Blessing

 

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128 (ESV)   Blessed in this Psalm is equivalent to the phrase "how happy." How happy is everyone who fears the Lord and obeys the Lord. That would be a simple summary of what makes someone successful. The rich, the poor, the healthy, the sick, the tall, and the short can all choose to fear and obey God. If they decide to do this, they are choosing to be blessed.   Blessing does not have to do with being rich, poor, healthy, sick, tall, or short, so pursuing those things will leave one empty.