So, according to the psalmist (and others in the Bible) it is a blessing to be a God-fearing person, not only for oneself but for the benefit of all those around us as well. Can you think of someone you know or have heard about who fits this description and is (or was) indeed a blessing to many?
When I think back over my life there are a number of people who have had a positive influence upon my life and who I would call God -fearing due to their walk with God and the blessing they have been to others. One such person was the man who explained to me how to become a true follower of Jesus. His name was Stan Drew and, to many, although he seemed to be an unassuming, humble man, he knew what God required of him and went about it with all his might. Among other things, God had given him a gift of evangelism and, only God knows how many people in the city of Perth know Jesus today due to the influence of this God-fearing man. But not only did he lead people to Jesus, but he sought to disciple them and was even the catalyst for a good number of us serving God in ministries at home and overseas.
So, let us see what the psalmist says:
1 Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.
In the context of the culture of the day, family was the very basic building block for a stable society, something we need to get back to in our day. The psalmist here describes being blessed by the labour of our hands producing good results (fruit), of a good marital relationship and our family life being blessed with children, and even of the privilege of enjoying our grandchildren. All this helping towards peace and stability in our community and nation.
As Kidner says:
“The quiet blessings of an ordered life are traced from the centre outwards in this psalm, as the eye travels from the godly man to his family and finally to Israel. Here is a simple piety with its proper fruit of stability and peace.” (# 29)
Longman does remind us that being a Wisdom Psalm, “we must be careful to remember that wisdom does not provide universally true guarantees: for instance, that everyone who loves God will be blessed with… large families … but rather [wisdom and the fear of the Lord is] the best route to a desired conclusion… The psalm calls its reader/listener to the fear of the Lord, a life of wisdom. A right relationship with God is accompanied by obedience to his law… The psalmist links the benefits of long life, security, a healthy community and a large and happy family with the way of wisdom… following God’s ways does often lead to a better life, though far from a perfect one. For that, according to the New Testament, we have to wait until Christ returns.” (# 30)
In the meantime, there is no doubt about it, Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 