Morning Service, 19 April 2009
What do you know about the Yarra River, apart from that this church has it in its name and that Melbourne is situated at its mouth? One of its most interesting facts is that to the original inhabitants, the Wurundjeri people, the river was called ‘Birrarrung’ (ie, Place of Mists and Shadows). But because of language difficulties the white settlers called it “Yarra”, not understanding the Wurundjeri people were pointing out the nature of the river rather than indicating its name as they said “Yarra Yarra”. What they were saying in their language was ‘ever flowing‘.
Ever flowing – now that’s a glorious description of life as experienced by the Psalmist – Blessed. In this Psalm he celebrates the constant flow of blessing from the throne of God to His people and enjoyed in their daily lives. As such it picks up the imagery of Psalm 1 where believers are described as “a tree planted by the rivers of water” (v.3; cf Jer 17:8), and to whom Jesus declares that He gives “living water … the water I give will him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:10, 14).
This Psalm lies within the collection known as the Songs of Ascent which were sung by Jewish worshippers on their travel to Jerusalem for one of the annual feasts. In so going the Psalmist ponders and rejoices over the blessing of God upon himself, his family and family life. In fact he so rejoices that he wants others to not only know about it but to know it. He celebrates it as a blessing that ever flows, and that here under God’s blessing is the place to be.
But this Psalm not only speaks of the blessing, but describes the ones to whom God’s blessing ever flows, identifying the context where this blessing is found. But to maximise the benefit and to minimise misunderstandings let us note:
i. Though this Psalm celebrates family life under the blessing of God, it is not to be understood as saying this is the only place one can know such blessing. It celebrates a specific example highlighted by the context of going up to the Temple; but the principles here are to also to find application for the single life, for the life a godly but childless couple, of aged parents living far from their children or who have been bereft of their children through death. That this is true is seen by Psalm 1 which speaks of blessedness which does not presuppose it finding expression within a family unit.
ii. Equally this Psalm is not saying that those who have rebellious children, or who have suffered the agony of the death of a child or spouse, are somehow outside the blessing of God and unable now to receive it. The record of Job should slay that false notion once and for all; and even more the life of Jesus who never married or had children and yet of whom at the beginning and near the end of His ministry had God declare “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased.”
iii. This Psalm is not establishing a works-righteousness, that somehow we earn the blessings. The wider context being celebrated is membership of the covenant community through faith. He is a believer, who in expressing his faith comes to God in worship, and in so doing celebrates the blessings that come to Him from God. The Psalmist makes this clear when he prays for God’s blessing – having done all yet he prays. By this he is saying that we are not the source or secret of blessing, but God is. He acknowledges God for it and looks to God for it. He expresses his dependence upon God for it. So what is the relationship of the blessing to godly living? It is not a cause-effect relationship in the sense that ‘a’ inevitably produces ‘b’. Rather, that it is in ‘a’ that GOD gives the ‘b’. We must avoid a mechanistic view of God’s blessings as if all we have to do is apply biblical values. We must apply biblical values, but in themselves they will not bring the desired blessings. As Iain Campbell notes, ‘In declaring moral values to our children and society we must always be careful to do so in the context of calling them back to God. Without God they still won’t work for we live in a fallen world and are sinful people.’ The blessing is not earned but given by free grace, yet is given so in connection with the pursuit of godliness.
iv. This Psalm is not declaring the absence of life’s hard realities – that he is on the journey to the Temple shows that living in a fallen world we need grace and mercy. To experience God’s blessing is to know a deep sense of well-being even as we live life in this fallen world and sometimes deal with its harshest realities. A blessed person is one who has experienced God’s favour (blessing) and therefore has a deep sense of well-being.
Now, this Psalm identifies 3 perspectives where God’s blessing is found:
1. Where God is in the first place
Sometimes we ask ourselves, ‘What does it mean to live biblically?’ The Psalmist answers in the first verse –it is fear the Lord and to walk in His ways.
One of the best definitions of the fear of the Lord is that of Robert Nisbet (1863): ‘It is the fear a child feels towards an honoured parent, a fear to offend; it is that which they who have been rescued from destruction feel to the benefactor who nobly and the at the varsest sacrifice interposed for their safety, a fear to act unworthy of his kindness; it is that which fills the breast of a pardoned and grateful rebel in the presence of a venerated sovereign at whose throne he is permitted to stand in honour, a fear lest he should ever forget his goodness, and give him cause to regret it. Such is the fear of the Christian now: a fear with reverence for majesty, gratitude for mercies, dread of displeasure, desire of approval, and longing for the fellowship of heaven, inspire; the fear not of sorrow but of love, which shrinks with instinctive recoil from doing aught that would tend to grieve, or from denying aught that would tend to honour.’
The Psalmist also notes that the evidence of “the fear of the Lord” is walking in His ways, which is obviously as outlined for us in the 10 Commandments. As Spurgeon said, ‘If the heart is joined unto God, the feet will follow hard after Him.’ Indeed as Scripture declares “out of the heart proceeds the issues of life”. The “fear of the Lord…walking in His ways” is saying the same thing.
This is the overall concern of the Psalmist. If we are to know God’s blessing this must be the permeating and governing principle of all we do: to put God first – above life itself and all that makes life sweet and enjoyable. He saw that blessing’s context is where heart and walk are both for and with God. We cannot legitimately anticipate or expect God’s blessings where God is not put first.
Our children need homes where God is known, worshipped and served; where His ways are the ways of dad and mum and become the ways of the kids because they are the ways of dad and mum. They need homes where thought is given to God and His Word first of all in every decision and action, and praise to God in all circumstances. Dads, this Psalm gives particular responsibility for this to you, but it does not exclude mums – for without their support and concurrence the witness of dad will be undermined in the eyes of the children, and vice versa.
Children who have such parents are blessed indeed – parents who want to bring up their children with a knowledge of a holy yet loving and present God who speaks into the lives of His people and blesses them; parents who refuse to marginalise their Christian faith to private devotions and occasional attendance on church worship services; parents who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.
2. Where Dad is in the common place
And that common place is our perspective, what we delight in. The description in vv.2-3 is about the home: “eat the labour of your hands… in the very heart of your house… all around your table” stress the priority of home life. This is where the Psalmist delights to live out his faith under God’s blessing. Notice his outlook:
a. He sees his work not as an end in itself or primarily a sphere of personal satisfaction, but in connection to his family. Here he is with his family at the table eating the fruit of his labour. Work finds its proper place as providing the food which he can enjoy with his family, and that meal time is such a joyful time for him. Not just because he is eating the fruit of his labours, but because he has been able to provide for his family under God’s blessing he know it will be well. You see it’s not simply the work, but the family he is working for. He’s not living for work or working for self-satisfaction. His focus is on his family; his delight is providing for and sharing with his family.
Equally his wife and children know that Dad’s work is not marred by the resentment. He has no problems going but it is not to get away from them or as burdened by them. He also has no problems coming home, though it is not because he wants to get away from work but because he loves them and being with them. He loves work for it is where he finds he can honour God and know God’s blessing, but he also loves home, loves being with them as the place where God’s blessing at work finds its ultimate expression.
b. He sees his wife as “fruitful vine” – which speaks of more than fertility, speaking of her many gifts and activities which she brings to make the home comfortable, safe and joyful. The imagery reflects those houses which were constructed of rooms built around an open courtyard. There would be verandas or pergolas facing into the courtyard covered by vines which would be pleasing to the eye, bring shade in the heat, and fruit for the body. Such a blessing is the wife who gives herself to honour and support of her husband and family. And this is what he sees, and he is here honouring her for it, speaking well of her – and especially before his children! There is much for us to learn in that practice.
Husbands do our wives (and children) know how thankful we are for them, joyful in them and in what they bring to us? There is nothing here about a domineering headship that subjugates the wife into a baby making machine or to the drudgery of kitchen maid. Rather he sees and speaks of his wife with dignity, honour, appreciation. He is drawn to her, finds himself moving toward her in expressions of love and joys over her as God’s gift and blessing to complete him.
c. He sees his children –as “olive trees around the table”. The idea is that of a mature olive tree surrounded by suckers which seem to uphold, protect and embrace it; is a comforting picture bringing present joy and future prospects. It is a very positive image of children – they are not a drain on the wallet but a delight. They are not a distraction to this relationship with his wife, not a pain that one has to endure till they leave home, if ever. No, they are dear to him. The time with them is special to him – different to that with his wife, but none the less special to him. And he sees them as contributing something to the welfare of the whole both now and into the future under God’s blessing.
This is seeing things as God intended they be seen from the beginning. Do you see the picture? This is a microcosm of the reversal of the curse, of Eden-life restored. God loves the family and delights in the family. Here God is making known His commitment and delight in the husband-wife relationship and in family, and in the husband-wife relationship and families of godly people in particular – His determination to bless them. So he looks at life as God intended and rejoices.
The common place is the home; it is love for others, looking at life in terms of being a blessing to others, finding delight in them. This is the parents and family life our children need, and we need to exhibit if we are to bring blessing unto them – one that arises from a living faith in God, which values each other as created in the image of God and the very gift and blessing of God; where the faith of husbands and fathers finds expression in creating a home environment where the fear of the Lord reigns; where ladies you are being fruitful in supporting that. The outlook honoured is delighting in daily life as God created and blessed it.
3. Where Church is the shared place
In vv.5-6 we find the third element that brings the family under God’s blessing. Remember it is to God that he is going and bringing his family or going with his family in mind if they were not able to come with him. Zion is the word that places particular emphasis on God’s presence and dispensation of mercy and blessings, the Temple being on Mt Zion. Jerusalem is the larger area which includes the dwelling of God’s people around Zion, and in this context seems to suggest an emphasis on God’s people gathered under God as their King and for His worship.
The point is that it is from here at Mt Zion that God’s blessing comes upon a forgiven people; it is here within Jerusalem, the church that it is enjoyed. He prays for the Lord’s blessing. He also prays for the Lord’s people that they may have peace; his concern is also for the church, seeking its welfare through successive generations.
Such is the outlook of the godly man that it includes the church of God and His worship as part of the church, and sets a premium upon it in his daily life. He models this commitment to church life and worship before the family and involves them in it, encouraging them to see its importance. The Psalmist has a high view of the church, a deep love of it and a great longing for its good.
Ordinarily God uses the church as the channel of His grace, through the Word, the sacraments and prayer and mutual interactive fellowship of God’s people. The church is not incidental to God’s blessing, it is essential. The wider gathering and ministry of the Lord’s people brings confirmation to the teaching and example of the parents as they see others believing the same things and living the same way; there is also encouragement in being joined by others in worship and service. The teaching and ministry of God’s preachers and teachers bring support to the teaching of parents in the home, and at times where necessary correction and o doubt frequently broadening the ministry of truth beyond what the parent may be able to give or be inclined to give.
Blessing comes where God is in first place, where life is ordered around God’s perspectives, and where we share in God’s people in His worship and service.