Psalm CXXVII

A Song of degrees for Solomon.

1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but 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 giveth his beloved sleep.

8 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord! and the fruit of the womb is his

reward. 4 As arrows arc in the hands of a mighty man, so are children of the youth. 6 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:

They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the

gate.

894; PSA. CXXVIl. — THE LORD’s SERVANT CEASING FROM CARE,

jiie title. A SONG of the beloved! — of him who toiled himself till all was finished, and who now bids us enter into rest! A song of him who giveth his beloved ones sleep! Taking it as a song from the pen of Solomon, who was its author, Kimchi understands the “Temple” by the “House” of verse ], as “the City” is Jerusalem. The connection in that case with the former is the thought of Jerusalem restored and rebuilt after the captivity — “Unless the Lord build the city.”

The theme. Here we find the worshippers exhibit that rare grace, freedom from care, arising from full confidence in Jehovah,

Freedom from Solomou, who saug afterward of “vanity” ( /^ri emptiness) in all merely human pursuits, here sings of Nlli;, “nothingness,” the uselessness of mere human anxiety and care — uselessness of it to the builders of the house, uselessness in the keeper of the city — uselessness in you who rise up early, who defer your resting till late, who eat bread of sorrows! How like the writer of Ecclesiastes is all this! And then the other side of the picture is presented, as in his “Song of Songs.” “On this icise (73) giveth he to Jiis beloved — sleep.” They may rest from care, and he will work; it is “the blessing of the Lord that maketh rich,” says this same Solomon, “without the addition of 2i{’’ — sorrow,” such as verse 2 spoke of (Prov. x. 22). This is his manner with those who are TT* like Solomon himself, who bore the name “Jedidiah” (2 Sam. xii. 25). “Sleep” is used for complete freedom from carep and peace of mind.

Having laid down this principle, those who inhabit the city and house are remembered, and the illustration follows in the style of the Greater than Solomon, who asked, “Which of you can add one cubit to his stature, one year to his life, by all his thought?” Who could, by care, secure a family like Jacob’s twelve sons?

“Behold, sons are a heritage of the Lord’s giving.” (Gen. xxxiii. 5.) “The fruit of the tvomb is the hire he gives.’” (Gen. xxx. 18.)

It is he that gives them, and it is he that makes them what they are — that makes “sons begotten in youth” (Gen. xlix. 3) to be like a warrior’s arrows.

“Happy the man whose quiver he (Jehovah) hasjilled with these; They shall not be confounded when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

They enjoy the blessing pronounced by Rebecca’s friends, (Gen. xxiv, 60). But it is the Lord that fills the quiver; it is not the forethought or anxiety of man.

Thus the pilgrim-band, and their Lord at the head of them ^’..^^y’^y’^^- (Matt. vi. 25-34), cast their cares on Jehovah. Even when they see a lack of men to defend the cause of God — even when ready to ask, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” — they still depend on Him whose part it is to give sons of youth. And he will do it gloriously. Zion shall see Isa. lxvi. 8 fulfilled — “a nation born at once;” and earth shall see the sons of Israel on the Lord’s side, when “the weakest of them shall be as David’’ (Zech. xii. 8). And thus, whether as to The Temple, or as to J erusalem, whether in regard to the families of Israel, or as to who shall stand on the Lord’s side in evil days, he knows that the Lord, in the matter of salvation, has “given his beloved sleep,” and that this is his manner in providence, too.

Horsley calls this Psalm,” A Psalm to be addressed by the

priest to the parents presenting the first-born;” but though

that would no doubt be an appropriate time to use it, it is of

far wider significance. We see in it this sight, viz. —

2’he Lord’s servant ceases from care, and expects ‘prosperity

from the Lord.