Psalm 128:3

Psalm 128:3

The value of family

A vine in the Bible, is a symbol of fruitfulness. When Jacob was blessing his sons on his death bed he said of Joseph, “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall.” Genesis 49:22. The vine is also used in Scripture as a picture of sexual allure; see Solomon’s words in Song of Songs 7:8-12. Notice that in today’s verse the wife is “in the house.” In other words, she’s not out and about displaying her charms to other men, she is faithful and devoted to her husband and her family.

The picture changes but another plant is now used to symbolise fruitfulness, this time it is the olive tree. The olive is evergreen, and its shoots promise longevity and abundance, for the olive was used for oil, for its fruit, and also for its timber. A healthy olive tree is a sign of productivity and good management, it’s a reflection on its owner and will last for a long time. This is a picture of our children be as they sit around the table, the place of family intimacy and sharing together.

These blessings accompany the man or woman who obeys and trusts the Lord, this picture of idyllic family life and agricultural productivity are symbolic of His blessing and His rewards to those who trust and obey. Yes, there are troubles in this life and battles to be fought, but the home should be a place of refuge and restoration where harmony reigns and love is displayed. When this happens, and it doesn’t always do so, it is a blessing indeed. If you are a parent with children at home, cherish this verse and remember that you cannot value highly enough the occasions when you sit around the table as a family. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 106:13

Psalm 106:13 Do not forget We need to remember that Israel’s relationship with the Lord God was based on His laws and their obedience. It was possible for them to live lives that were highly blessed, that incorporated the provision of God in every tiny detail of their national and individual existence. God was prepared to give them everything they needed, He would provide food and water for them and their flocks. He would guide them on their journey. He would protect them from their enemies. He would inspire and direct their leaders. He would keep them from the heat of the sun and the terrors of the desert night. He would take them to the land that He had promised, in double quick time. There was no reason why they could not be in situ in just a few months. Everything they could possibly need was His to provide and He was willing to sacrifice anything to see them gratefully settled in Canaan.  There was just one snag, it all depended upon their obedience and faithfulness. God insis...
Read more

Psalm 119:135

Psalm 119:135 His shining face In verse 58 0f the Psalm we commented on the apparent impossibility of being able to see the face of God. And yet this intimacy was something that the psalmists, and other writers, craved. The High Priestly blessing, prayed over the people every day, asks that the Lord make His face shine upon them. In verse 58 we discovered that this plea involved more than just being able to see the face of God, which was impossible; I quote,  “ The Hebrew word for face in the Old Testament can be translated “presence.” Now things start to make more sense! Those Israelites who so regularly abandoned the Lord God were being reminded to seek again the presence of God and the psalmist lets it be known that this is his constant quest. When you think about it, a person’s face reveals a great deal about their character and personality even, maybe, their circumstances or lifestyle. The more we seek the face of God and the more we spend time in His presence, the more like H...
Read more

Psalm 42:1

Psalm 42:1 Why Lord?   This Psalm and the one that follows offer painful pleas to the Lord.  “Why have You forsaken me? When can I go and meet with God? Why must I go about mourning? Why is my soul so downcast?”  The good news is that the writer knows the answer, “ Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.”  You will note that these two Psalms (41 and 42) are written by the Sons of Korah. These men, the Korahites, were Levites whose particular role was the worship and ceremonial or liturgical activities at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. They would, therefore, have composed music and songs like this as part of their role and also been engaged with the choir that sang at various times during the day and on festive occasions.    V1        The Psalm starts poetically but also with a heart cry;  “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”  I’ve r...
Read more