Psalms 128
PSALMSPsalms 128:1-6
Psalms 1281. (Psalms 128:1) A Song of Ascents. Happy is every fearer of Jehovah, the (one) walking in his ways. This psalm seems intended to assure the tempted and discouraged people of Judah, under the most adverse circumstances, that devotion to his service cannot lose its reward. As if he had said, however things may now seem to an eye of sense, it is still a certain truth that the truly happy man is he who fears Jehovah, not in mere profession, but who testifies his fear of him by walking in his ways or doing his commandments.
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(Psalms 128:2) The labour of thy hands when thou shalt eat, happy thou and well with thee. The promise implied is the opposite of the threatening in Deuteronomy 28; Deuteronomy 33, Leviticus 26:16. What the enemies of Israel are there described as doing, it is here said that Israel shall do himself. Well with thee, literally good for thee. The conjunction in the first clause is not to be construed as in Psalms 118:10, but as a particle of time. Happy thou, or oh thy happiness, is an expression borrowed from Deuteronomy 33:29
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(Psalms 128:3) Thy wife, as a fruitful vine at the sides of thy house; thy sons, as olive-plants around thy table. The word translated sides always means the edge or border, and, according to some, the innermost part. See above, on Psalms 48:2. Sons, as usual, represent the children of both sexes. The olive-plants are emblems of luxuriance and fruitfulness. See above, on Psalms 52:8, and compare Jeremiah 11:16. The Hebrew for around or about is the same as in Psalms 125:2.
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(Psalms 128:4) See–for so shall be blessed the man fearing Jehovah. The lo or behold at the beginning is equivalent to saying, Look upon this picture, for it represents the state of one who truly fears the Lord. Although such a connection between goodness and prosperity was far from uniform and constant under the Old Testament than now, it is not to be supposed that these promises were actually verified in the experience of every godly Israelite. This has led some of the most eminent interpreters to the conclusion, that the promises of this psalm are not personal at all, but addressed to an ideal person representing the whole class of true believers, the true Israel.
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(Psalms 128:5) Jehovah bless thee out of Zion, and look thou upon the welfare of Jerusalem. The consecution of the future and imperative is the same as in Psalms 110:2. The latter might, therefore, be translated as a promise, the Lord shall bless thee, but the optative meaning seems more natural in this connection. In either case, the imperative conveys substantially the same idea. See above, on Psalms 37:3-4; Psalms 37:27. From Zion, as his earthly residence, the seat of the theocracy. See above, on Psalms 20:2. Look upon, with joy and triumph. See above, on Psalms 22:17, Psalms 37:14. Welfare, literally goodness, not of character but of condition, good fortune. The Hebrew word occurs above, Psalms 119:66.
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(Psalms 128:6) And see thou sons to thy sons. Peace (be) upon Israel! The first clause is a virtual promise of long life— thou shalt see thy children’s children. An interesting parallel is furnished by Zechariah 8:4, the whole of which chapter is, indeed, a prophetic commentary on this psalm. For the meaning of the last clause see above, on Psalms 125:5.