The Psalms - Adding Music and Teaching from the Word of God

"The welfare of the State depends upon virtuous family life, and virtuous family life must be founded upon active religious principle." Kirkpatrick

Songs of Ascents - (120 to 134)
Yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem, for the Passover.
Or Ascent like degrees of thought/theme in the psalm itself. Cf.130, 128

What we can say - re its literary setting: it has similar themes as the psalm before it.
Both speak of a "house". (Neg. in 127, Pos. in 128.) Both, speak of "labour", (Neg. in 127, Pos in 128.) Both of "eating," (Again, Neg. & Pos). Both speak of children as a blessing. It's easy to see why they appear together.

Opening statement: promise of blessing

Vs. 1 makes opening statement/promise! (reinforced in vs.4); rest of psalm describes certain aspects of%u2026
What is the promise? Nothing less than the greatest happiness one can know: "blessedness"
How? By fearing the Lord & walking in His ways.

What is it to fear God? Sounds so neg. and scary. Well, it is, in one sense:
Heb 10:31 - "It is a fearful thing..." In context of judgment/punishment, it is neg & scary.
But our context, and elsewhere, not neg. and scary, but pos and a blessing! As we'll see.
It means to revere God. To respect Him. To be concerned not to offend/disobey Him.
To realise that his goodness is equal to His sovereignty and power.

Ever have a teacher, or parent that loved & cared for you & wanted to do you good?
And at the same time was a person in authority and had certain power over you. You respected him; you were careful not to get on his wrong side; you held him in high esteem.
You feared him. And yet a mere man. [read vs.1]- Almighty God!!

Who is the man who fears God? "who walks in His ways..."

Fearing God & walking in His ways - inseparable. (Read top quote again "active")
( Ps.1 - "does not walk.." here, Pos.) So, opposite of Ps. 1 "walks not, stands, not, sits not"
Man looks everywhere for happiness, by walking in own ways. Prov 14:12 - "there is a wa
True blessedness or contentment starts with a recognition and right response to God = fear

Augustus Tholuck -1870
"When worldly prudence attempts to choose a wife and form a household, it builds, so to speak, the first and second story, adds cornice and pediment, (little gable roof), and the fabric presents a fair appearance. But it has no foundation. Whenever you see the household of a married pair continuing to defy every storm, you may be sure that it rests upon a sure foundation, lying beyond the reach of human sense, and that foundation is the fear of the Lord."
1/ Individual Blessings - In work (vs.2)

Notice: The Blessing of Labour.
We have to work! A Christian principle right throughout Scripture. And it's a blessing!
If it's done with God. Otherwise waste of time, (Ps.127).

But it's true! You know the feeling - esp. with physical labour:

You've dug the last ditch. Hammered the last nail. Wrenched in the last bolt for the day -
Come home and feels good to be with wife & family and eat a meal!

But we must work. Spurgeon says, "we are not promised a blessing upon romantic idleness or unreasonable dreaming, but upon hard work and honest industry."
Reminds me, and reinforces my conviction re: "Take it easy!" Ps.73:12 stuck out to me: "Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease..."

So: first blessing flowing out of vs.1 v.2b - You shall be happy, (blessed) and it shall be well with you."

2/ Family Blessings - In marriage & Children (vs. 3&4)

Important: Psalm not saying all who fear God will never be unemployed or childless...etc
But to those who fear God & are employed & have a family, these blessing are yours.

The blessings of a wife & children! "He who finds a wife%u2026" (Prov.18:22)
"Like a fruitful vine in very heart of your house." The analogy is fitting:
A vine is a plant of beauty & fruitfulness. So a wife when fruitful in homely keeping. Pr.31

It's a fruitful vine. As a vine with many grapes is a blessing, so a mother with many children. (cf. Ps.127). Unfortunately this blessing is not common in our society, & West in general.

- Mothers prioritise raising of work profile /income over raising children.
- Therefore the need for day care. B.t.w some centres take 6 month year olds!!!
- If they have children!! More woman are choosing not to.
- Marriage and children are one of the last options for many.

A vine, like the Olive tree is long lasting - fitting re v.6
A fruitful vine provides shade & produces wine which, (Ps.104) "gladdens the heart of man.
[Read Spurgeon P.8 section]

"Behold%u2026" [vs.4] - reinforcing the blessings of the God fearing person.

3/ Corporate Blessings - In Church and Nation (vs.5&6)

Notice extension: from individual - to family - now to the nation.
Move from blessings in the field & home, to a blessings in the church & society
"Zion" & "Jerusalem" = name representing places where God is.
The King who enthrones Zion (where temple was) - the centre of all blessings.
Jesus, who is this King, still rules from the heavenly Zion -& all blessings must flow from...
Don't expect to be blessed from anywhere else.
If you're working seven days a week and not meeting for worship, no blessing in that.
If you neglect the fellowship of the brethren - no blessing in that.

"May you see the good of Jerusalem..." - Isn't that what we want to see!
Revival in Church & Society! And how often...? - "All the days of your life."
Surely, no higher blessing - for a man to live and die in a revival of true Christianity.
And may it include "your children's children" "Happiness is a grandparent!"

"Peace be upon Israel" - (also Ps.125 ending)- Perhaps a blessing/benediction from Priest
In all of these blessings, individual, family, corporate - may there be peace on God's people
Often think, (re this verse) of actual Israel, (land of Palestine). Obviously, no peace there!
And won't be unless truth of v.1 is realised and believed by both Jew & Arab.

Why? B/c the peace (v.6), comes from the LORD, (v.1). And that LORD is Jesus Christ.
He is the Prince of Peace, prophesied in Is.9. Jesus said himself. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you."
The Apostle Paul said we have "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom.5:1) and that, "He himself is our peace%u2026" (Eph.2:14)

What a psalm of hope%u2026of instruction... of relevance to us now as then.
Hope for a future of godliness & blessedness, in your own life, our family's and our land!
It begins with v.1 with an "active religious principle"

Finish, again with opening quote:"The welfare of the State depends upon virtuous family life, and virtuous family life must be founded upon active religious principle."

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