What does Psalm 128:2 mean?

God offered the nation of Israel a unique promise. He tied blessings and prosperity to their obedience (Leviticus 26:3–5; Deuteronomy 30:15–16). This even included military success (Leviticus 26:6–9). Disobedience would result in loss of crops (Deuteronomy 28:38–40), among other things. Rejecting the Lord would eventually lead to defeat and exile (Deuteronomy 30:17–18). In this psalm, the writer evokes those ideas by calling the one who fears the Lord (Psalm 128:1) "blessed."

Those promises were given to the nation of Israel as a single unit. They were not offered to any specific person—then or now. However, the Bible does indicate that those who follow godly wisdom (Psalm 128:1; Proverbs 9:10–11) are at much less risk for disaster than those who ignore Him (Proverbs 11:3–8; 14:27).