For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psa 127

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labour 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.

A. Find Out

1. What things can be done in vain – except what? v.1
2. What is also vain, because of what? v.2
3. What are a reward from the Lord? v.3
4. What are they like? v.4
5. Who is blessed? v.5a
6. When will they not be put to shame? v.5b

B. Think:

1. What point does verse 1 make?
2. What point does verse 2 make?
3. What point comes over in verses 3 and 4?

C. Comment:

                With this eighth ‘song of ascents’ the pilgrim thinks on the security of life and the blessings of life as a child of God. The first part reminds us of where true security comes from, while the second focuses on the Lord’s good intentions in respect of our family lives.

                House building (v.1a) appears a simple and straight forward task that is needed to establish a family, but it is more than bricks and mortar. You can labour with bricks and mortar but unless the Lord blesses and builds the family, the building work is in vain. Likewise you can watch over your local community (v.1b) but unless the Lord watches over it (and blesses it – implied) all human concern is in vain. Our societies need God’s blessing.

                Human struggle, focused on self-effort (v.2) is likewise a waste of a life if it means you are working long days. The Lord grants sleep and, by inference, blesses their work to allow recreation time, to those he loves and who are obviously His.

                Indeed God’s desire to bless us start in family life and so sons (to continue the family name and business in those days) are a blessing from the Lord (v.3). Trained and directed by their parents they are like arrows speeding to achieve great things (v.4). Many children are a blessing (v.5a) and can stand together to resist enemies (v.5b)

D. Application:

1. A life devoid of the Lord’s presence is indeed a poor life.
2. A life with the Lord is indeed blessed and secure.