THE BLESSEDNESS OF REVERENCING GOD (PSALM 128)

Dear Members in Christ,

The blessedness of reverencing God (Psalm 128)

The Chinese lunar falls on the month of February in 2024. Almost everywhere in Asia, families celebrate this happy occasion. This is customary, there will be reunion meals, the giving of gifts, and good wishes from parents to children, from friends and relatives for the year ahead. It is good to wish others blessings for the coming year.

Often, we will hear good wishes for prosperity, especially for wealth and happiness. For those in business or actively pursuing a career, we often hear good wishes for promotion and plentiful remuneration. Sometimes, the well wishes may also desire for long life, good health and strength. And for newly married couples, perhaps good wishes for the gift of a child as an addition to the family.   

It is all good and well, but what does the Bible teach us about blessings? As Christians especially, how do we understand the idea of man receiving blessings from God? This Chinese New Year, we focus our meditation on the passage from the Old Testament - Psalm 128. The first part of this psalm reads,

“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Psalm 128:1-3

Understanding the context is important. This psalm is a song of degrees. It is a psalm that is sung as the pilgrims of old approach the highlands of Jerusalem. 

A. The blessedness of knowing and fearing God

The best wish we have for ourselves and our loved ones is that we all come to know and fear God. The very first verse says, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.” Think of a pilgrim approaching the city of Jerusalem. If it is by day, he will see the structure of the Temple and the surrounding buildings set on a hill. If it is by night, he shall see the lights of the city on a hill. The pilgrim will be reminded of his sojourn, to travel to the city of God, to worship and to gather with God’s people.

This is the unique privilege of being God’s people. No other people can lay claim to this great gracious gift of knowing God and His ways and His laws. This Lunar new year, we should take time to remember that “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.” If you are one who is in Christ, whose faith and trust is in His salvation, blessed are ye indeed! The word translated as “fear” in the King James Bible means to reverence God. This is not the kind of trembling fear for impending judgement, but rather, a fear in the sense of awe and reverence and honour towards God. This comes only to those whose heart have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit for 1 Corinthians 2:12 teaches us, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”    

What blessedness it is to know the True and Living God who created heaven and earth.Remember that as Christians, we have a gospel message for the world that is in darkness. What shall we desire and pray for all and sundry, all our loved ones, relatives, and friends? Namely, that they too may come and know and love and honour God for who He really is, the Lord and Saviour of this world. Beloved, make this your prayer, that you may have a greater zeal and love for God, and that you too may have the boldness to share the Gospel of salvation with your loved ones.      

B. The blessings comes only from God’s gracious hand upon those that walk in His ways

Psalm 128 is set in the Old Testament and it is closely linked to the blessings that God had promised His people. If they were to obey His Word, then they will reap blessings of abundance. As God had promised His people in Deuteronomy, they will receive blessings from the hand of God if they were to obey His Word.

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.” Deuteronomy 28:2,3

This is the important underlying knowledge when we meditate upon receiving blessings from God. Therefore, blessings come from God, only from Him, and God’s people are always to walk in His ways in order to please Him.

Thus when the psalmist writes, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” It is an acknowledgement that blessings of all kinds, physical or spiritual, comes only from God, and man’s response is to obey Him and live a life pleasing to Him.

Dearly beloved, as we think about Chinese New Year gatherings and our good wishes and prayer for one another, let us remember the exhortation form God’s Word. Let us be reminded to love one another as He has commanded, let us serve Him fervently, and let us obey His Word that we may live according to His Word and to walk in His ways. May God be praised. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor