Blessed are you who reverence the Beloved, who walk in Love’s way!
You radiate an inner joy and peace where’er you go;
compassion draws you to the gates of those in need.
Families and friends gather upon your doorstep;
Children run to greet you with open arms.
Yes, blessed are you who reverence the Beloved!
Strangers feel at home in your presence;
the oppressed are comforted by your support.
Blessed indeed are you who reverence the Beloved!
Peace is within you!
Nan C. Merrill Psalms for Praying
Reflection:
Psalm 128 is one of the Psalms of Ascent sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Pilgrims are spiritually (and physically) walking in the way of God. And while this psalm uses the language of families and children to describe blessings and living a life full of blessings, there are many love filled endeavors that when undertaken with reverence of God, will be a blessing to those that endeavor and will bless others.
Those who walk in God’s ways will be a blessing to others and receive God’s blessing too. My hope is to choose a project, an endeavor, a life that will amplify God’s love in the world.
Past reflection links: Yeah, so remember that time I thought I had written reflections about all of the psalms… I missed this one…
Check out other psalm reflections in the links below or find more of my writing published in Presbyterian Outlook or listen to my experiments in podcasting on the Period Pastor Podcast. Follow me @periodpastor
I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020. Shortly after, we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom. Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C). Starting in Advent 2019, the church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C. Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others. While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A. In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B. Advent of 2021 year C. When we returned to in person worship, we took the psalm reflections out of the order of worship. I continued to write them for the blog. Advent of 2022 year A. I left church work in July of 2023 but continued the practice of writing psalm reflections. Advent of 2023 year B. Advent of 2024 year C. I finished year C early, so I began work on psalms I missed: Psalm 119, Year D and others not in the lectionary. By the end of 2025, I have written a reflection for each psalm.
Advent of 2025 year A.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings and the PCUSA planning calendar to make text selections.
Year A Psalms
1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 122, 2nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 72, 3rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 146, 4th Sunday in Advent Psalm 80, Christmas Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1st Sunday after Christmas Psalm 148, 2nd Sunday after Christmas Psalm 147, 1st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 40, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 27, 4th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 15, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 112, Transfiguration Sunday Psalm 2 or Psalm 99.
1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 32, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 121, 3rdSunday in Lent Psalm 95, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 23, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 130, 6th Sunday in Lent Psalm 118 or Psalm 31.
Easter Psalm 118 or Psalm 114, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 16 or Psalm 111, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 116 or Psalm 34, 4th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23 or Psalm 100, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 31 or Psalm 119: 9-32, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 66 or Psalm 115, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 68 or Psalm 21, Pentecost Psalm 104.
1st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 8, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 33 or Psalm 50, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 116 or Psalm 100, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 86 or Psalm 69, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 13 or Psalm 89, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45 or Psalm 145, 7th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 119: 105-112 or Psalm 65, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 86, 9th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 128 Psalm 119, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 17 or Psalm 145, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 85, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 133 or Psalm 67, 13th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 124 or Psalm 138, 14th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 26, 15th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 149 or Psalm 119, 16th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 114 or Psalm 103, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 105 or Psalm 145, 18th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 25, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 19 or Psalm 80, 20th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 106 or Psalm 23, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 99 or Psalm 96, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 90 or Psalm 1, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 107 or Psalm 43, 24th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 78 or Psalm 70, 25th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 123 or Psalm 90, 26th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 100 or Psalm 95.
Sources and notes:
“Psalm 128 is the ninth in the collection o songs of ascents (see Psalms 120-134). It ice a companion o fat preceding Psalm 127. The subject of both is the blessing of frightful labor and fruitful family. It can save as a song for pilgrims because of its orientation toward Zion in its final lines.” Mays p. 402
Summary of Mays p. 403: Psalm 128 is in two parts: 1. beatitude and blessing and 2. benediction
“Because Zion is the place of the Presence, the pilgrims bring the needs and hopes of everyday life with them. Jerusalem plays a central role in the understanding of blessings in the songs. God blessed Zion as the place in the world representative of his reign (132:15); it is the place of blessing by the LORD’s sovereign decree (133:3). The LORD blesses from Zion (v. 5; 134:3). As they come to receive the blessing of the LORD, the pilgrims are not independent autonomous individuals. They lives are bound into Zion, and their hope for blessing is bound up with the good of Jerusalem (v.5; see the prayer for the good and peace of Jerusalem in 122:6-9). In a similar way, the lives of Christians are bound up with Christ, though who God bestows spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).” Mays p. 403
“This song, like all the sales, speaks about the LORD’s blessing in a way that makes clear it is not simply a matter of a ritual of place and ceremony. The LORD’s blessing is for those who fear the LORD (vv. 1, 4). There is a concurrence between the way life is lives and the way life is enhanced. Well-doing and doing well are interdependent. Walking in the ways of the LORD is a receptivity to the blessing of the LORD (see 125:4; 115:13; 24:5; and I Peter 3:8-12). The spirit of pilgrimage always incorporates walking in the ways of the LORD.” Mays pp. 403-404
“Ninth of the Songs of Ascents, Psalm 128 is classified, like the preceding Psalm 127, as a wisdom psalm, continuing the theme of home and family. It combines wisdom words in verses 1-4, called by Samuel Terrien “sapiential salutations,” with benedictory words in verses 5-6, described by him as a “priestly blessing.” In reference to its sapiential elements Joh n Goldingay maintains the tPsalm 128 is “for the most part, a poem that could have appeared in Proverbs,” while in reference to its priestly elements Walter Brueggemann and William H. Bellinger suggest that the psalm reflects a cultic background.” W p. 205
“In contrast to Psalm 127:2, which suggests that anxious human toil is “in vain”, Psalm 128:2 says “the suit of the labor of your hands you shall eat.” Erich Zenger points out that while the message of Psalm 127 is that a satisfying life is a gift from God, regardless of human labor and effort, Psalm 128 reminds the reader or hearer that humanity can band must contribute to attaining that “satisfying life.”” W p. 206
“Verses 5 and 6 may be understood as priestly or cultic sayings, compared by many commentators with the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24. they begin with words of hope: “The LORD bless you from Zion,” followed by the repeated imperative “may you see.” These verses use the literary device of advancing repletion (anadiplosis) to emphasize the extent to which the psalm singer will be blessed all her days, including seeing her children’s children. Psalm 128 thus moves the reader or hearer a step further in the wisdom admonitions found in Psalm 127, offering words of blessing and bringing the psalm singer hood etc Jerusalem, the place of “prosperity” and “peace” and a long and satisfying life.” W pp. 206-207
“As observed in the commentary on Psalm 127, a spouse and children are not the only means to blessing by God. Each of our heartfelt endeavors in life can be likened to spouses and children, those in whom we invest our lives at the cost of all else. Psalm 128 promises that such endeavors, if they are undertaken with a firm “reverence for the LORD” (Psalm 128: 1, 4), will be blessed. In due season they also contribute to the well-being of Jerusalem–that is, the whole body of believers.” W p. 207
Alter, Robert. 2007. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary New York: W. W. Norton & Company
WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.
Bourgeault, C. (2006). Chanting the psalms: A practical guide Audio Book. New Seeds.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Brueggemann, Walter. Davis Hanskins, Editor. 2022. Our Hearts Wait: Worshiping Through Praise and Lament in the Psalms Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
Brueggemann, Walter. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House.
Brueggemann, Walter. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg.
Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.
Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing.
Cudjoe-Wilkes and Wilkes Cudjoe-Wilkes, G., Wilkes, A. J., & Moss, O. (2022). Psalms for black lives: Reflections for the work of Liberation. Upper Room Books.
WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.
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DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.
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Green, Barbara. 1997. Like a Tree Planted: An Exploration of Psalms and Parables Through Metaphor. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016.
NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
Morgan, Michael. 2010. The Psalter for Christian Worship Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press.
Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.
WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.
Weems, Ann. 1995. Psalm of Lament. Westminster John Knox Pres
OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.
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