. It may mean wealth and things but I think it is referring to relationships. My life is rich when it is rich in relationships. Relationships bring richness to my life more than things. I get bored with things, even expensive things. They will always produce a bigger and better thing. But relationships make my life worth living. God promises that if I live by His word and respect his authority over my life, he will bless my family and all of my relationships. That is a great promise.
Application
The condition to this promise is that I fear the Lord and follow his ways. Jesus is my savior and Lord. He is the supreme authority over my life. He is the boss. He is my master. He has final say. I show my respect to Jesus through obedience. I obey His word. His word is the Bible. As I obey and live by the Bible, my relationships will prosper. It is as simple as that.
Prayer
Father, I make Jesus Lord of my life today. He is my master. I am His servant. I ask that you give me the faith, courage, respect, and love to obey all of His commands. I ask that you bless Cathy. I ask that you bless Ross, Sarah, Charles, and Tyler. My all of my family and all of my relationships know the blessing and favor of God. Amen.
