Day 796: Psalm 128- Overflowing Blessing

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children!
    Peace be upon Israel!
 
Meditation
The power of God’s grace transforms us and overflows through us. God’s blessing begins inside the believer and bubbles over for generational and social transformation. New creations individually with peace and mercy extending externally. Paul celebrated this reality with the Galatian church (Galatians 6:15-16) and God wants this paradigm to be grasped by you, too.
 
Following the flow of blessing in today’s psalm helps us see God’s direction for the movement of His mercy.  Blessing bubbles up for the individual in right relationship with God (1) and cascades to the nation and through generations (6). Blessing is pictured as growing fruit, tasting fruit, seeing fruit, and sharing fruit. The fertile field of God’s faithfulness leads to a bountiful harvest for the believer, their family, and the nation!
 
Christians who confuse the order will not see the transforming power of God’s covenant faithfulness. Gospel transformation begins “with me” first! The Christian responds to God’s grace by walking in God’s ways (1), eating the fruit of our labor (2), before we see fruit in our family (3-4) and nation (5-6).  God’s blessing overflows from the heart of the believer to the nation and cascades for generations (6). Peace for the nation begins with the first step of the pilgrim who walks in God’s ways.
 
God’s plan of cosmic redemptive restoration begins with the hope of glory, Christ in you (Colossians 1:27). New creations in Christ experience the blessings of Christ in their hearts, homes, neighborhoods, and nations. If Christ is in you allow His blessing to flow through you!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Where in the Psalm do you see the individual blessing of the believer overflowing to generations and then to the entire nation? Which image is most refreshing to you? Why?
 
-Do you experience God’s blessing through responding to God’s grace by walking in God’s ways? If so, how can you steward the blessings for others? If not, how can you bless others if you do not know the blessing yourself?
 
-Christ in you is the hope of Glory, the mystery of the gospel to make known God’s mercy to the gentiles.   How can you personally celebrate and cultivate Christ in you? Where can you share the hope of glory in your life and labor? Be specific!
 
Key Verse
6 May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!