There is to be harmony in the home. Indeed, the entire home is to be a symphony of praise. And who's the leader who orchestrates this wonderful music? Fathers. Psalm 128 contains a special message to fathers, so if you're one, I'd like you to notice five wonderful truths to help you put music in your home.

 
The Character That He Lives
Now, most people think happiness comes from marriage or money, success or fitness. And yet, the Bible says that the fear of God brings happiness. And what does it mean to fear God? I like to think it is simply love on its knees. The one who loves God the best, fears God the most.

A good dad fears God and as a result, he shows it by the way that he lives. There is nothing more important than a man's integrity. Let me ask the fathers reading this: What do you want to be remembered for? The job you held? The yard you kept? The money you earned? I want my children to remember me for my character. I want them to say, "My dad feared God. My dad walked in the ways of God."


The Content that He Learns
Psalm 128:2 says, "For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." There's something wonderful about honest work — providing for your family and coming home to enjoy what God has given.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Do you know the problem with many dads? They're not content. There's never enough. They are never satisfied to just simply come home and be happy with their families. They're busy earning a living and forgetting to live.


The Companion That He Loves
"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house" (Psalm 128:3). A father's companion is his faithful wife, because she clings to him like a vine clings to a wall. And a husband is to be to his wife what a wall is to a vine — her support and strength.

The husband encourages and builds up his wife by shining His love and showering his affections upon her. Does that characterize your wife? Does that characterize your role in the home as the faithful provider and loving supporter of your wife?


The Children That He Leads
"Thy children like olive plants round about thy table" (Psalm 128:3b). Did you know that the olive is a biblical symbol of fruitfulness and righteousness? An olive tree, if it is well established, can provide fruit for twenty generations.

Now, let me ask the dads something.... If your wife is like a vine and your children are like olive plants, what is your role? You are to cultivate them! Wise is the Dad that understands that it is his duty and privilege to cultivate his wife's love and meet her needs, and to cultivate his children and meet their needs.

 
The Contribution That He Leaves
Look now at Psalm 128:4-6: "Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." Oh what a blessing to see your children and grandchildren serving the Lord.

I don't know what kind of family you came from, but there are probably some reading this who were abused as a child. Maybe others of you were raised in a home where there was alcoholism, uncontrolled rage, abandonment, or even the untimely death of your father before you had a chance to get to know him.

Maybe you're saying to yourself, "I'd give anything if my daddy would just put his arms around my neck and tell me he loves me." The deepest need of your heart, is for a dad to hug you and say, "I accept you. I love you."

I tell you there is hope for you. Every child of God has a Father who loves them unconditionally and eternally. You can crawl up into His lap anytime, anywhere and get a hug. Take this truth from the Word of God and not only think on it, but hide it in your heart:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7)

You can't do anything about your ancestors, but you can certainly do something about your descendants. One father said,

If I had it to do all over again, here's what I would do. I'd love my wife more in front of my children. I'd laugh with my children more at our mistakes and our joys. I'd listen more, even to the youngest child. I'd be more honest about my own weaknesses and stop pretending perfection. I would pray differently for my children. Instead of focusing on me, I'd focus on them. I would do more things with my children. I would be more encouraging and bestow more praise. I would pay more attention to little things, deeds and words of love and kindness. And finally, if I had to do it all over again, I would share God more intimately with my family. I would use every ordinary thing that happened in every ordinary day to point them to God.

Dads, if there's going to be music in your home, you're going to have to see to it because God has made you the leader of the band.