A Psalm for the Hustle
Reading for Wednesday 3.15–Friday 3.17
The 127th Psalm stands at the center of the Psalms of Ascent, serving as a pivot point in the collection. Moving away from cries to God amid a hostile world, the focus shifts towards finding delight in a God who graciously gives good gifts.
//
Psalm 127 (NET)
A Song of Grace
1 If the LORD does not build a house,
then those who build it work in vain.
If the LORD does not guard a city,
then the watchman stands guard in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so
hard for your food.
Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they
sleep.
3 Yes, sons are a gift from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Sons born during one’s youth are like arrows in a warrior’s
hand.
5 How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at
the city gate.
//
A Psalm for the Hustle.
Attributed to Solomon and echoing the type of wisdom literature associated with him, Psalm 127 divides into two parts. The first half highlights the futility of working independently of God's ongoing activity, while the second acknowledges that some blessings are directly a result of the Divine's action.
Part one rightly attributes the good provisions of life to God. Humanity's efforts are secondary to the God who builds, guards, and gives rest. The needs of everyday life are not meant to be minimized here, nor is our efforts involved in achieving them. Instead, Solomon elevates the work of God, attributing the meeting of these needs to God rather than hard work.
The reality is in all of our hard work, toil, and worry it is God who brings life and flourishing to our efforts. The house is built on the efforts of God, not us. This is not to suggest we shouldn’t make any effort, but that any effort apart from God’s is wasted. Paul uses the agricultural metaphor. We may till, plant, and water, but it is God who grows. Without the labor of God, no amount of tilling, planting or watering will matter.
The second section shifts and focuses on the provision of sons. In Ancient Mesopotamia, sons were considered advantageous, providing protection and economic and social advantages. The point here is not to condone the cultural elevation of sons above daughters or suggest that having children somehow honors God more than not having children. Instead, the psalm points to the reality that, like the provisions listed above, sons come from the hand of a benevolent gift giver.
The wisdom of Psalm 127 rests in the grace of God: the reality that God gives good gifts regardless of our effort. While the spiritual parallels are apparent, the psalm also asks us to consider directs the everyday provisions we may take for granted. The psalm also assures us that the underlying reality behind any fruitful effort is the divine provision of God.
Solomon directs our hearts to the giver of all good gifts and asks us upon what we depend? Do we bask in the glorious fruit of our hard work, brilliance, or strength? Apart from God, these efforts fall flat and remain fruitless.
We learn the same underlying truth in the New Testament. It is through Christ that we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28). Any good thing we have, we owe to Jesus.
//
Reflect with a friend
Is it easy or hard to envision God as the provider of any good thing in your life? Why do you think that is?
While this psalm directs our attention to the good God graciously gives those He loves, it also causes us to pause and ask honest questions about what we have not received. How does this psalm speak to that question? Do you find this helpful in any way?
In what ways are you tempted to see the good in your life as a result of your efforts? How does this psalm confront this inclination for you?
