The Lord Blesses the Home That Fears Him

This special meditation has been prepared by PRC home missionary, Rev. Aud Spriensma.

The Lord Blesses the Home That Fears Him

Meditation on Psalm 128:1

Blessed is everyone that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

This is another song sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for worship. Psalm 127 and 128 are known as “family psalms”. Each psalm has one musical rendition in our song book. Invariably, as I made ‘baby calls’ in my pastorates, I would read one of these psalms. For little sons given, I  usually read  Psalm 127:4, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man.” For little daughters given I would often refer to  Psalm 128:3,”thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Psalm 144 is a prayer “that our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” What a blessing children are! I would like to call them, “gardens of the Lord.”

But while these psalms rejoice over family happiness, notice that our text states, “Blessed is everyone that feareth the LORD.” That “everyone” is inclusive: husbands, wives, children, those who are single, those couples that are childless, those who are healthy, and those with special needs. The everyone in the text are blessed in the families given because as the family of God, God continues to save in the line of our generations. He adds daily to the church such as should be saved.

The ”everyone” of our text is also particular. It is not everyone in the world, and not even everyone in the church. It is everyone that feareth the LORD. What does that mean? Do you fear the LORD? We should cultivate ‘fear of the Lord’. We should cultivate child-like fear of Jehovah. Stand in awe and reverence of our God. Like children, we should be afraid to offend Him. We should be anxious to please. We should be quick to submit to and obey him. We, as believers, are children of God, children by grace which have been adopted as sons and daughters through his only begotten Son, Christ Jesus.

This fear of the Lord is the fit foundation of holy living. Apart from this fear of the Lord, there is no holiness. None but those who fear the Lord can or will walk in His ways. That life which God declares  to be blessed must be practical. It is foolish and vain to talk about fearing the Lord if we act like there is no God in our work or recreation. God’s ways will be our ways if we fear Him. If our heart is joined to Him, our feet will follow after Him. Or, to put it another way, one’s heart is seen in His walk! What does your  walk say about you?

Faith is that bond that we have with God that God Himself works in us. But that faith is also a wonderful activity; we love God, trust Him, believe on Him, submit and obey Him. It is the activity of saying no to sin, and saying yes to His good commandments. It is in the way of obedience that we experience the smile, the favor, and the blessedness of the Lord. God whispers to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Those who are blessed by the Lord are blessed indeed! Undeserved blessings, all flowing to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalmist emphasizes in vs. 5, “The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.”

I said that this is a family psalm. “Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children” (vs.6). How wonderful to see one generation passing down to the next generation knowledge of and love for the LORD , our Creator and Redeemer! May we experience in this way “peace upon Israel.” There is no peace for the wicked. They should be afraid of God, for He is a consuming fire. But to them that love Him, are called according to His purpose, there is supreme happiness, no matter the circumstances of their lives. Do you know this happiness? Is it evident in your life, your work, and in your family?