“A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.” [1]
“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.” Psalm 127:1
Imagine the audacity of a mere human being to think he or she could build God a house when God created the whole universe and sustains it by the Word of His power!
In 2 Samuel 7:5, the Lord asked David, “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?” In 2 Samuel 7:7, God asked him, “Have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”
Later, in 2 Chronicles 2:6, after Solomon built a house for the Lord, he confessed, “Who is able to build Him [God] a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?”
We need to realize that unless we receive the Lord’s help, our “house” will not last. Without God’s help our cities will not keep standing! We are the ones who need God’s help to build our houses.
In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”
In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God commanded us, “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.”
In Deuteronomy 4:9, God commanded us to teach His commandments to our grandchildren.
Houses made of brick and mortar can be shredded by a whirlwind or washed away by a flood, but a soul that is filled with the Word and Spirit of God is eternal, and has an everlasting foundation in Christ. Thus, it is good for us to daily meditate on the Word of God, and to teach it to our children and grandchildren.
In Genesis 11:1-8, our ancient forefathers gathered to build a city with a tower that reached to the heaven. They built this city and this tower to make a name for themselves. Not for God’s glory! They left God out of the conversation, so God confused their conversation. They could no longer understand each other because God diversified their languages. After that, God scattered them (us) over the face of the whole earth.
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar of Babylon believed that his empire was invincible. His mighty kingdom was defeated in one day. He rule ended on the very night that God spoke to him about its demise.
A city may have guards watching day and night, but they cannot protect it without God. A fire may break out unexpectedly. Enemies may attack. A crisis may occur that no one can solve. [2]
The same is true for families and for individuals. Human effort and careful planning are valuable, but only God can truly provide safety and protection. [3]
“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 127:2
The psalmist is not condemning hard work. Scripture encourages diligence. Rather, he warns against anxious, excessive striving that leaves God out. Some people work constantly, sacrificing rest and peace, because they believe everything depends on their own efforts. They rise early, stay up late, and fill their lives with worry, yet their success still depends on God’s grace. [4]
In Ecclesiastes 9:11, it is written, “I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all.”
In 2 Samuel 12:25, God promised to Solomon peace, so he did not need to live in fear and constant striving. His enemies could scheme and struggle, but God’s purpose would stand. [5]
God gives His beloved people peaceful rest. The greatest rest comes when we trust God completely—when our souls rest in Him and we wake ready to serve Him. According to Jude 1:21, we should keep ourselves “in the love of God,” and “look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” [6]
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3
For those who have grown up in a culture of death and sexual misconduct, God’s Word here may sound very strange and unacceptable. Aren’t children costly? Aren’t they a huge responsibility? Don’t they cause disagreements between spouses? Don’t they rebel against parents and get them into trouble?
Children are a heritage from the Lord. “A heritage is anything passed down from past generations including traditions, values, and property. It shapes a group’s or person’s identity, connecting who we are today to the history, culture and environment of those who came before us.” [6]
Everyone who is born continues the heritage of those who came before him or her by being created from their particular DNA. A child’s “normal” tends to become whatever culture he or she is taught while growing up, but DNA also influences his or her tendencies.
It is really an amazing gift of God’s grace to be entrusted with the life of a helpless baby infant. Your baby depends on you to survive and thrive. God commands you as a parent to teach your child (children) His laws and of course the Gospel of His grace as well.
“The fruit of the womb is His reward.” Children are God’s gift. Children should be viewed as blessings, not burdens. [7]
In Ezekiel 16:20, God says, “They are My children which you have born unto Me.” Children belong to God, and they bring the greatest joy and honor when they are raised to serve Him. [8]
“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 127:4-5
Children born while parents are young often grow strong and are able to help their families as their parents grow older. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, children can be prepared and directed toward God’s purposes. A family with many children is like a quiver filled with arrows—each child has different abilities and can serve God and others in different ways. [9]
A parent with faithful children is blessed. Such a person can face difficulties with confidence because he or she is surrounded by those who love and stand with him or her. [10]
Children are like arrows that must be carefully guided while they are still in the hand. [11] Fathers have the responsibility to bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
Children who are not guided well can become a source of deep sorrow instead of joy. Instead of being arrows that help, they can become arrows that wound the hearts of their parents. Thus, parents should faithfully train their children while they have the opportunity, teaching them to love God and serve their generation. [12]
[1] “The Song of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134) are songs to sing as one journeys toward God.
“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.” Psalm 127:1
Imagine the audacity of a mere human being to think he or she could build God a house when God created the whole universe and sustains it by the Word of His power!
In 2 Samuel 7:5, the Lord asked David, “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?” In 2 Samuel 7:7, God asked him, “Have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”
Later, in 2 Chronicles 2:6, after Solomon built a house for the Lord, he confessed, “Who is able to build Him [God] a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?”
We need to realize that unless we receive the Lord’s help, our “house” will not last. Without God’s help our cities will not keep standing! We are the ones who need God’s help to build our houses.
In Matthew 7:24-25, Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”
In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God commanded us, “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.”
In Deuteronomy 4:9, God commanded us to teach His commandments to our grandchildren.
Houses made of brick and mortar can be shredded by a whirlwind or washed away by a flood, but a soul that is filled with the Word and Spirit of God is eternal, and has an everlasting foundation in Christ. Thus, it is good for us to daily meditate on the Word of God, and to teach it to our children and grandchildren.
In Genesis 11:1-8, our ancient forefathers gathered to build a city with a tower that reached to the heaven. They built this city and this tower to make a name for themselves. Not for God’s glory! They left God out of the conversation, so God confused their conversation. They could no longer understand each other because God diversified their languages. After that, God scattered them (us) over the face of the whole earth.
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar of Babylon believed that his empire was invincible. His mighty kingdom was defeated in one day. He rule ended on the very night that God spoke to him about its demise.
A city may have guards watching day and night, but they cannot protect it without God. A fire may break out unexpectedly. Enemies may attack. A crisis may occur that no one can solve. [2]
The same is true for families and for individuals. Human effort and careful planning are valuable, but only God can truly provide safety and protection. [3]
“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 127:2
The psalmist is not condemning hard work. Scripture encourages diligence. Rather, he warns against anxious, excessive striving that leaves God out. Some people work constantly, sacrificing rest and peace, because they believe everything depends on their own efforts. They rise early, stay up late, and fill their lives with worry, yet their success still depends on God’s grace. [4]
In Ecclesiastes 9:11, it is written, “I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all.”
In 2 Samuel 12:25, God promised to Solomon peace, so he did not need to live in fear and constant striving. His enemies could scheme and struggle, but God’s purpose would stand. [5]
God gives His beloved people peaceful rest. The greatest rest comes when we trust God completely—when our souls rest in Him and we wake ready to serve Him. According to Jude 1:21, we should keep ourselves “in the love of God,” and “look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” [6]
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127:3
For those who have grown up in a culture of death and sexual misconduct, God’s Word here may sound very strange and unacceptable. Aren’t children costly? Aren’t they a huge responsibility? Don’t they cause disagreements between spouses? Don’t they rebel against parents and get them into trouble?
Children are a heritage from the Lord. “A heritage is anything passed down from past generations including traditions, values, and property. It shapes a group’s or person’s identity, connecting who we are today to the history, culture and environment of those who came before us.” [6]
Everyone who is born continues the heritage of those who came before him or her by being created from their particular DNA. A child’s “normal” tends to become whatever culture he or she is taught while growing up, but DNA also influences his or her tendencies.
It is really an amazing gift of God’s grace to be entrusted with the life of a helpless baby infant. Your baby depends on you to survive and thrive. God commands you as a parent to teach your child (children) His laws and of course the Gospel of His grace as well.
“The fruit of the womb is His reward.” Children are God’s gift. Children should be viewed as blessings, not burdens. [7]
In Ezekiel 16:20, God says, “They are My children which you have born unto Me.” Children belong to God, and they bring the greatest joy and honor when they are raised to serve Him. [8]
“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 127:4-5
Children born while parents are young often grow strong and are able to help their families as their parents grow older. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, children can be prepared and directed toward God’s purposes. A family with many children is like a quiver filled with arrows—each child has different abilities and can serve God and others in different ways. [9]
A parent with faithful children is blessed. Such a person can face difficulties with confidence because he or she is surrounded by those who love and stand with him or her. [10]
Children are like arrows that must be carefully guided while they are still in the hand. [11] Fathers have the responsibility to bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
Children who are not guided well can become a source of deep sorrow instead of joy. Instead of being arrows that help, they can become arrows that wound the hearts of their parents. Thus, parents should faithfully train their children while they have the opportunity, teaching them to love God and serve their generation. [12]
[1] “The Song of Ascents” (Psalms 120–134) are songs to sing as one journeys toward God.
[2-5] Material developed, added to and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[6] https://www.genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk/education/core-concepts/where-does-our-genome-come-from/
[7-12] Material developed, added to and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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