The Lord Rewards His Own
August 1, 2019
Commentary
Psalm 127 exhorts us to continually recognize God’s influence in every area of our life. God has intended that man should work by day and sleep peacefully by night. It is folly for us to rise early and stay up late, thus deny ourselves bodily refreshments in the eager pursuit of worldly wealth (v. 2). You cannot build a Godly home without God’s Word. It is useless to try. Children are a heritage from the Lord (v. 3). Our children bring the most honor and comfort to us when they are made accountable to God. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man (v. 4), who knows how to use them for his own safety and advantage, so are children born to their parents when they are young, so that when they are grown up, they might serve their parents in their time of need. Each child has different capacities and inclinations, making them serviceable to the family in many ways (v. 5). Children watch what adults do. They are like arrows in our hand and will go in the direction we point them.
Psalm 128 speaks about the blessing of a family. It is a blessing to be able to work, thus providing for your family’sphysical needs (v. 2). It is a blessing to have a productive wife and many children who are well respected in the community (v. 3). It is a blessing to live in a thriving city and community (v. 5). It is a blessing to live long enough to see your grandchildren (v. 6).
How can we receive these blessing? It is those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways that are blessed (vv. 1, 4). They have a deep reverence of God upon their spirits and evidence it by a regular and constant conformity to his will. The fear of God can be felt in their conversations. God blesses them, and his pronouncing them blessed makes it so. They are blessed now and forever.
Application
I need to evaluate how strong God’s influence is in our family. Are there areas in which I have not let “the Lord build the house”? Have other things taken God’s place in the priority of our home? Are there any influences in our family that is hindering the Lord’s work in our home? What could I do to strengthen our family in the Lord? Do I believe that my children have the potential of one day being as effective (or even more effective) with their gifts and abilities than I am?
Psalms 127:1– 6 (NET)
1 If the Lord does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he provides for those whom he loves even when they sleep.
3 Yes, sons are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Sons born during one’s youth are like arrows in a warrior’s hand.
5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the city gate.