You are beautiful
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

This is the song of praise playing in the background of my mind as I read our psalm this morning in the quiet of this hour.  Yes, it is quiet for we have just returned from a long trip that required many hours on the road because of the death of another family member who we loved greatly.  God protected us in travel, gave us words of comfort to say and feel.  Now we are back.  I am in awe of God who grows and matures us inside and out through the dynamic called “family”.  Let’s explore that a little more with the help of Warren Wiersbe.

“Because families traveled together to the annual feasts in Jerusalem, it is only right that another psalm be devoted to parents and their offspring. The previous psalm pictured children as a rich heritage and as arrows for defeating the enemy. This psalm uses agricultural images for both the wife and the children. In one form or another, the word bless is used four times, but it is the translation of two different Hebrew words. In verses 1-2, it is the word asher, which is often translated “happy” (Gen. 30:12-13), and in verses 4-5, it is barak, which means “blessed of the Lord.” The latter word is used by the Lord when He blesses people; the former word is used to describe the good that comes when people do that which pleases the Lord. Like 127, this psalm deals with protection, working, the family, and God’s blessing on Jerusalem. While the writer includes all who fear the Lord (believers), the psalm is addressed especially to the man of the house. We see a happy man and woman as they go through several stages in life.”  –Wiersbe

It is fitting that this psalm of praise and blessing comes up this morning upon our return.  Randy’s brother, the “head of the house”, left earth in the “twinkling of an eye” to meet Jesus face to face.  There was no warning or long sickness.  One minute he was on earth getting ready to go on vacation and in the next minute of earth time, his soul left his earthly tent to spend eternity with Jesus because he was a true believer in Jesus.

I hear Jesus saying to Bob some of the words of this psalm, “You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Soak in the goodness!” What a blessing of the Lord for Bob!  Because God chose family life to grow, comfort and mature us in His love, mercy and grace, Bob’s family gathered to help each other through the pain of his departure.  But at the same time, we stand in awe of our God who received Bob into his Kingdom home for eternity!  “All who fear (believe) God, how blessed you are!”  As many of Bob’s family as possible gathered to celebrate the life he lived with joy and laughter at the memories of a life well lived.  This, too, is God’s way to “bless” us.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 128, The Message

^1-2 All you who fear God, how blessed you are!
    how happily you walk on his smooth straight road!
You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.
    Enjoy the blessing! Soak in the goodness!

^3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,
    your household lush as a vineyard,
The children around your table
    as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.
Stand in awe of God’s Yes.
    Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God!

^5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem
    every day of your life.
And enjoy your grandchildren.
    Peace to Israel!

TRUTH:  Enjoy your wife, kids, and grandkids all the days of our lives here on earth for they are blessings from God.  “Stand in awe of God’s YES!”  Enjoy EVERY day of your life as if it were your last and give God thanks.  He is IN every day here if we stop to listen and He is in all the days of eternity. Jesus, God’s Son, opened the door to eternity living for all who believe.  Believe and be saved.

Proverb 22:6, The Message

WISDOM: “Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name.  May Your Kingdom come and reign supremely in us and all around us today and may we recognize your glory at work!  May Your will be done in every detail of our lives here on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day knowledge and wisdom for living well as your servants.  And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt and malign us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil.  For you have all power, to you be all glory now and forevermore!

In Jesus Name, Amen