Family is the design of God. In Genesis we see how God created man and woman and in the Garden of Eden, He formed the family. Adam the first man acknowledged his wife as “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh”and their union is explained in Genesis 2:24. We understand how important the family is in the heart of God the Father… “It is from Him that every family in heaven and on earth has its name.” (Eph.3:15NLV)

Coming to the vision of God for a family, let us see Malachi 2:15[ESV]: “Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” Malachi 2:14-16 details the essence of the family. God desires a home to be a unit of love, trust, faithfulness and godly children.  This is possible only for a man who fears the Lord and walks in His ways as the very first verse of the Psalm speaks of.

Now such a man will be blessed of the Lord. And the blessings described in this Psalm are:

• When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands…(V2): Tending the garden was the work given to Adam—putting his hands to work is intended of every man. Ideally man is the bread winner and the one who takes care of the needs of his family. God gives man the ability to work, the skill to do his job and also “….to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.”(Eccl 5:18)

• Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house…(V3): The blessing of a godly wife too is from the Lord. “…But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord.” (Prov.19:14 AMP). The fruitfulness of the wife goes beyond the posterity to her rich contribution in the making of a “home” where love, comfort and stability abound.

• Your children like olive plants around your table. (V3): Psalm 127 speaks of children being a gift and reward from God and how the children in a man’s youth are like arrows! God intended godly offspring from the union of godly parents. The allusion to an olive tree is a sign of provision and a flourishing happy family.

The picture painted by the Psalmist of an ideal family is seen here. Taking a comparison with our family, how far/near are we from that picture? Have we walked away from God’s principles for a godly man and a godly home?

V 4 says, “Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.”  If we need the blessings mentioned above, can we sincerely express our shortfalls before the Lord and ask Him to forgive us? Has there been a lack of love, faithfulness, neglect, disrespect, a losing the vision of the family God intended it to be? Let us bring all of it to the Lord and ask Him to mend us and help us build a godly home where the blessing of the Lord will abound!​

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Thought for the Day - “This era will pass so quickly, and the present stresses will seem insignificant and remote. What will matter to you at the end of life will be the loving relationships you built with your family and your readiness to meet the Lord.”- Dr. James Dobson