Psalm 127 - In Vain

Psalm 127:1-5 NIV

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. 

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—

 for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 

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.

Psalm 127 is a psalm of ascent sung by worshipers traveling toward the temple. It reads more like a set of proverbs than a psalm. In fact, the note preceding the psalm in the scripture manuscripts says that this particular psalm is of Solomon, the author of most of the proverbs in the Bible. I suppose I should not be surprised that psalm 127 seems more like something that belongs in the book of Proverbs.

The psalm begins by acknowledging the futility of planning and laboring toward some end without the Lord. Like Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) Jesus means that we can't do anything of kingdom importance without Him. We can do all kinds of things, but without God they will have no lasting significance. Unless the Lord is with you in your effort, meaning that He has guided and directed you according to His divine will, then your work is in vain.

There are times that I go to work assuming that I am performing God's will. I find later that, while what I am doing may be a good thing, it was not God's will for me to do at that time. Discernment is crucial and sometimes I haven't committed the time to fully discern the will of God. Prayer and the insights of your faith partners in the church is essential to learning God's will. Searching the scriptures assures any plan is in line with the will of God already revealed in His word. So if I don't want to build in vain, I need to seek the Lord.

From the vanity of planning the psalm moves to the vanity of hard work. Rest comes to those who are with the Lord. It does not come because you've worked hard to amass wealth. What are your laboring for? Does it help you to sleep at night?

I think of the story of Abraham who refused to keep any treasure for himself after defeating the raiding kings from the north who attacked Sodom and kidnapped his nephew Lot. He didn't want anyone to say the king of Sodom made Abraham a wealthy man. Instead He gave a tithe of the booty to God through the high priest of Salem, King Melchizedek.

Genesis 15:1 NIV

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Am I working toward God as my reward? Even though I work in the church that doesn't mean my heart is set on God. I am driven by a desire to do great things for God, to win big for God out of my devotion to Him. But sometimes I wonder if my zeal for God is more about my own glory.

The builders of the tower of Babel sought to make a name for themselves, but Abraham followed God who promised to make his name great. What am I working for, my own welfare or the glory of God? God grants rest to the souls that seek Him first above all others. Restlessness falls to those who seek lesser things.

Finally, Psalm 127 points to true wealth, that is children. Children are a blessing from God, an inheritance passed on to His heirs. We are the children of God, adopted into God's family, and heirs to the riches of heaven and earth. Children are God's reward to those who love Him.

Children mean strength and security like one who has a quiver full of arrows. One will not last long in battle with a shortage of arrows. The table will be scarce of meat without arrows to hunt prey. Children are essential for future security as they will be the ones caring for you in your old age. Blessed are you when you have many children. They bring you honor before your peers. If you have done a good job raising your children they will be a credit to you. Your reputation as a good person and parent will be evident in your children's lives. And your children will bless you in their coming of age.

How does this psalm function for worship? How did it instruct the hearts of pilgrims on the way to festival in Jerusalem? It's not easy for me to see.

I think that as families traveled to Jerusalem it was instructive to think about the purpose of their journey. This psalm got me thinking about my journey. What am I working toward? Is God with me in my work? Do I labor for wealth or fame? What is true wealth? What is real fame, instead of everyone's so called fifteen minutes? As families traveled they took along their children too. This psalm reminds them that children are a reward from God. What is true blessing? How am I going to return to God an offering of thanks for His many blessings upon my life?

As I sang psalm 127 perhaps my heart would be even more prepared to worship the Lord in His house. The questions the psalm causes me to ask leads me to Christ, my all in all. For without Him I am nothing.