As we come to Psalm 128 the next step in progressing to spiritual victory is a biblical fear of God. It appears the key thought of this psalm is the fear of the Lord, and the blessings that accompany it.

First, when we talk of fearing God we are not to fear Him as someone just waiting for an opportunity to punish or destroy us, but as a Father who loves us enough to chasten or discipline us for our own good when we are willfully disobedient. I fear displeasing the Lord, and I fear His chastening hand in my life.

I just want to make some miscellaneous comments regarding this psalm. In verse 1 we see that the fear of the Lord leads to obedience, which in turn leads to spiritual blessings.

What blessings will the God fearing man experience?

1. He will be happy, enjoying the labor of his hands, as opposed to those who labor but are unable to enjoy the benefits of their efforts as recorded in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 2:13 … and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

It appears they labored, but to no profit.

Also if we were to back up to chapter 127 we would see the same thing.

Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Many of God’s saints labor, but do not profit from their efforts. But the ones who fear the Lord, and walk in His ways are blessed to enjoy their labors.

2. In verse 3 we see blessings in the home. The wife as a healthy clinging vine attaches to the side of the house and ever reaches heavenward. Notice she is not on the roof in a position of headship over the home, but neither is she on the ground to be treated as a second class member of the family, but on the side to stand with her husband.

Also the children are inside the home seated around the table. This portrays the children protected, positioned and ready to receive spiritual nourishment at the hands of their parents. The home is God’s chosen place for the children to grow spiritually. Your children will be spiritually malnourished and weaklings if all the spiritual nutrients they receive are at the house of God! (Please understand I am not minimizing the church, but simply seeking to challenge godly parents who may think church is all their children need.)

3. In verse 4 and 5 we see that the man who fears the Lord is blessed by the church. In other words he gets help at the house of God. He is reproved, instructed, corrected, and educated at God’s house all the days of his life.

4. In verse 6 the man who fears the Lord is blessed with a long life seeing his children’s children.

5. Also in verse 6 we see the Lord will bless him with a life filled with peace.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.