Psalm 127: His Heritage
Introduction: “No amount of human sacrifice or toil can accomplish much unless God’s
blessing is upon His people. That is the major message of this psalm. It is assigned to
Solomon, who was both a builder and a father…But the psalm also speaks to us today
and reminds us of some privileges we have as the people of God in a dangerous and
demanding world” (Wiersbe).
I. Verses 1-2: “1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor 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.”
A. In two days, we’ll begin another new year, and never before have these verses been more
applicable; even the majority of those who claim to be Christians are guilty of building,
watching, guarding, rising early, staying up late, and toiling…all in vain because they’re
performed separately from Jehovah Jireh, the only true provider.
B. Attending church, reading self-help books, working out, praying, working missions, or
even reading or studying the Bible…these can all be accomplished without a heart that is
seeking the Lord, and that must be the foundational motivation for all activities, because
without Christ, we can do nothing for The Kingdom (John 15:5).
C. I have been guilty of doing, doing, doing, instead of sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. Why?
Because I was worrying, worrying, worrying. Granted, my job directly deals with
children (see verses 3-5), but if the Lord provides the work, He’ll provide the way, and
Matthew recorded Christ’s words of warning about worry in chapter 6: “25 Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what
you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the
birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?27 Can any one of you by
worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how
the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes
the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he
not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we
eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all
these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And, that, my friends is the recipe for sound
sleeping: remember that “He grants sleep to those He loves,” and He asks that you cast
those cares on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
II. Verses 3-5: “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. I could not go to my job each day if I didn’t believe these verses. Investing in the next
generation is vital, whether it be time spent building relationships with them or time spent
on our knees on their behalf, we are meant to “spend” on the future.
B. As Wiersbe so beautifully puts it, “Every baby born is God’s vote for the future of
mankind and our opportunity to help make some new beginnings. Not everyone is
supposed to get married, nor are all married couples able to have children. But all adults
can value the children, pray for them, be good examples to them and see that they are
protected and cared for and encouraged in their spiritual upbringing.”
C. This is a divine calling, folks, and we’re all called to invest in this “heritage from the
LORD.” May each and every one of us have a spiritual quiver that overfloweth!
LORD,
May we not
put our hands
to any task
especially our children,
unless your might and wisdom
guide them.
Amen and Amen