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Building and Protecting: Thoughts on Psalm 127:1

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“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” (Psalm 127:1).

Psalm 127 was written by King Solomon as a “Song of Ascents.” These Psalms were sung in ancient days by the Israelites as they traveled up to Jerusalem for an appointed feast or necessary gathering. So picture a group of people walking up a mountain pass and singing along the way, and as their eyes light upon the sacred temple in Jerusalem they begin to sing the words, “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.”

In their day, Solomon was building many things. He built the Temple, a magnificent palace, and other civic and cultural structures. Tens of thousands of Israelites served as laborers in the King’s endeavors, and so for the people of that day these words were particularly pregnant: “Unless the LORD build the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Additionally, as it is today, the city of Jerusalem was the most sacred city in Israel. It was surrounded by a magnificent wall on which were stationed “watchmen” who kept guard over the city and warned its citizens of approaching armies or various threats. The responsibility they bore was enormous, for if they failed at their job, they paid with their lives. The people were well aware of this, and so for them these words too were particularly pregnant: “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

From their point of view, what do you think these twin phrases meant? Here’s my best guess. They meant that God’s will supersedes human will; that God’s endeavors supersede human endeavors. And the implication is that before we begin to labor on this or that, we should take the time to discern what God himself is laboring on. Fruitfulness and success comes from building what Christ is building.

Further, unlike the Israelites, we don’t watch over cities from ramparts and walls, but we do protect many things in our lives: our family, homes, possessions, investments, relationships, etc. Therefore, we should take the time to discern what God is protecting and join him in protecting those things, rather than seeking to shield things that God may desire to destroy.

And it seems to me, that this really comes down to the daily discipline of prayerful Bible reading, study, and memory. Our fruit, success, and joy come from being involved with the things God is involved in, and this requires that we take the time to listen and discern. So let us search our hearts and habits, and resolve to seek the One who is building and protecting that we might join in his most sacred work.

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