The Lord Builds the House

Two main themes here which can be inter-related. The first is that our work can only be fruitful if it is blessed by God. We can work the hardest but unless "the Lord builds the house", our efforts are in vain. This even applies to work related to the service of the Lord.

The second is the blessing of having children. The Scripture encourage us to be thankful for them. It describes children as a "heritage from the Lord" and is a reward for the womb. It is also describes as arrows and the man who has many will be happy.


Psalm 127
Laboring and Prospering with the Lord
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

1 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.

2 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.

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

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

5 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.