Psalm 127:1-5 (CSB)
Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain. In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food—yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves. Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.
The title of this Psalm—A song of ascents. Of Solomon—brings one of the bible’s most fascinating characters into the mix and provides a deep perspective on life from which to draw upon. If Solomon wrote this song later in life, then surely he is looking back with no small amount of regret. If this was written when he was a younger man, then he was displaying the wisdom that God had so lavishly bestowed upon him. Either way, when it comes to the Holy Spirit inspired musings of one of the wisest men to have ever lived, we would do well to pay close attention to the three big areas he addresses in this short psalm: Accomplishment, Security, and Family.
Accomplishment (v. 1a)
Have you ever begun a project only to find out at some point deep into the process that you did it wrong? I have had this experience far too many times! I confidently rush into the construction (even looking at the directions…a bit) only to hit a snag when I discover that I put something in backwards or in the wrong order. God created all of us to be productive “builders” in any number of arenas and there are only two ways to go about it: With God, or without him. With humility, or with pride. You can build an incredible life, from an earthly perspective, and still end up in eternal ruin (Mk. 8:36). Solomon certainly built a life “under the sun” that would impress anyone, yet he ended up frustrated and broken as his kingdom became a ruin and his many marriages an affront to God. Every Christian must acknowledge that God is the true builder, we are utterly dependent on His grace, we must pray to know and do His will, and we must remain humble before Him.
Security (v. 1b)
In the ancient cities, there were guards who would patrol at night and watch for enemies trying to attack unexpectedly. Israel had been at war with many nations and their security as a nation, and therefore as individuals, was a very real and important concern. Likewise, with us. Security is a big deal for most people, be it at home, with their finances, or their very identities in the age of digital theft. Additionally, secular forces and certain government officials want to limit and/or remove religious liberty, not to mention our personal battles with the world, our own flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:2-3). We need the Lord to provide the only sure defense on both a national level as well as a personal level while we do what He has called us to do. As Spurgeon noted, “…he (man) supposes that they will do all that they can do, and then he (God) forbids their fixing their trust in what they have done, and assures them that all creature effort will be in vain unless the Creator puts forth his power.” We need to pray for and rest in God’s ultimate security, rather than living in fear (2 Tim. 1:7).
Family (v. 3-5)
“The Jew would ask, why is the house being built if it is not for the family? And why are the watchmen protecting the city if not for the families that live in it? Then as now, the family was the basic unit and most important element of society.” (Boice) Children may not always seem like a blessing in their worst moments, but they most assuredly are according to the clear teaching of Scripture. Do you look at, talk to, and treat your children as if they are a gift given to you directly from the hand of God? If you have children, you are indeed blessed! But children are also meant to be sent out, like arrows guided to their intended targets. It is a Christian parent’s job to train them up in the way they should go (Pr. 22:6). First, to lead them to salvation, and then to equip them to make an impact on the world for the Kingdom of God. What our children do with our efforts is between them and God—a difficult reality to live with, sometimes—but we must always be willing to pray for them, love them, and point them to Christ. “Many children make many prayers, and many prayers bring much blessing.” (German Proverb cited in Spurgeon)
