"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 of 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."
This Psalm was shared this week at my church during Sunday worship. Our pastor was introducing some of the MANY children that had been born recently. He was stating how this verse is so applicable to parenthood.
1. Because ANYTHING done without the Lord is done in VAIN. Our hope, trust and guidance has to come from our Great Shepherd. The one who knows our deepest longings and interprets our sighs.
2. (This was very interesting to me) Our children are like ARROWS in the hand of the Warrior. Warrior being God, who has the ability to send them well beyond our lives, into the future to advance the Kingdom of God. Even after we are gone they have the ability to "be shot our like arrows" into the unknown of the future and proclaim the Gospel that hopefully we as parents are faithful to teach them, while we are with them.
I thought this was a very interesting picture. I have always concentrated on the blessing part of this Psalm and never really saw God's plan for our children. Those who will be called into salvation and in combination with our faithfulness during our time with them can go far beyond our physical existence. Talk about a spiritual legacy.
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