¹Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

The Lord is necessary—that should go without saying. He is the first cause; nothing exists that He has not created (John 1:3). He keeps everything from flying apart (Col 1:17) at the sub-atomic level of atoms, quarks, and photons and in the vast space of the cosmos. But what about the necessity of God in the realities of our daily living?

We need to be consistent when we think of His role in the mundane matters of our lives. This wisdom psalm uses the examples of house building and providing security to teach us this truth: if our human endeavors do not align with God’s purposes, our efforts will ultimately accomplish nothing of value. The solution is not to try coercing God to comply with our wants or desires, but to take stock of our efforts, to make sure they align with His purposes for us.

This psalm assumes that God made us for a purpose, to partner with Him as His image-bearers (Gen. 1:26-27, 5:2). To be sure, I can swing a hammer and use a saw to shape wood and nails into a domestic structure, but what does it accomplish in God’s ultimate purposes for me? That house can be easily torn down, destroyed by wildfire or tornado, or repossessed—we have little control over its ultimate value. Trying to provide security for our house or city is ultimately futile; insurance can’t provide for all eventualities. If our goal is security without trusting in God, we are bound to be overwhelmed in the face of destruction.

The psalm applies this principle to the workaholic who slaves day and night to provide food for his family, sacrificing even his sleep (vs. 2). Yes, as believers, we need to have a good work ethic. However, we must find a way to reign in our efforts.  Trying to function with a consistent lack of sleep is like chopping wood with a dull axe. God marks each creation day with the words, “And there was evening and there was morning” (Gen. 1), suggesting there was daily rest even while He was creating everything, not just on the seventh day. In His plans and purposes, He designed and gave us regular and adequate rest times.

While we work to provide for our family, it is God who provides the fruit of our labors. But that is not to say that our experience is not laborious. Cultivating crops for food (especially in an agrarian society) is hard work for all involved. Providing security for the family is the responsibility of parents. Giving birth is labor for a mother. But it is the Lord who provides children and supplies food, housing, and security in a hostile, fallen world.

In keeping with wisdom literature, the truths in this psalm are general and not ironclad in every situation. Generally, we see God working in life by blessing a family with children. Children are gifts, and we should see them that way. They are the fruit God promises; they are a reward. In the context of the ancient world, a large family provided physical and social security. A large family (especially with many boys) could better protect the clan against other clans or invaders. As people aged, the younger family members looked after their needs—there were no nursing homes or federal government handouts. Therefore, the more children one had, the more blessed the person was. Thus, we read:

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them … (vs. 4-5a).

Even in modern, non-agrarian societies, the truth that children are a blessing still applies in a general sense. Family ties provide stronger bonds and more reliable support than other social relationships. While children bring many different blessings in life, aging parents often particularly appreciate the love and support that children and grandchildren provide during their declining years.

If we learn the wisdom of this psalm, we will not have anything to be ashamed of (vs. 5b). Others may accumulate wealth and possessions due to their hard work. They might sacrifice greatly to provide for their family, but in the end, it is the blessing of God that matters. The individual with a loving, supportive family is blessed beyond material possessions and financial wealth. The blessing of the Lord on those who walk in His purposes more than compensates for the lack of wealth and possessions.

Lord, You are my first and prime mover, and I want to align with You in everything I do. Help me remember to be conscious of You and seek Your guidance in all my plans.