Psalm 127

This is a most excellent psalm for me when I get caught up in a book and do not go to bed at a decent hour. Also, it is especially good for me when I begin this new semester with its eight o'clock classes and long homework assignments.

It is a psalm of ascents and of Solomon.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.

That is for me as I work to "build my house" with education and work. It is a good reminder to my pride that I cannot do it myself.

It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

I think that is most beautiful: "For so He gives His beloved sleep". That is for when I cannot sleep and thoughts of various kinds run through my head, or when I am so strung up because of a book I just read or a movie I watched I cannot compose myself to sleep, or when I am worrying about a particular bit of homework due the next day that I was unable to finish that evening. He gives me sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Well, this one seems slightly harder to apply to myself at first glance, seeing as how I have no children. But I am one myself, so I can say I am a heritage and a fruit to my parents. Which is a good reason to keep in contact with them and to strengthen my relationship with them even when I am not around, because who ever heard of a heritage that wouldn't associate with you? It's not a proper heritage then.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.

And of course, you shall be older when they grow up, so you will throw them better too. But only with the help of the Lord, as the first verse of this psalm implies. This is a verse my parents are fond of quoting to us older ones. They tell us that we are arrows who will go where God sends us. So I guess this is for me when I feel God leading my steps, or when I'm not sure where I am going. He is always leading my steps.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

I think my dad is happy with having six of us. There is certainly no lack of amusement going on. But I suppose what it means is that he will be glad that he has so many arrows that will be shot at the enemy. But is it he or the children who will not be ashamed? Oh, well, I do not understand this piece as well. But perhaps it will be made more clear through the rest of this year.