Psalm Devotional
The Blessings of Faithfulness
Psalm 128 is the ninth in the 15 Songs of Ascents (120-134). The overall theme of the series is ascending into the temple in Jerusalem for the 3 annual feasts (Exod. 23:14-17). These psalms are useful to us as we enter into the heavenly presence of God in public worship (Heb. 12:22-24).
Psalms 127 and 128 share a focus on family and the theme of blessing, especially in 127:5 and 128:1 (how blessed). The emphasis on the sovereignty of God in Psalm 127 complements the emphasis on the responsibility of man in Psalm 128, demonstrating that these two doctrines are intimate friends who do not need to be reconciled. In Psalm 128, verse 4 wraps up the first section with a restatement of verse 1 and introduces the second section with a special call for our close attention (behold, see 127:3).
There is an instructive progression between these two sections. A focus on the individual (vv. 1-4) extends to the nation and the coming generations (vv. 5-6), and a description of blessing (vv. 1-4) proceeds into a declaration of blessing (vv. 5-6). There may also be a welcoming of pilgrims into Jerusalem (vv. 1-4) and a farewell to them as they depart (vv. 5-6; see Num. 6:24-26).
