mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 128.xml

<div2 id="Ps.cxxix" n="cxxix" next="Ps.cxxx" prev="Ps.cxxviii" progress="67.26%" title="Chapter CXXVIII">
<h2 id="Ps.cxxix-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.cxxix-p0.2">PSALM CXXVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.cxxix-p1">This, as the former, is a psalm for families. In
that we were taught that the prosperity of our families depends
upon the blessing of God; in this we are taught that the only way
to obtain that blessing which will make our families comfortable is
to live in the fear of God and in obedience to him. Those that do
so, in general, shall be blessed (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.1-Ps.128.2 Bible:Ps.128.4" parsed="|Ps|128|1|128|2;|Ps|128|4|0|0" passage="Ps 128:1,2,4">ver. 1, 2, 4</scripRef>), In particular, I. They
shall be prosperous and successful in their employments, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.2" parsed="|Ps|128|2|0|0" passage="Ps 128:2">ver. 2</scripRef>. II. Their relations shall be
agreeable, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.3" parsed="|Ps|128|3|0|0" passage="Ps 128:3">ver. 3</scripRef>. III.
They shall live to see their families brought up, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.6" parsed="|Ps|128|6|0|0" passage="Ps 128:6">ver. 6</scripRef>. IV. They shall have the
satisfaction of seeing the church of God in a flourishing
condition, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.5-Ps.128.6" parsed="|Ps|128|5|128|6" passage="Ps 128:5,6">ver. 5, 6</scripRef>. We
must sing this psalm in the firm belief of this truth, That
religion and piety are the best friends to outward prosperity,
giving God the praise that it is so and that we have found it so,
and encouraging ourselves and others with it.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128" parsed="|Ps|128|0|0|0" passage="Ps 128" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.cxxix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.1-Ps.128.6" parsed="|Ps|128|1|128|6" passage="Ps 128:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.128.1-Ps.128.6">
<h4 id="Ps.cxxix-p1.8">Blessedness of the Godly.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.cxxix-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.cxxix-p2">A song of degrees.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.cxxix-p3">1 Blessed <i>is</i> every one that feareth the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxix-p3.1">Lord</span>; that walketh in his ways.
  2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy
<i>shalt</i> thou <i>be,</i> and <i>it shall be</i> well with thee.
  3 Thy wife <i>shall be</i> as a fruitful vine by the sides
of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy
table.   4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that
feareth the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxix-p3.2">Lord</span>.   5 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.cxxix-p3.3">Lord</span> shall bless thee out of Zion: and
thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
  6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, <i>and</i>
peace upon Israel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p4">It is here shown that godliness has the
promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p5">I. It is here again and again laid down as
an undoubted truth that <i>those who are truly holy are truly
happy.</i> Those whose blessed state we are here assured of are
such as <i>fear the Lord</i> and <i>walk in his ways,</i> such as
have a deep reverence of God upon their spirits and evidence it by
a regular and constant conformity to his will. Where the fear of
God is a commanding principle in the heart the tenour of the
conversation will be accordingly; and in vain do we pretend to be
of those that fear God if we do not make conscience both of keeping
to his ways and not trifling in them or drawing back. Such are
blessed (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.1" parsed="|Ps|128|1|0|0" passage="Ps 128:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and
shall be blessed, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.4" parsed="|Ps|128|4|0|0" passage="Ps 128:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. God blesses them, and his pronouncing them blessed
makes them so. They are blessed now, they shall be blessed still,
and for ever. This blessedness, arising from this blessing, is here
secured, 1. To all the saints universally: <i>Blessed is everyone
that fears the Lord,</i> whoever he be; in every nation he that
fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him, and therefore
is blessed whether he be high or low, rich or poor, in the world;
if religion rule him, it will protect and enrich him. 2. To such a
saint in particular: <i>Thus shall the man be blessed,</i> not only
the nation, the church in its public capacity, but the particular
person in his private interests. 3. We are encouraged to apply it
to ourselves (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.2" parsed="|Ps|128|2|0|0" passage="Ps 128:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>):
"<i>Happy shalt thou be;</i> thou mayest take the comfort of the
promise, and expect the benefit of it, as if it were directed to
thee by name, if thou <i>fear God and walk in his ways. Happy shalt
thou be,</i> that is, <i>It shall be well with thee;</i> whatever
befals thee, good shall be brought out of it; it shall be well with
thee while thou livest, better when thou diest, and best of all to
eternity." It is asserted (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.128.4" parsed="|Ps|128|4|0|0" passage="Ps 128:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>) with a note commanding attention: <i>Behold, thus
shall the man be blessed;</i> behold it by faith in the promise;
behold it by observation in the performance of the promise; behold
it with assurance that it shall be so, for God is faithful, and
with admiration that it should be so, for we merit no favour, no
blessing, from him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p6">II. Particular promises are here made to
godly people, which they may depend upon, as far as is for God's
glory and their good; and that is enough.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p7">1. That, by the blessing of God, they shall
get an honest livelihood and live comfortably upon it. It is not
promised that they shall live at ease, without care or pains, but,
<i>Thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands.</i> Here is a double
promise, (1.) That they shall have something to do (for an idle
life is a miserable uncomfortable life) and shall have health, and
strength, and capacity of mind to do it, and shall not be forced to
be beholden to others for necessary food, and to live, as the
disabled poor do, upon the labours of other people. It is as much a
mercy as it is a duty <i>with quietness</i> to <i>work and eat our
own bread,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.3.12" parsed="|2Thess|3|12|0|0" passage="2Th 3:12">2 Thess.
3:12</scripRef>. (2.) That they shall succeed in their employments,
and they and theirs shall enjoy what they get; others shall not
come and eat the bread out of their mouths, nor shall it be taken
from them either by oppressive rulers or invading enemies. God will
not blast it and blow upon it (as he did, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.9" parsed="|Hag|1|9|0|0" passage="Hag 1:9">Hag. 1:9</scripRef>), and his blessing will make a little
go a great way. It is very pleasant to enjoy the fruits of our own
industry; as the sleep, so the food, of a labouring man is
sweet.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p8">2. That they shall have abundance of
comfort in their family-relations. As a wife and children are very
much a man's care, so, if by the grace of God they are such as they
should be, they are very much a man's delight, as much as any
creature-comfort. (1.) The <i>wife</i> shall be <i>as a vine by the
sides of the house,</i> not only as a spreading vine which serves
for an ornament, but as a fruitful vine which is for profit, and
with the fruit whereof both God and man are honoured, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.9.13" parsed="|Judg|9|13|0|0" passage="Jdg 9:13">Judg. ix. 13</scripRef>. The vine is a weak and
tender plant, and needs to be supported and cherished, but it is a
very valuable plant, and some think (because all the products of it
were prohibited to the Nazarites) it was the <i>tree of
knowledge</i> itself. The wife's place is the husband's house;
there her business lies, and that is her castle. <i>Where is Sarah
thy wife? Behold, in the tent;</i> where should she be else? Her
place is <i>by the sides of the house,</i> not under-foot to be
trampled on, nor yet upon the house-top to domineer (if she be so,
she is but <i>as the grass upon the house-top,</i> in the next
psalm), but on the side of the house, being a rib out of the side
of the man. She shall be a loving wife, as the vine, which cleaves
to the house-side, an obedient wife, as the vine, which is pliable,
and grows as it is directed. She shall be fruitful as the vine, not
only in children, but in the fruits of wisdom, and righteousness,
and good management, the <i>branches</i> of which <i>run over the
wall</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.22 Bible:Ps.80.11" parsed="|Gen|49|22|0|0;|Ps|80|11|0|0" passage="Ge 49:22,Ps 80:11">Gen. xlix. 22; Ps.
lxxx. 11</scripRef>), <i>like a fruitful vine,</i> not cumbering
the ground, nor bringing forth sour grapes, or grapes of Sodom, but
good fruit. (2.) The <i>children</i> shall be <i>as olive
plants,</i> likely in time to be olive-trees, and, though <i>wild
by nature,</i> yet grafted into the good olive, and partaking of
its <i>root and fatness,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.17" parsed="|Rom|11|17|0|0" passage="Ro 11:17">Rom. xi.
17</scripRef>. It is pleasant to parents who have a table spread,
though but with ordinary fare, to see their children round about
it, to have many children, enough to surround it, and those with
them, and not scattered, or the parents forced from them. Job makes
it one of the first instances of his former prosperity that <i>his
children were about him,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.29.5" parsed="|Job|29|5|0|0" passage="Job 29:5">Job xxix.
5</scripRef>. Parents love to have their children at table, to keep
up the pleasantness of the table-talk, to have them in health,
craving food and not physic, to have them like <i>olive-plants,</i>
straight and green, sucking in the sap of their good education, and
likely in due time to be serviceable.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p9">3. That they shall have those things which
God has promised and which they pray for: <i>The Lord shall bless
thee out of Zion,</i> where the ark of the covenant was, and where
the pious Israelites attended with their devotions. <i>Blessings
out of Zion</i> are the best-blessings, which flow, not from common
providence, but from special grace, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.20.2" parsed="|Ps|20|2|0|0" passage="Ps 20:2">Ps.
xx. 2</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p10">4. That they shall live long, to enjoy the
comforts of the rising generations: "Thou shalt <i>see thy
children's children,</i> as Joseph, <scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.50.23" parsed="|Gen|50|23|0|0" passage="Ge 50:23">Gen. l. 23</scripRef>. Thy family shall be built up and
continued, and thou shalt have the pleasure of seeing it."
<i>Children's children,</i> if they be good children, <i>are the
crown of old men</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.cxxix-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.17.6" parsed="|Prov|17|6|0|0" passage="Pr 17:6">Prov. xvii.
6</scripRef>), who are apt to be fond of their grandchildren.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.cxxix-p11">5. That they shall see the welfare of God's
church, and the land of their nativity, which every man who fears
God is no less concerned for than for the prosperity of his own
family. "Thou shalt be blessed in Zion's blessing, and wilt think
thyself so. Thou shalt <i>see the good of Jerusalem</i> as long as
thou shalt live, though thou shouldest live long, and shalt not
have thy private comforts allayed and embittered by public
troubles." A good man can have little comfort in seeing his
children's children, unless withal he see peace upon Israel, and
have hopes of transmitting the entail of religion pure and entire
to those that shall come after him, for that is the best
inheritance.</p>
</div></div2>