Psalm 127--Unless the LORD Builds the House

Psalm 127
English Standard Version

Unless the LORD Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the LORD builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

​3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children of one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

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This psalm of Solomon is another Song of Ascents, and it gives people the right perspective when they were climbing Mount Zion to visit the Temple--for it was glorious in its appearance and could be seen from a far distance.  Solomon says that unless the LORD Himself builds the house, those that build it labor in vain (everything that David, Solomon and the workmen did to build that Temple was vain and worthless if the LORD was not in the work).  This is not strictly speaking about the Temple though as Solomon widens his application and starts talking about families and households.  Those that are "built" without the LORD at the center of them are doomed for destruction that no watchmen can save them from (see the conversation about children in the second verse to see why I think this is about families and households and not edifices).

Solomon extends this idea to the entire city of Jerusalem that bears the name of the LORD, but that will not save the city of Jerusalem when the day of judgement comes upon Israel and Judah if the LORD is not at the center of everything that they are and do.  The work that the people of the city do will be vain and fruitless if they do not worship the LORD and give Him glory with their praise and their obedience.  Men will toil and worry if their labor will pay off, and the residents will not find rest, even when they lay down at night as their souls will not be at peace.

Solomon then says that even if this generation has messed up, there is hope in that children are a treasure from the LORD, and we can guide them in the right way as a skilled archer guides the arrows in his quiver in the correct direction when he shoots his bow.  Even better is to put them in the hands of the LORD and let him be the one to set the trajectory of their lives.  It was a blessing at that time to have many children (especially sons who would carry on the family name and the land that belonged to the family).  Solomon says that a man with many children should be wise and know well how to negotiate with his enemies so that he is not put to shame by his own behavior (a father should be upright so that he sets a good example for his children) and that even his enemies in his community will respect him.

Certainly, an interesting song to sing while going to the Temple to worship, yet we can see glimpses of the "something better" that was coming in the future that Solomon may not have known he was writing about.  The Lord Himself will build His Church without the work of human hands, and the Lord is also building an eternal dwelling place and place of eternal rest for His family.  All who belong to Him come to Him by way of adoption, so we are all co-heirs with Jesus and call Him Brother, and the Father "Abba Father," just like Jesus did.  It is less about a physical building or a city than about building a people for Himself that is a remnant from every tribe, tongue, and nation--a people holy to the LORD that are set apart for His plans and purposes.  However, there is a place that He is preparing where God and Man will once again dwell together in perfect unity and peace.  Whether Solomon knew it or not, he was pointing to greater gospel truth that there needed to be something better than the Temple, and something better than Jerusalem, and even something better than our families (as many of us know that not all are children like to go in the direction that their parents try to shoot them in--they go off in their own direction sometimes despite what their parents do).  God will make sure that all His children arrive at the destination He has set for them, and they will become true image-bearers of God once again.  None of His aims or work will be in vain and He is able to change the hearts and course of the people as needed.  So, if you have a wayward child, pray to the LORD who is the one who can help correct their course, set them on the right path, and ensure that they their destiny is secure because of the work of Christ and not their own personal works.