INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 128 A SONG OF DEGREES. This psalm very probably was written by the same hand as the former, and seems to have some connection with it; as that shows that all things depend on the providence and goodness of God; and that all blessings, particularly children, are the gift of God... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED [IS] EVERYONE THAT FEARETH THE LORD,.... Be he who he will; of whatsoever nation, Jew or Gentile; of whatsoever sex, age, or condition, high or low, rich or poor, Acts 10:35; such an one is blessed now, and will be hereafter; Psalms 112:1; THAT WALKETH IN HIS WAYS: which God has prescribed... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU SHALL EAT THE LABOUR OF THINE HANDS,.... That is, thou that fearest the Lord, and walkest in his ways. It is an apostrophe, or address to such, even to everyone of them; instancing in one part of the blessedness that belongs to them, enjoyment of what their hands have laboured for; which ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THY WIFE [SHALL BE] AS A FRUITFUL VINE BY THE SIDES OF THINE HOUSE,.... The vine being a weak and tender tree, which needs propping and supporting; and often is fastened to the sides of a house, to which the allusion here is; whereunto it cleaves, and on which it runs up, and bears very agreeable fr... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THAT THUS SHALL THE MAN BE BLESSED THAT FEARETH THE LORD. In the manner before described, and in the instances already given, as well as in the following; this is said to raise attention, and fix a sense of the blessedness of such persons; and who are further addressed, and pronounced happy,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHALL BLESS THEE OUT OF ZION,.... The church of God, where he dwells, out of which he shines, even the Word of the Lord, as the Targum in the king's Bible; and where he commands his blessings of grace to descend on his people, even life for evermore, Psalms 133:3. Here he blesses them with... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THOU SHALL SEE THY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN,.... A numerous race of descendants from him, which are the crown and glory of old men, Proverbs 17:6; this is also true of Christ's spiritual children by his church in successive ages, Isaiah 59:21; [AND] PEACE UPON ISRAEL: all kind of prosperity, tempo... [ Continue Reading ]