The Satisfaction Of A Surrendered One

Psalm 128 ESV

A Song of Ascents. 1 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!

Your Life Has An Outflow!

Don’t mistake that this as to mean that your life earns salvation or merits...but our God gave His people a covenant all the way back in the book of Deuteronomy...

In Chapters 12-26 of the book of Deuteronomy we have the requirements laid out for the people of God.

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV

22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

The Covenant is essentially: Obedience = Blessing

Let’s look at our first two verses again:

Psalm 128:1–2 ESV

1 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.

This is not “Christian Karma”

Galatians 6:7 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

We will sow in one of two fields: the flesh or the Spirit.

Will you and I harvest of the flesh or the Spirit. The answer is simple: where are we planting, fertilizing, and watering the seeds. And what seeds are we planting?

So the Psalmist says Blessed, not unlike Psalm 1:1

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

But the labor of your hands will be the cause of an outflow.

Will you have a heart submitted and surrendered unto the Spirit?

YOUR LIFE HAS AN OUTFLOW!

Your Outflow Includes Those Around You!

You see the Psalmist refers to a Proverb:

Proverbs 18:22 ESV

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

But he takes it a step further:

Psalm 128:3–4 ESV

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.

So, if we look back at the first two verses:

fear of the Lord

eating from your labors

blessing

wellbeing

All are an outflow of the the obedience equaling blessing.

If you fear the Lord, you will sow in the field of the Spirit and it will be evidenced in the your life and in the lives of family members.

Your Life Has An Outflow!

Your Outflow Includes Those Around You!

Now thirdly as we are reminded that this is a Psalm of Ascent...the Psalmist pronounces a prayer for blessing.

May Your Outflow Be Longevity!

Deuteronomy 6:2–3 ESV

2 that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

The Psalmist prays in this exact way in our last two verses:

Psalm 128:5–6 ESV

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!

Walking Away, But In...

Start Fresh Today!

Walk With Him Daily!

Trust in His Blessed Outflow!