If the Lord does not build, it is in vain.
[Psalm 127]
In the prayer of Moses found in Psalm 90, it is written: “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). Reflecting on this idea of a life of seventy or eighty years, where the only pride is labor and sorrow, I also meditated on the words from Ecclesiastes: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Life, filled with toil and sorrow, passes so quickly and seems empty, and it leads us to ask, "How should we live?"
In the midst of this reflection, I considered the teachings of Psalm 127. As a result, I could not help but acknowledge and confess that a truly meaningful life is only possible in the Lord. Everything we do or toil outside of the Lord has no real meaning. In other words, all our efforts outside of the Lord are in vain. It is only when the Lord is with us, and when He works in us and through us, that our labor is not in vain.
In the first verse of Psalm 127, the Psalmist, Solomon, says: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Solomon, as we know, was the king who built the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 2:1-5:1). Although his father, King David, wanted to build the temple, God did not allow him to do so, but rather appointed Solomon, his son, to build it. With Solomon’s experience in building the temple, his words in Psalm 127:1 carry significant weight: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” This is a profound confession.
The reason for this is that when we build a temple to dedicate it to the Lord, we often hear from pastors, building committees, and congregation members that there are many challenges and difficulties. Building a temple is not an easy task. Moreover, as we know, many churches experience trials and conflicts within the church due to the building of the church itself. Just last Friday, I heard the news about a large church that owns two low-income apartments near the church. The legal process for demolishing those apartments had been completed, and residents of those apartments, along with six organizations, including the Korean Town Labor Alliance, held a press conference. They were opposing the demolition because the residents would lose their housing rights. Although this is an external issue, the internal problems and conflicts within the church related to building are even more serious. That is why church building cannot be done without God’s help.
In the first verse of Psalm 127, Solomon says, “Unless the Lord builds the house…” Here, the term “house” refers to the “temple” (as explained by Park Yun-seon). Therefore, we must accept Solomon’s words that unless God builds the temple, the work of those who build it is in vain. The church belongs to the Lord. It is not the church of any individual or group. Therefore, the church of the Lord must be built by Him, just as the promise in Matthew 16:18 tells us. We are simply “builders” and instruments in His hands. Just as architects use tools to build a house, when the Lord builds His church, we are merely His tools. Therefore, all we need to do is obey the Lord’s word as He builds His church. When the Lord tells us to do something, we simply need to say “Yes” and do it.
Solomon was not only the one who built the Temple in Jerusalem, but he was also a great king who wisely governed the nation of Israel. He did not ask God for wealth and honor, but for wisdom, in order to govern God’s people well. Because of this, God gave him not only wisdom but also wealth and honor. Thus, King Solomon completed the construction of the Temple in seven years and the palace in thirteen years, great projects that required international diplomacy to import timber and stones. Through contact with foreign nations, Solomon eventually allowed the importation of foreign gods and idols. Moreover, the excessive mobilization of the people for labor and the collection of taxes caused resentment among the people and his subordinates (Internet). As a result, as we know, King Solomon sinned by worshiping foreign gods, violating God's commandments. It is this same King Solomon who confesses: “…unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (verse 1). This statement means that the rise and fall of a nation depends solely on God’s will (Park Yun-seon). God is the one who builds a nation and also the one who destroys and brings it to ruin (Jeremiah 1:11). God built the nation of Israel during the reign of King David and King Solomon, but due to Solomon’s sin, He divided Israel into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah during the reign of Solomon's son, Rehoboam. Only when God becomes the true watchman and guards His church and His nation will the church and the nation stand firm. Without the work of the Lord, all our human efforts are in vain (Psalm 127:1).
Now, look at the second verse of today’s passage, Psalm 127:2: "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep." Here, King Solomon says that if a person does not pray with trust in God and does not obey His word, no matter how hard he works, day and night, with pain and effort, he will not truly succeed (Park Yun-seon). Therefore, Solomon encourages us to work in a way that is not in vain by completely trusting in God and obeying His word. In other words, we must work with faith. Those who work with faith are loved by God, and God gives them sleep. Dr. Park Yun-seon explains that the phrase "He gives His beloved sleep" can be understood in three ways: (1) The first interpretation is that God gives His beloved physical rest and sleep. (2) The second interpretation is that it refers to a heart that trusts in God and rests in Him. (3) The third interpretation is that those who trust and love God will have their work prosper even while they sleep. I believe all three interpretations are valid. God not only gives physical sleep to those He establishes but also gives rest for their souls. Moreover, God makes the work of those He loves prosper, even while they are asleep. Additionally, God blesses His beloved with the blessing of children. Look at verse 3: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is His reward."
Lately, the news continues to cover the story of Nadia Suleman, who gained worldwide attention for giving birth to octuplets. In addition to the eight octuplets, she already has six children from in vitro fertilization. She is a single mom, having divorced last January, and lacks financial means, living off government support. Now, she is demanding 2 million dollars, claiming that she wants to write a book about her story to raise her 14 children (Internet). The last news I heard was that the house she is living in with her parents could also be foreclosed. Initially, I was shocked to hear that she gave birth to eight octuplets, but the more I learn about the biological mother of these octuplets through the news, the more surprised I become. She already had six children through in vitro fertilization, and then gave birth to eight octuplets, claiming it was because she loves babies so much. This raises the question: Can we truly call this a blessing of children?
The blessing of children spoken about in today's scripture is the reward God gives to families that He establishes (Psalm 127:3). This means that God, in His grace, gives children to the families He sets up. We do not receive children from God because we deserve them; they are a gift we receive by God's grace. Additionally, Solomon says that the children of youth are like arrows in the hands of a warrior (v. 4). Children born to young parents reach their peak when the parents are aging. As parents begin to weaken, children naturally become shields that protect the family. Well-raised children are like valuable arrows. Therefore, parents protect their homes from adversaries with the help of their grown children. Homes with healthy children are not easily broken by external enemies. In this sense, a home with many healthy children is a happy home. Children provide stability to their parents, much like arrows well-placed in a quiver. Such parents, like a general with plenty of arrows, have nothing to fear (Internet). Moreover, these parents will not be put to shame when speaking with their enemies at the city gates (v. 5).
In today’s scripture, Psalm 127, God teaches us that our physical families, spiritual families like the church, or even our nations are all in vain unless the Lord builds them. And when the Lord builds them, it is God who gives children as a reward to families, not through human effort. Truly blessed are the families, churches, and nations that the Lord establishes. I pray that our families, the churches we serve, and the nations of the U.S. and Korea will be those that the Lord establishes.
With a desire to participate in the ministry of Victory Presbyterian Church, which the Lord is establishing,
Pastor James Kim
(With faith, looking forward to the Lord establishing homes and churches centered on Him)