Psalm 127:1 In Vain

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Psalm 127 is uniquely a song of ascents Of Solomon. It begins with an assertion of the sovereign power of God. Solomon then remonstrates with those who forget this and who in vain engage in a frenetic round of activity where they rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat. Do they not realise that God grants sleep to those he loves and that (3) sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him? He then expostulates, in typically this worldly terms, as the Old Testament so often does, on the blessing that a large family is (which it still is though sometimes today it will not be a biological one). To reflect just on the opening verse a moment, it is clear that the two statements are parallel. A builder building a house is akin to a watchman watching a city gate in that both are involved in the task of seeking to prosper the people concerned - one by providing and one by protecting. The analogy between building a house and a household is obvious as is watching a city and watching over a family. It is important that they realise that unless the LORD himself is in what they do then their labouring and their guarding will be in vain. Church planters can work very hard and pastors can be ever so diligent but it will all be in vain unless the LORD himself is in it. This is one reason why prayer and seeking the face of God is so very important. Apart from him, all that we do is in vain.