The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 127:1,3,
"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain… Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him."
This "song of ascents" by Solomon seems to me at first blush to have two thoughts mashed together that have little to do with each other. The first, in verses 1-2 contains the theme that experiencing a productive and successful life without the Lord is vain (futile, ineffective, of no real value). The second, verses 3-5 has the theme that children are a heritage, a reward from him.
As I give it further thought, however, it appears to me that, to the contrary, the two themes are not unconnected. The second theme supports the first theme's contention.
We recall the heartbreak of barren wives in the OT Scriptures, who lived in a culture that partly defined success in life by their husband's heirs. To have no children was a curse. In her old age Sarah was promised a blessing from God who declared he would provide a son, Issac, Genesis 17. In 1 Samuel 1 we see Elkanah's wife, Hannah, weeping due to the ridicule she received because she was barren. The Lord answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. The point being that to have offspring was considered a blessing from God. The second theme supports the first in that having children expresses a productive and successful life.
The message of the psalm to me this morning is that if I seek a productive and successful life, I best pursue that through the Lord.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain… Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him."
This "song of ascents" by Solomon seems to me at first blush to have two thoughts mashed together that have little to do with each other. The first, in verses 1-2 contains the theme that experiencing a productive and successful life without the Lord is vain (futile, ineffective, of no real value). The second, verses 3-5 has the theme that children are a heritage, a reward from him.
As I give it further thought, however, it appears to me that, to the contrary, the two themes are not unconnected. The second theme supports the first theme's contention.
We recall the heartbreak of barren wives in the OT Scriptures, who lived in a culture that partly defined success in life by their husband's heirs. To have no children was a curse. In her old age Sarah was promised a blessing from God who declared he would provide a son, Issac, Genesis 17. In 1 Samuel 1 we see Elkanah's wife, Hannah, weeping due to the ridicule she received because she was barren. The Lord answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. The point being that to have offspring was considered a blessing from God. The second theme supports the first in that having children expresses a productive and successful life.
The message of the psalm to me this morning is that if I seek a productive and successful life, I best pursue that through the Lord.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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