Lent 2
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch 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 sleep to his beloved.
Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame with his enemies in the gate.
Alternate Image
The Singer is stacking children. He is trying to build a house from a myriad of squirming offspring. However, his progeny just keep toppling over and wandering away. It is very frustrating, how can he ever build his house? God arrives to help the Singer. He finds a stalwart child that will make a good cornerstone and puts him in place. God finds several wide-eyed children that will make excellent windows. God observes several very cordial children who will make laudable doors. God selects some real fireballs that will provide the heating needs of the house in winter and some calm, collected types to ensure cool in the summer. God gathers a protective group of children who will form a nice roof. God continues selecting children according to their unique gifts and abilities and builds a beautiful, strong and stable house for the Singer. The Singer is very happy with the house he and God have built. How vain it was to try to build without God.
Reflection
There is a wonderful pun in this psalm. The word for "builders" in Hebrews uses the same letters as the word for "sons." Here we have a house built of children rather than stone, brick or wood. Isn't that how we often differentiate between houses and homes; houses denote structure, homes imply relationships among those who dwell there. Is that how we properly understand church? The church is more than a building located on a street, in a particular location; the church is Christ's body, the people, an assembly of believers. Real strength in our homes comes not from the physical materials we so often rely on but upon our faith, our reliance upon God to build our lives. God offers us peace, harmony and love to cement our dwelling together as the church, God's people. And, Christ burned the mortgage.
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch 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 sleep to his beloved.
Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the sons of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
He shall not be put to shame with his enemies in the gate.
Alternate Image
The Singer is stacking children. He is trying to build a house from a myriad of squirming offspring. However, his progeny just keep toppling over and wandering away. It is very frustrating, how can he ever build his house? God arrives to help the Singer. He finds a stalwart child that will make a good cornerstone and puts him in place. God finds several wide-eyed children that will make excellent windows. God observes several very cordial children who will make laudable doors. God selects some real fireballs that will provide the heating needs of the house in winter and some calm, collected types to ensure cool in the summer. God gathers a protective group of children who will form a nice roof. God continues selecting children according to their unique gifts and abilities and builds a beautiful, strong and stable house for the Singer. The Singer is very happy with the house he and God have built. How vain it was to try to build without God.
Reflection
There is a wonderful pun in this psalm. The word for "builders" in Hebrews uses the same letters as the word for "sons." Here we have a house built of children rather than stone, brick or wood. Isn't that how we often differentiate between houses and homes; houses denote structure, homes imply relationships among those who dwell there. Is that how we properly understand church? The church is more than a building located on a street, in a particular location; the church is Christ's body, the people, an assembly of believers. Real strength in our homes comes not from the physical materials we so often rely on but upon our faith, our reliance upon God to build our lives. God offers us peace, harmony and love to cement our dwelling together as the church, God's people. And, Christ burned the mortgage.
