Go With God
(NIV) Psalm 127
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
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.
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.
This psalm, attributed to Solomon, teaches that we will not be successful if we attempt to live out lives apart from God. I have known people who, when building their house, wrote scripture on the exposed beams. As a pastor I have been asked more than once to bless a house shortly after a person took possession. Some may see such practice as superstition. For me it is an affirmation that is akin to Joshua instructing the Israelites to “choose you this day who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Josh 24:15. Solomon knew whether he was pitching a tent or building a temple, none of his efforts would be successful without God.
He goes on to assert it is a blessing to have many children, for when you are old they will care for you. It may surprise some people to learn that children have not always been treasured. In agricultural societies children were put to work in the fields at a young age. My father, born shortly after the start of the 20th century, picked cotton when he was seven years old, living his life with only a second grade education.
In my parents’ generation, now known as The Greatest Generation, it was not uncommon to have up to ten children. There was a decided shift when Baby Boomers, born shortly after WWII, began families. As the first quarter of the 21st century is drawing to a close another shift has occurred. Young people are waiting longer to have children, or choosing not to have them at all. Solomon’s proclamation that having many children is a blessing has all but been forgotten.
I find comparing children to arrows to be an apt description. Once an arrow is sent out from the bow, it’s direction can no longer be changed. Thus the proverb “train up a child in the way he will go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” becomes a valuable piece of advice.
So what does this psalm mean to us today? To me, success in life is built upon a solid relationship, first with God, then with family. The English “good bye” is a contraction from “go with God,” so I end today’s devotional with a sincere “go with God.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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