Bible Commentary

Psalms 128:2

Psalms 128:2

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

For thou shall eat the labour of thine hands,.... That is, thou that fearest the Lord, and walkest in his ways. It is an apostrophe, or address to such, even to everyone of them; instancing in one part of the blessedness that belongs to them, enjoyment of what their hands have laboured for; which may be understood both in a literal and spiritual sense: man must labour and get his bread with the sweat of his brow; he that will not work should not eat, he that does should; and a good man may have a comfortable enjoyment of the good of his labour; than which, as to temporal blessings, there is nothing better under the sun, Ec 5:18; and, in a spiritual sense, good men labour in prayers at the throne of grace, there lifting up holy hands to God, wrestling with him for a blessing, which they enjoy; they labour in attendance on the word and ordinances, for the meat which endures to everlasting life; and they find the word and eat it, and Christ in it, whose flesh is meat indeed; and feed by faith on it, to the joy and comfort of their souls;happy [shall] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee; or, to thy soul, as the Syriac version; happy as to temporal things, and well as to spiritual ones: such having an apparent special interest in the love, grace, mercy, and delight of God; in his providence, protection, and care; in the supplies of his grace, and in his provisions for his people, in time and eternity.

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Psalms 128 — OverviewPsalms 128 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis, as the former, is a psalm for families. In that we were taught that the prosperity of our families depends upon the blessing of God; in this we are taught that the only way to obtain that blessing which…Psalms 128 — OverviewPsalms 128 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 128:1, The sundry blessings which follow them that fear God. Psalms 120:1, Psalms 121:1, Psalms 122:1, Psalms 123:1, Psalms 124:1, Psalms 125:1, Psalms 126:1, Psalms 127:1 *titlesPsalms 128 — OverviewPsalms 128 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSong of degrees. This psalm very probably was written by the same hand as the former, and seems to have some connection with it; as that shows that all things depend on the providence and goodness of God; and that all…Psalms 128:1-6Psalms 128:1-6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt is here shown that godliness has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. I. It is here again and again laid down as an undoubted truth that those who are truly holy are truly happy.…Psalms 128:1-6Psalms 128:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION IT is not quite easy to see why this psalm occurs among the "Songs of Ascents." The sentiment of it is that true religion never loses its reward; or, in other words, that whoever fears God shall be blessed.…Psalms 128:1-6Psalms 128:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryPresent recompense. It is quite certain that the true and loyal servant of God will be abundantly rewarded; it is not certain when or how he will receive his recompense. There are three spheres in which that reward may…