Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

• Psalm 119:1- “Happy (blessed) are people of integrity, who follow the law of the Lord.” The fear mentioned here is reverential and deep causing a person to be conscious of God’s demands upon every aspect of their life. This “fear” and “following” attitude is translated into four types of “happi- ness:” • Happiness in labor- “You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.” (2) God gives dignity and meaning to our labor and we can find pleasure in working for him: “Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Col. 3:23) Jesus modeled this attitude to us as he passionately strove to complete his Father’s ‘work’ of harvesting the lost souls of this world; “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” (Jn. 4:34) • Happiness in Life- “How happy you will be! How rich your life!” (2) This purpose filled life cre- ates an inward attitude of joy that can stay with us through all of our days. Jesus was the happiest and most fulfilled person who ever lived and as we embrace his ‘work’ and ‘purpose’, he supplies us with eter- nal joy: “I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.” (Jn. 15:11) • Happiness in Love- “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home.” (3) This describes a happy marriage between one man and one woman; ‘the mother could not be likened to anything plural, nor the children to anything single.’ 3 The vine that grows in the open fields, has cho- sen to become planted at the center of the home and be in union with her husband; “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” (Jn. 15:5) . The woman’s unending capacity to love becomes the focal point of the whole family yielding the fruits of the Spirit; “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22, 23) The entire purpose of the life, death and resurrection of Christ was that he may gain the love of his bride, the church: “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:9) • Happiness in Lineage- “And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vig- orous and healthy as young olive trees.” (3) Although the “young olive trees” receive their life from the parent tree, they are individuals and not just branches of their father and mother. The dinner table is where the children receive physical nourishment but in every family there needs to be a ‘table’ that pro- vides spiritual bread: “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hun- gry again.” (Jn. 6:35) The whole purpose of Christ coming to earth is that there would be many ‘spiritual’ children born again into his Father’s kingdom. • The Blessings From the Church- “May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.” (5) The bless- ings that come upon the individual and the family are magnified and sustained through their union with ‘Zion’, representing the ‘House of Worship.’ The blessing comes ‘from’ Zion; showing that the role of the church in the world is unique; it is to be a place of worship and prayer and the teaching of the word of God and when it has done that faithfully; it has been the greatest value to the world. ‘The whole of life is to be filled with joy in the good fortune emanating from Zion.’ 4 • The Blessing on the City- “May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.” (5) When indi- viduals, families and churches ‘fear’ and ‘follow’ the Lord, the city prospers in every way. “Upright citi- zens bless a city and make it prosper…” (Prov. 11:11) Jesus taught that it is the people of God shining with his love that impacts the world with good deeds; “You are the light of the world–like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” (Mt. 5:15) It is satisfying to live in a city that is safe and filled with good will towards its citizens. • The Blessing on Your Children’s Children- “May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.” (6) The blessing of grandchildren provide a double measure of joy to life. They are a sign of hope and promise for the future: “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged…” (Pro. 17:6) They can be a continual delight to their grandparents. • The Blessing on the Country- “And may Israel have quietness and peace.” (6) When the nation is filled with the worship and service of the Lord it experiences tranquility from war and turmoil. Solomon, the Son of David was promised this blessing from the Lord: “But you will have a son who will experience “That is the Lord’s reward for those who fear him.” (4) Good relationships are God’s reward to us and while this is true of the natural family, it’s greatest reality is experienced in the spiritual family of God: “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (Mt. 12:50) II THE LORD CONTINUALLY BLESS - 5,6 The Rewards of a Godly Church

346