Children are strictly Gods Providence

Psalms 127

Today we are going to take brief step out of Matthew and look in Psalms 127

Psalms 127 is one of the Pslams of Ascent- this would be song by Jews heading back to Jerusalem for feasts, Passover especially

Psalm 127 ESV

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Vs 1- We are clearly reminded that God is master architect behind all things

-I looked at two people yesterday in pre marital counseling and said your marriage should be built upon the foundation of your love for God and your salvation

-We are reminded that people are nothing without God

-People have amassed great wealth and built beautiful homes but in the end it is only a facade of happiness and hope if their life is not built on God

English Standard Version Psalm 127

Unless the LORD watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

The second part continues this thought- guard your goods, your life, your city, but if God has not so ordained your goods, your life, your city it all can be but a mist

We know the verse, “If God be for us, who can be against us?

Thats precedent here- their isnt a better guard than God? Who else could we ask for?

But many still seek the riches of man instead of being rich toward God

Psalm 127:2 ESV

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

We see this clearly seen in this verse- rising early and bed late- nothing wrong with diligent work

The Lord is not condemning this- but he made our bodies to need rest and has given us days in such a way to be conducive for our rest

And has granted us the Lords Day to rest again and worship Him

Its all by his providence and care- it almost seems like he knows best

How many be way of pursuing a career or possessions have been nothing but anxious, and fretful and cant even enjoy a meal for all the struggle?

Beloved, God desires us to find our greatest satisfaction in Him

Work hard and rest in Him- He has secured the believers greatest problem by his own blood and according to Matt 6 has promised to care for us better than he does the birds of the air and flowers of the field

Psalm 127:3 ESV

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

We see here it is by Gods providence that he has built familial homes.

Its seems as if here the best way God uses to describes his providence and blessing to his reader is for him to look at the providence of God in giving children

Make no doubt, children are to be enjoyed inside the bounds of marriage and clearly there is no other intent as to which God would allude

But the point is still made that all life is given by the Life Giver

Yes, God has ordained ways for men and woman to be granted the joy of children but that is only by his allowance

In a society and culture than sees children as burdens or tax writes off- God says they are nothing but providence and grace

Psalm 127:4 ESV

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

Arrows are not meant to be ideas- but tools of war or providing for a family

Spurgeon spoke of it like:

If that arrow is bent or knotted, it will prove to be trouble

But if that arrow is worked and whittled into a straight shaft- those arrows will prove effective

“To this end we must have our children in hand while they are yet children, or they are never likely to be so when they are grown up; and we must try to point them and straighten them, so as to make arrows of them in their youth, lest they should prove crooked and unserviceable in after life.”

No greater joy in a parents heart than to their children faithfully walking with God

No greater pain in parents heart than to watch their children walk away from Him

Psalm 127:5 ESV

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Blessed is the man who has a quiver full!

Oh has the world has missed this

American dream- husband wife, 2 kids, and 1.5 dogs- poor Fido

For some a quiver full has been two children and for some quiver full has been more

But we do live in time were children are not seen as they are and marriage is not viewed as it is- Gods means of filling the earth with image bearers

“Be fruitful and multiply”- has been called into question based more so on can I keep my life the way I like it

Should many things be considered, absolutely, but if the primary hindrance to seeking more children is how this affects our vacations, we maybe missing out on one the primary ways God shows his providence to husbands and wives

“Those who have no children bewail the fact; those who have few children see them soon gone, and the house is silent, and their life has lost a charm; those who have many gracious children are upon the whole the happiest. Of course a large number of children means a large number of trials; but when these are met by faith in the Lord it also means a mass of love, and a multitude of joys.”

We live in a time where sin has wretched sexuality and the family

Thank God for CWC as they not only reach to save babies but will walk with the mother or parents for 3 years

Seeking to impart proper parenting and and the Gospel

May we seek to impart the Gospel in our children and reach out to others and urge them to do the same

I love how the Psalmist ends this- “He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with the enemies at the gate”

Spurgeon said “ Nobody cares to meddle with a man who can gather a clan of brave sons about him.”

But also “He who is the father of a host of spiritual children is unquestionably happy. He can answer all opponents by pointing to souls who have been saved by his means.”

May we push back the curse of sin but standing and taking up arms in Christ against the greatest systemic killer in human history