PSALM 128
1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!
10 POINTS TO PONDER
The better life begins in your heart, becomes externalized in your actions, slowly spreads to those closest to you, and ultimately impacts anyone in your circles of influence.
The first biblical example of fearing the LORD happened in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve hid from God. They were afraid because of feelings of guilt and inadequacy. This is NOT the proper example. Our fear of the LORD is not terror, but is rather honor, respect, admiration, and submission.
When God is the first priority of my heart, my life will be characterized by obedience to Him and imitation of Him.
The “blessed life” is not a cliché meaning we get everything we desire; rather, it is an inversion of what our sinful soul pursues, and it is a recalibration of what we hope for in life.
When you fear the LORD and walk in His ways, you will experience the rolling back of sins curse. What was once a difficulty will become a joy. What once caused dread will now be anticipated.
When a husband cultivates his relationship with his wife by being attentive, consistent, tender, and patient, she will bring joy and fruitfulness to their home.
We may not see the benefit of our parenting for years. Some children take a long time to mature. However, the more intentional we are in their younger years, the more likely it is that they will bring us great joy in our older years.
Nations are blessed when their cities are blessed. Cities are blessed when their families are blessed. Families are blessed when their parents walk with God.
No one has ever fully feared the LORD or completely walked in His ways. That’s why we’ve never really experienced the blessings described in this Psalm. This is why we need Jesus!
You can either have Jesus or prosperity. Or you can have Jesus’ version of prosperity, which is death.
ONE DAY, AMERICA WILL FALL
Jeremiah wrote from a place of unimaginable despair. The world he knew had come to an end. His grief and agony bleed across every page of Lamentations. The glorious city of Jerusalem lay in ruins, and from Jeremiah’s perspective there seemed to be no hope of rebuilding or restoration.
Yet there is hope.
Jerusalem was not the first great city to fall, and it would not be the last. History is filled with the ruins of kingdoms that once seemed invincible. Today we can walk through the remains of the Mayans, the Incas, the Romans, the Persians, and countless others. Every empire eventually crumbles. No earthly kingdom lasts forever.
That may not sound hopeful at first, but it is.
America is still a young nation. At 250 years old, it has existed for only a fraction of the time that Israel or Judah endured. Yet one day Washington will fall. New York will fade. Los Angeles will become another chapter in history. It may not happen in our lifetime, but it will happen. Someday someone could write these same words over our nation:
“How lonely sits the city that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations!”
Do you see the hope now?
The same principle applies to every one of us. You may live seventy or eighty years if God grants it. Then your life on earth will end. Your accomplishments will be forgotten. Your possessions will decay. Your reputation will fade. Everything you build in this world will eventually crumble.
Yet there is hope.
Peter reminds us that those who belong to Christ “have been born again to a living hope… to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4).
If your hope is in yourself, you will eventually be disappointed.
If your hope is in your abilities, your achievements, or your wealth, they will fail you.
If your hope is in your country, it will one day disappoint you.
If your hope is in a politician, a pastor, a leader, or a celebrity, they will eventually let you down.
Everything ends.
Except the kingdom of God.
So place your hope where it can never be shaken. Invest your time, your talent, and your treasure in the kingdom that will never fall. Live for what lasts forever.
Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF
The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into what the Bible teaches about fearing the Lord:
- Proverbs 1:7
- Deuteronomy 10:12
- Proverbs 8:13
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
- Psalm 34:9
- Proverbs 15:16
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:
Discussion Questions – Matthew 6:19–34
Who in your life needs to be reminded that God is faithful? How can you encourage them this week?
What are some of your favorite keepsakes? Why are they so meaningful to you? How would you feel if you lost them?
Why is it so difficult to let go of the things we love?
Read Matthew 6:19–34. Which two or three sentences stand out to you the most? Why do they resonate with you?
Jesus talks about storing up treasure in two different places. What are those two places, and what makes them so different?
Do you know someone who has lost an earthly treasure—a possession, investment, or accomplishment that meant a great deal to them? What happened, and what did you learn from their experience?
In verses 25–32, Jesus tells His followers not to be anxious. What specific things does He mention? Why do you think people worry so much about them?
Jesus commands us to “seek first the kingdom of God.” What do you think that means? What would it look like for someone to live as though God is truly their King?
Jesus also tells us to seek God’s righteousness. What do you think that looks like in everyday life?
God has entrusted each of us with different treasures—our time, abilities, relationships, opportunities, finances, and influence. Which treasures has He entrusted to you? How do you think He wants you to invest them?
What causes you the most anxiety? What are you most afraid of losing? How do verses 27–30 speak into those fears?
Is there anything God may be asking you to let go of? Is there something He is calling you to pursue more intentionally?
What is one practical way you can remind yourself of God’s faithful provision this week?
Lake Bible Notes 
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