A song of ascents. 

Psalms 120-134 are called “the psalms of ascents.” A better name would be “the songs of the pilgrim caravans.” These pilgrimage songs were sung when Israel traveled upwards to Jerusalem (usually in caravans) during the Jewish feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Four of these songs were attributed to David. Solomon wrote one of these songs. The other ten songs are anonymous. The author of Psalm 128 is unknown. Martin Luther called it “the marriage psalm.”

128:1 How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands! 

The “commands” are Bible doctrine. The loyal followers are those who master and apply Bible doctrine. One cannot apply Bible doctrine unless they know Bible doctrine. Those who know and apply Bible doctrine will be blessed by God. They will also be a blessing to others.

128:2 You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure. 

Those with strong Bible doctrine will be able to grow their crops and eat from them. They will not have to worry about foreign armies eating their produce. They will be secure in the land.

128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house; your children will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table. 

Those with strong Bible doctrine will be happily married to a wife who produces a large family.

128:4 Yes indeed, the man who fears the Lord will be blessed in this way. 

The man who respects Jehovah will be blessed.

128:5 May the Lord bless you from Zion, that you might see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life, 6 and that you might see your grandchildren. May Israel experience peace! 

It is a special blessing to see one’s “spiritual grandchildren.”