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We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 128  Listen to Psalm 128 This psalm suggests that a blessed home is based on fearing the Lord and walking in his ways. Our homes may not be ideal, but this blessing is available to all who will honour and respect God and isn’t dependent on race, class, education or intelligence, but rather a life of obedience. Although God cares for us, we are to work for a living (verse 2). We know deep down that we are happiest when we have work to do, strength to do it, and a fair return for what we have done. Volunteering can also bring blessing and a sense of doing God’s work. Jesus knew this in his life: "My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). The pilgrim journeys to Jerusalem were usually made as families, so it makes sense for there to be attention given to family relationships in the Songs of Ascents. Children and grandchildren will be a blessing. Good wives may not all be able to have children, but can be fruitful in other ways e.g. kindness, helpfulness, etc. Although ‘He that finds a wife finds a good thing,’ later in scripture, singleness is also a calling of God – Jesus was single and this can be a blessing. To the Israelite, blessings came out of Zion (verse 5), which they regarded as God's earthly dwelling-place. When we think of where a lot of Jesus’ ministry took place, where he died and rose again for us and where the gospel was first preached, we are all blessed out of Zion (Jerusalem). Dear Lord, help us all to fear the Lord and walk in his ways and help us to teach younger generations to do the same by our words and example.