There is a description here in Psalm 128:2-3 of the idyllic life, the perfect life, the life that comes by the blessing of the Lord. We wouldn’t think these are miraculous things to “eat of the labor of your hands”, to “be happy”, to have a “wife”, “home”, “children”. But we are in this world where people oppress others, where there is sickness and disease, where there is fighting and striving between people to get what they want and sadly it is often us after our own gain. But here is the miracle, in Psalm 130:4 “with you (O Yah, the Lord) is forgiveness”. And from this place of forgiveness we can love and live and overcome the offenses and the injustice we have faced. But the Lord doesn’t stop with forgiveness, in Psalm 135:14 “for Yahweh will plead the cause of his people and will have compassion on his servants”. The Lord is for us, the Lord is with us and “thus shall a man be blessed”.
Thus Shall a Man be Blessed
Psalm 128:1–6
What does the blessing of the Lord look like? It is described in
Psalm 128:2-3 “You will indeed eat of the labor of your hands; you will be happy and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house. Your children will be like olive shoots about your table”.
This is prosperous in your work, happy, content, satisfied with a home to live in and a wife to share your life with. And then your children, growing, with you, all together. And then there is the blessing of peace in your nation in Psalm 128:5 and the legacy of your life through your children’s children in Psalm 128:6.
And who does the Lord bestow this blessing on? In Psalm 128:1 “everyone who fears Yahweh and walks in his ways”. The Lord is not holding anything back from those that will seek and heed and follow after his righteousness.
With You is Forgiveness
Psalm 130:1–8
Is there a person alive that hasn’t felt the hurt of an offense from someone? And if we are honest with ourselves, haven’t we been the cause of hurt to someone? How do you repay that wrong? There are some times when we can make restitution and restore, but many times when someone must bear the consequences of our actions. Shouldn’t a righteous judge require restitution where possible and exact a punishment equal to the offense (see Leviticus 24:13-22, Deuteronomy 19:15-21)? And if this punishment were meted out, who could stand as it says in
Psalm 130:3–4 If you, O Yah, should keep track of iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you is forgiveness, so that you may be feared.”
Jesus gave the message this way in Matthew 5:38-42 “I say to you, do not resist the evildoer”, he didn’t say this because they should not receive retribution, but because we can be consumed seeking vengeance. Our life is for living and seeking the good. Yes, bad things happen, but somehow, by the grace and mercy of God, we must find a way to overcome and that begins with forgiveness.
Lift Up Your Hands in the Sanctuary
Yahweh Will Plead the Cause of His People
Psalm 135:1–21
We praise the Lord as in Psalm 135:1-4 because “Yahweh is good”. And this is not just theory or supposition, but a record of his goodness through experience with him. There is his great power in nature in Psalm 135:6-7. There is his great deliverance of his people from the oppression of Egypt and from other kings that were against them in Psalm 135:8-12. But all of that is history. The Lord is also for his people right now in
Psalm 135:13–14 O Yahweh, your name endures forever, O Yahweh, your renown throughout all generations, 14 for Yahweh will plead the cause of his people and will have compassion on his servants.
The things the nations worship, their idols are in Psalm 135:15 “the work of the hands of humankind”. But these things in Psalm 135:16-18 “cannot speak … cannot see … cannot hear” and have no breath in them. There is though an awful end for those that “trust in them (these idols), they also become deaf, dumb, blind, and dead as it says in
Psalm 135:18 “Those who make them become like them, as does everyone who trusts in them”.
His Loyal Love Endures Forever
Psalm 136:1–26
Blessed is the One Whose Help is the God of Jacob
Psalm 146:1–10
Great is Our Lord
Psalm 147:1–20
Study Verses
- Psalm 128:1–6 Thus Shall a Man be Blessed
- Psalm 130:1–8 With You is Forgiveness
- Psalm 135:1–21 Yahweh Will Plead the Cause of His People
Today’s Reading
- Psalm 128:1-6
- Psalm 130:1-8
- Psalm 135:1-21
- Psalm 136:1-26
- Psalm 146:1-10
- Psalm 147:1-20
