Psalm 128 A Song of Ascents

“The quiet blessings of an ordered life are traced from the centre outwards in this psalm, as the eye travels from the godly man to his family and finally to Israel. Here is simple piety with its proper fruit of stability and peace: Kidner, 443. 

How are Psalms 127 and 128 linked?

1.The word blessed- 127:5; 128:1-2

2. eat/eating in 127:2; 128:2

3. Behold in 127:3; 128:4

4. son/sons in 127:3, 4; 128:3, 6

5. fruit in 127:3; 128:3 McCann, 1200; Allen, 184-185.

“Both sections of Psalm 128 display the same movement from third person (vv. 1, 4) to direct address (vv. 2-3, 5-6)” McCann, 1200.

Both are viewed as wisdom psalms. These provide instruction in daily living in the manner of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job.

128:1  Both this verse and vs. 4 emphasize fearing the LORD. Fearing the LORD is highlighted in Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Prov. 1:9; 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13. “To fear the Lord means fundamentally to recognize God’s sovereignty and so to entrust life and future to God (see Pss. 2:11; 25:14; 31:19; 33:18; 34:9, 11; 60:4; 112:1; 115:11, 13; 118:4)” McCann, 1201. It means to walk in integrity- Ps. 26:1. Notice how universal these promises are- everyone.

128:2 When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands- The generalized statement of vs. 1 is personalized in vs. 2 with you. 

128:3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine- Contrast Gen. 30:1-2; I Sam. 1:5-6; Luke 1:25 “Fruitful vine and olive shoot are fit similes of prolific fruit bearing” Miller, 408. “The vine was a symbol not only of fruitfulness (here explicitly so) but of sexual charm (Song of Solomon 7:8) and of festivity (Judges 9:13)” Kidner, 443.

128:5 The LORD will bless you from Zion- Pss. 14:7; 20:2. The godly man’s concern extends beyond his own family to all the nation. The temple mount is the source of blessing for all- Ezek. 47:1-12. Zion is a key theme in the Songs of Ascents- Pss. 122:1-2, 6-9; 125:1-2; 126:1; 129:5; 132:31; 134:3. 

Blessing a key theme in these psalms- 129:8; 132:15; 133:3; 134:3.

128:6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children- This is actually your son’s sons. This implies a long life- Gen. 48:11; Prov. 17:6

Peace be upon Israel!- Pss. 122:6-8; 125:5; 134:3. The wordplay between Jerusalem in vs. 5 and peace in vs. 6.

“The simple philosophy of the psalm, though presented in seemingly absolute terms, receives qualification even in the OT and certainly in the NT (cf. Job; Habakkuk 3:17-18; Rom. 8:35-39). But for many it must have proved a good working principle of life; such categorical promises of material endowment are not absent from the NT (Matt. 6:33; II Cor. 9:6-12; Phil 4:19) despite a shift to a less earthly emphasis” Allen, 186,

Psalm 128 and Jesus

128:3 “The imagery of vine and olive tree are reminiscent of the years of David and Solomon (I Kings 4:25) and the blessings associated with the Messianic era (Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). To sit under one’s vine and fig tree was an expression of a state of tranquility, peace, and prosperity” VanGemeren, 796. 

128:3 Jesus is the ultimate vine who causes us to bear fruit- John 15:1-8

128:5 The LORD bless you from Zion- Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3

128:6 Peace be upon Israel- Jesus is our peace- Eph. 2:14-17