Bible Commentaries
Psalms 128

Introduction

Psalms 128:0

THE ARGUMENT

This Psalm contains a description of the blessedness of good men.

The psalmist showeth the happy state of such as fear God, in his labour, Psalms 128:1,Psalms 128:2, wife, and children, Psalms 128:3, He shall also see the good of Jerusalem, and peace upon Israel, Psalms 128:4-6.

Verse 2

Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands; thy labour shall not be vain and fruitless, and the fruit of thy labours shall not be taken away from thee, and possessed by others, as God threatened to the disobedient, Deuteronomy 28:0, but enjoyed by thyself with comfort and satisfaction.

Well with thee, both in this world and in the world to come, as even the Chaldee paraphrast explains these words.

Verse 3

As a fruitful vine; like the vine for fruitfulness; or like that sort of vines known by this name for its eminent fruitfulness, as some trees amongst us are for the same reason called the great bearers. By the sides of thine house, where the vines are commonly planted for support and other advantages; which being applied to the wife, may signify either,

1. The wife’s duty to abide at home, Titus 2:5, as the harlot is deciphered by her gadding abroad, Proverbs 7:11,Proverbs 7:12. Or rather,

2. The legitimateness of the children, which are begotten at home by the husband, and not abroad by strangers.

Like olive plants, numerous, growing and flourishing, good both for ornament and manifold uses, as olive trees are.

Round about thy table; where they shall sit at meat with thee, for thy comfort and safety.

Verse 5

Out of Zion; from the ark in Zion, and with those spiritual and everlasting blessings which are to be had no where but in Zion, and from the God who dwelleth in Zion, and with all other mercies which thou shalt ask of God in Zion.

The good of Jerusalem; the prosperity of that city to which thou belongest, and which is the only seat of God’s special presence, and of his worship, whose felicity therefore is very delightful to every good man, and upon whose peace the peace and safety of every member of it depends, as every seaman is concerned in the safety of the ship in which he is.

Verse 6

Not only upon Jerusalem, and the parts adjacent, but upon all the tribes and people of Israel.