A song of ascents.
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children—
peace be on Israel.
Studying Psalm 128
Besides Being Sung by Pilgrims, Psalm 128 was sung at Jewish Weddings.
Blessed = אַשְׁרֵי (‘ashrei): (ah-shray) – a person’s state of bliss.
- Blessed reflects the idea of being in right standing with God and experiencing the joy that flows from obedience to Him.
Who is Blessed according to the Psalm in 128? Those who ____ the LORD.
Q: What are some things you’re afraid of?
Q: What does it Mean to Fear the LORD?
Fear = (yirah) yee-rah – Fear, reverence, awe
R.C. Sproul
“The fear of the Lord is not to be scared of Him, but to be overwhelmed with a sense of awe and reverence because He is the sovereign, holy God.”
- Fear the LORD means showing God Reverence and Awe
Psalm 33:8 – “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him.”
- Fear of the LORD is the foundation of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
- Fear of the LORD Leads to Turning Away from Sin
Proverbs 16:6 – “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.”
- Fearing the LORD means to Trust in God’s Goodness
Psalm 34:9 – “Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.”
Sinclair Ferguson:
“The Fear of the LORD conveys a sense of Overwhelming awe at the privilege of knowing Him.”
Q: What does the Psalmist say will happen to those who fear the LORD?
A: They Will Be Blessed
1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him….4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD.”
- Blessed = Ashre (Ah-Shray) – Happy, in a state of bliss
- This Hebrew word is always used to refer to people and is never used of God.
- It describes a person or nation who enjoys a relationship with God (Deu_33:29; Job_5:17;Psa_33:12; Psa_146:5).
- It reflects the idea of being in right standing with God and experiencing the joy that flows from obedience to Him.
Psalm 1: “Blessed (Ashre)is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
Festooning in 2025
Festooning (“adorning”) prayer and Scripture passages. Embellishing by personalizing it to our lives.
Template for festooning, using Psalm 128 (based on C.S. Lewis’ Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer) :
- Read Psalm 128 slowly, verse by verse or phrase by phrase.
- Consider the meaning. What do you understand, and what seems disconnected from you? For example, “your wife,” “your sons.” What is the overall meaning? Sit with it. Seek help with understanding, if needed.
- Add your own thoughts and concerns phrase by phrase.
Prayer
Guided prayer:
Example (from the Names of God Bible from Bible Gateway.com. Note that some translations say “prosperity” in verse 2, but the Hebrew word is towb, which has to do with all kinds of goodness and beauty):
Blessed are all who fear Yahweh and live his way. Offer prayers of blessing for specific people or groups of people. Sample phrases: Lord, I ask that you bless [person’s name]; Bless them as they walk in Your ways; Bless our church as we try to live according to Your path.
You will certainly eat what your own hands have provided. Blessings to you! May things go well for you! “Sending” prayers for peoples’ jobs, vocations, and activities. Sample phrases: May [person’s name]’s work and activities be fruitful; May they have peace and joy; May things go well for them this week; prayers for teachers, parents, builders, gardeners, etc.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine inside your home. Your children will be like young olive trees around your table. This is how Yahweh will bless the person who fears him. Specific prayers for families. Sample phrases: Bless [person’s name]’s family, each member. Bless their home and the area where they live. Protect them. May the children in their family grow and develop according to Your plan. May they follow You.
May Yahweh bless you from Zion so that you may see Jerusalem prospering all the days of your life. May you live to see your children’s children. Let there be peace in Israel! Prayers of shalom and well-being. Sample phrases: I pray for health and well-being upon [person’s name]; Grant them health and a good, long life; Bless our town, our nation; May we see good things happening around us; May we see flourishing.
Spiritual Challenges from Psalm 128
Follow the festooning prayer instructions for Psalm 128 or any passage.
- Read the passage slowly, verse by verse or phrase by phrase. It can be a segment of a passage.
- Consider the meaning. Sit with it. Seek help with understanding, if needed.
- Add your own thoughts and concerns phrase by phrase.
Use the Psalm 128 example from the study for ideas of what to pray.
