Monday, June 17 – Psalm 125, 128 – Additional Reading, Patriarchs and Prophets 538

1. Contrasting Images: How do the images of “the mountains of Jerusalem” (Psalm 125:1) and the “fruit of your labor” (Psalm 128:2) work together to illustrate God’s faithfulness in both enduring stability and fruitful blessings?

2. Living a Fearing God: What does it mean to you to “fear the Lord” as mentioned in Psalm 128:1? How is this fear different from simply being afraid of punishment?

3. Blessings Beyond Material: While Psalm 128 highlights material blessings, what other forms of blessings might come from living a life devoted to God?

4. Overcoming Evil: How can we cultivate trust in God’s ultimate triumph over evil, even in the face of present challenges (Psalm 125:3)?

Commentary and Reflection

To get the full impact of these Psalms you have to picture the scene where they were designed to be sung. These are both titled songs of ascent, meaning they were meant for pilgrims to sing as they made the journey to Jerusalem to worship God. Picture traveling by foot with thousands of other people to Jerusalem where the Shekinah glory of God dwelt. Jerusalem sits on top of mount Zion but is surrounded by mountains that are even taller. The environment they were traveling through is used to focus the worshippers mind on the eternal truths about God.

When Israel’s enemies had gained the upper hand, traveling to Jerusalem would have been a risky venture, but verse 3 assures us that evil won’t triumph over God’s righteous ones. Though trials may come, God’s righteous rule ensures lasting security for those who trust in Him (v. 3). This is an important reminder when evil seems to be taking over. God will ultimately destroy evil. Only that which is rooted in Him will last forever.

Psalm 128 shifts focus to the blessings that come with living a life devoted to God. The Psalmist describes the happiness that comes from fearing God and walking in His ways (v. 1). This verse speaks to our understanding that obedience must stem from love for God, rather than fear of punishment.

The Psalm depicts the prosperity that comes from living righteously (v. 2). This prosperity is not limited to material wealth, but also encompasses a flourishing family life and a sense of peace within the community (v. 3).

The Psalm ends with a blessing for the reader, so let me offer you one as well. May the Lord bless you with the grace to follow all of His commands so that you can enjoy the true prosperity that God desires for you—Love, Joy and Peace, regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in.