Read Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
3 Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Go Deeper
The opening verses of this psalm are a theological statement. They tell us something about who God is: He is powerful, and He loves us. God can, and God cares.
Solomon, the author of this psalm, is noted as the wisest man who ever lived. His words in this psalm are reminiscent of some of his writing from the book of Ecclesiastes: Labor without faith is meaningless. Working on our own leads to frustration and futility, while trusting God leads to rest. Work itself is good. We were created to work, and God is honored by our hard work when it is submitted to Him. But we have to remember who makes our work possible and profitable. Whether building a house or defending a city, we need God.
As we learn dependence on Him for every task, He cares for us and gives us rest. Dr. Thomas Constable, a scholar and retired professor, says this about Psalm 127:“The godly need to recognize that people are never self-made. We owe all that we possess to God’s providence ultimately. Consequently, we should avoid the trap of depending totally on ourselves for all we need in life. Instead, we should trust God as we work and acknowledge His good gifts.”
In the New Testament, Paul writes frequently about boasting in God’s power and not our own. Ephesians 2:4-10 paints a clear picture of our need, God’s power, and His great love for us:
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We were dead, and He made us alive! Because of God’s great love for us, He saved us and called us to a holy life. Everything we do flows from Him. He is powerful, and He loves us. God can, and God cares.
Questions
- What does this psalm teach us about the character of God? What does it teach you about the nature of work?
- Where have you seen the Lord’s care and provision in your life?
- In what areas of your life are you tempted to take control rather than trust God?
A Quote
“As Christians do the jobs and tasks assigned to them in what the world calls work, we learn to pay attention to and practice what God is doing in love and justice, in helping and healing, in liberating and cheering.” Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
7 responses to “Psalm 127”
This is Harris Creek’s safety team’s foundational verse: “ …Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1
Your brothers and sisters in Christ in our Safety Ministry, train and practice often to share the Gospel with and at the same time stand against those who may intend harm to our fellowship. All of this while recognizing that it is God who ultimately protects the body of Harris Creek Baptist Church.
So very thankful, knowing you all are quietly there in and behind the scenes.
Thank you and the others that serve on this team!!!!
May God keep you and bless you beyond all you can ask or think. Amen
Amen! Praise God!!
Yes!
“Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him” (v3).
I find it interesting that this psalm opens with building a house and closes with a quiver full of children. Solomon credits God’s involvement with the success of either building a structure or a home, we partner with him. In God’s kindness he filled our quiver with 7 arrows. It’s ironic how far culture has drifted in devaluing children that God calls blessings.
Solomon wrote this wisdom psalm so that we may see the glory of God. This psalm is about life at work and life at home.
Work without the God is empty and in vain. How do you fill your work with Christ? Realize that your occupation is a calling from God, not a calling to be God. Ask yourself a question: Do you define your work by the tasks you do, by the money you make, by the climbing of the cooperate ladder, or by the God that you serve? Your job is a divine commission to show others the way to Christ. Pray, then work and let the love of God shine whether you are a garbage collector or a CEO.
Life at home.
Children are a gift from God. We are to raise them to be a communicator of the Gospel. BUT GOD has given everyone freedom of choice. We raise those babies the best we know how and pray pray pray that they shema hear to obedience for their own selves to Love God and accept Christ as their savior. As a parent of wayward children, it is hard to see your babies stray away to follow the world. Pray pray pray is the answer to that. God can and will turn them back, which I prayed to see in my lifetime. One of the two has returned, praise God. The other, God has answered some major health issues and he is seeing God move in his life. So this mama just keeps praying praying praying.
I believe that with you could also be an influence to the children in your local body, church. Or it could be as a aunt or uncle being a light to those children. Maybe seeing others through God’s love goggles and sharing the Gospel where ever is filling up of your quiver.
BUT GOD
God thank You for wisdom so that I may glorify and honor You with all, of the minutes of my life. God I am thankful for the work I do. I love my job. Thank You for my coworkers, their lives, and children. God thank You for me sharing my light of You with them. God thank You for today, these minutes of this day, that I can honor and bless those around me because of Your great love effervescing out of my whole being in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!
Yes, Psalm 127:1 is the most recent theme verse for Harris Creek Church in conjunction with the Save A Seat campaign!
1 “Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.”
Interesting how the word “vain” is used so often in this Psalm. I definitely don’t want to live my life in vain!