Psalm 128 is a short Psalm of “blessing for the man who fears the LORD” (verse 4), and it indicates exactly what God wants to do for us – He wants to bless us. Notice the kinds of blessings that God has for the man “who fears Him:” [1] “Eating the fruit of his labor” (verse 2); [2] “Blessings and prosperity” (verse 2); [3] His “wife will be like a fruitful vine” (verse 3); “His sons like olive shoots around his table” (verse 3); and [4] the prospect of “seeing the prosperity of Jerusalem” (verse 5); and [5] the prospect of living to see his grandchildren” (verse 6). None of these blessings are a given to anyone, but they represent how God wants to bless “those who fear Him and walk in His ways” (verse 1). Four times in this Psalm, the writer refers to the word “bless” in its various forms (verses 1-5). Blessings and prosperity (also repeated twice) are simply the results of obeying God. We see here that God’s blessings on the man who fears Him extend broadly to the man’s whole existence – to his food, his wife, his house, his children, his table, the length of his life, his grandchildren, and ultimately, to his nation. Try to imagine what our nation and our world would be like if men everywhere would simply fear the LORD!
In Ezekiel 33-35, we see that the Israelites listened to Ezekiel, but they did not apply his teachings to their lives (verse 31-32). Just like those New Testament Jews who claimed a special relationship to Abraham and somehow thought that gave them an advanced spiritual status before God (cf., John 8:33-47), these Israelites in Ezekiel’s day were completely mistaken. They were even guilty of the same things that James addresses in our chapter today – idolatry, adultery, shedding blood, and, above all, pride (verses 25-26). Where there is pride, there is no fear of the Lord. God pointed out that He would deal with their sins by making “their land desolate” (verse 29). In chapter 34, God reveals that He will be the Shepherd of Israel (verses 11-12). He will “place David over them,” and He will rule. This is a messianic prophecy – a promise – which also relates to our Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ – and His future kingdom of peace. In Ezekiel 35, we again see God’s prophetic promise to deal with Edom and Mt. Seir – specifically because of the Edomites’ historically "contemptible" behavior against Israel – pride ("boasted;" cf., verses 12-13). We must remember daily that God hates pride; He is observing our actions, and He remembers His oaths.
Today in James 2, we see God’s position about discriminating against others - especially the poor – but actually to everyone. Showing favoritism of any kind is a violation of God’s royal law. God does not show favoritism, and neither should we. We are to love (i.e., treat; care for; be concerned about, etc.,) others in the same way that God loves and cares for us and in the way we love ourselves – in our thoughts, words, and actions (verse 12). Our faith, to be genuine, must produce the fruit of good works – faith is the cause – good works are the effect. Let it be known that, from the perspective of God’s Word, good works never cause or produce faith. Good works are nothing more than a basis for pride, and God is not impressed. Properly, in this way then, faith and works function together. As we have seen, the fear of the Lord is what impresses God.
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