Sunday

Psalm 127 - Thoughts on divine providence

Some have noticed that the contents focus on providence in civil life. The psalm is concerned about the healthy functioning of society, and it tells how to relate to political authority, military power and family responsibilities. The political authority is described in the words of verse 1: ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’ The military authority is described in the words of the second clause of verse 2: ‘Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’ The watchmen were those who stayed awake while others slept in the city. The point stressed is that the mere presence of political leaders and military strength does not remove worry.

The psalm teaches that nothing happens without our contribution or without God’s contribution. In all that we do we are co-workers with God, be it in our personal spiritual growth or in our families or in any other legitimate aspect of life. There are three applications of this psalm at a personal level: (a) the Christian and work; (b) the Christian and worry; (c) the Christian and his family.

In verse 2, the writer is not saying that there is anything wrong with getting up early or staying up late. What is wrong is the assumption that such personal sacrifices will have any benefit if God is omitted from the person’s perception of life. Work has been affected by the curse given in Eden because of Adam’s rebellion and therefore much work is difficult, tedious and uncertain. This means that they should pray for divine help in their employments.

The great benefit that the Psalmist has experienced is that of sleep. Spurgeon commented that ‘sleep is the gift of God, and not a man would close his eyes, did not God put his fingers on his eyelids’. Again the psalmist is not saying that lack of sleep is always the result of sin. Yet it is the case that unnecessary worry deprives us of sleep just as much as justifiable concern. We cannot expect to have pleasant sleep in general if we do not trust in God day by day.

Verse 3 teaches that the children of believers belong to the Lord and are given by him to be prized by their parents (the word ‘reward’ does not mean that they have earned their children by right living; it means a ‘precious gift’). In Old Testament times it was essential for families to have children in order to ensure the continuation of the family inheritance.

In verse 4, children of believers are likened to arrows that believers shoot out into the world. Arrows have to be made from branches by being shaped and smoothed. Similarly, believing parents have the God-given task of shaping and smoothing the characters of their children. An arrow was not designed to look pretty in a quiver but to have an effect (defending against one’s enemies or providing food). 

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