THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 20, 2014 - Day 20 - Psalm 20

The answer to what ails our society is provided by the Holy Spirit right here in today’s psalm. It is the answer to Ferguson and its people. It is the answer for white people, black people, Bosnian people and everyone else. It is the answer to our government’s problems and to our nation’s defense. It is the answer to the problems of the family. It is the answer to how to be happy. Take notice of the two things we need in our lives. We need a proper center and a proper circumference.

Psalm 128:1
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

To be blessed is to be happy but to be happy we must have a proper center. That center must be God. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord. Just look at the natural world. The universe has order and it has a center. Our solar system has a sun and the planets revolve around that sun. They do so by staying in their proper order. Without that there could not be life on earth. Take it down to the smallest of levels now. If we study the atom we find it is a mini-solar system with the protons and neutrons orbiting around the nucleus. They do this all at amazing speed yet there is order. They stay centered on that nucleus. This is what holds all of life together. God must be the center of our lives. Everything and I mean everything we do must be centered on God if we want to find order and happiness.

But read on my friend.

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!

We must walk in His ways. In the interest of preaching grace, and I totally agree we must preach grace, we have neglected the preaching of God’s law. This is not the strict specific rules of the Mosaic Law, but the moral code God has set down. Jesus did not abolish that. We are free in Christ but not free to break God’s moral law. If we set our hearts on God and make Him the center of lives we will fear Him through reverence and respect. Then we will use our freedom in Christ to live the way God intends us to.

Next we see what the results of making God center of our lives will be.

Psalm 128:2
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Notice something here. You shall eat of the “labor” of your hands. We need to work. I am tired of the excuse “I cannot find a job.” Sometimes we have to take the lowest paying and the least prestigious job there is. God will bless that. I started out as a clerk at Southwestern Bell 37 years ago and made little money. I hated the job and wanted to quit. But instead I worked hard and was rewarded for my efforts. Even if no one will hire you then go volunteer your time. God will reward that. Too many people are sitting around with nothing to do and this creates trouble. Do something with your hands even if it does not pay. God will reward you.

Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

The family life needs to centered on God. We must honor God’s law for marriage and raise our children the same way. Men be fathers. Be Godly ones and things will change.

Psalm 128:4
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

The same concept goes for our cities and our countries.

Psalm 128:5
The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

Zion represents the nations and Jerusalem represents the cities. If we started in the family putting God at our center then we would raise up a generation of Godly people who could take this into the local government. Then those local leaders could grow into national leaders and thus the revival has spread. This was how America was supposed to be.

The answer is really not that hard. Make God your center. Let revival start in your heart and then watch it grow as God blesses you.

Psalm 128:6
May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!

The only way to peace is through Jesus. He said this in John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.”

Put Him first. Even if it never spreads and the world remains messed up until Christ returns God will bless you for it. Your home will have joy and your children will be safe. You may never be rich by the world’s standards but your wealth will not be affected by the whirlwinds of the market.

You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. What more could you want?