Psalm 127

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2 (NKJV)

I remember the first time I heard the words of the bluesman, the Reverend Dan Smith, “Any man, if he knows how, can take a set of tools and build him a house.  But God has to build a home.” (“It Takes God To Build A Home,” Glasshouse Records 1992).  I was living in a grand old home myself, in midtown Memphis, a few blocks away from the old French Quarter hotel, when that song came floating down the hallway from a roommate’s stereo.  Smith was singing today’s psalm.  Written by King Solomon around the time of the Temple’s dedication, Psalm 127 begins by deflecting people’s attention from the architecture and focusing them on the “Architect,” the Lord.  Of course, Solomon had overseen the construction, and it would have been easy for him to attribute the Temple’s importance to his wisdom.

Solomon lets everyone know the security of the nation does not rest in its defense department but in its “Defender.”  Kind David had built-up the military, but peace does not rest in an overwhelming number of horses & chariots.  It rests in the “Prince of Peace,” Messiah Himself.  

Or, suppose you feel that your religious devotion will save you: “eating the bread of sorrows” is a reference to observing Passover, eating the unleavened matzo bread.  No, our holiness does not come from our devotion to God but in the God who is devoted to us…in that while we were yet sinners, He chose to give His life for us.  (Romans 5:8)

The “houses” of Israel (that need the Lord’s building) refer to the Temple, the nation, and the family.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5 (NKJV)

I love the imagery of a “quiver” of children. Children are like arrows that we attach our values and shoot into the future.  If we build our homes by our own counsel, what kind of values do we shoot into the future? (Psalm 1:1-2) But if we diligently teach our children God’s Word, we not only fortify this generation, but we ensure the future welfare of our descendants, the Church, and our nation.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deut 6:6-7 (NKJV)