Psalm 127:3
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the belief that children are a gift from God, entrusted to parents. In biblical times, children were seen as a sign of God's blessing and favor. The word "heritage" suggests an inheritance or legacy, indicating that children are a valuable and lasting gift. This concept is echoed in Genesis 33:5, where Jacob acknowledges his children as gifts from God. The cultural context of ancient Israel placed a high value on family and lineage, with children being essential for the continuation of one's family name and property. This view is consistent with the broader biblical narrative that sees God as the ultimate source of life and blessings.

and the fruit of the womb is His reward
The "fruit of the womb" refers to offspring, highlighting the natural process of childbirth as a divine blessing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, fertility was often associated with divine favor, and barrenness was seen as a misfortune. This phrase underscores the belief that children are not merely the result of human effort but are a reward from God. This idea is supported by other scriptures, such as Genesis 1:28, where God commands humanity to be fruitful and multiply, indicating that procreation is part of God's design and blessing. The notion of children as a reward also aligns with the biblical theme of God rewarding faithfulness and obedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:4, where the fruit of the womb is listed among the blessings for obedience to God's commandments.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
- Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 127, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. This psalm is part of the Songs of Ascents, which were sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
- The covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing His role as the giver of life and blessings.

3. Children
- Referred to as a heritage and reward from God, highlighting their value and significance in the family and community.
Teaching Points
Children as a Divine Gift
Recognize that children are a blessing and a gift from God, not merely a product of human effort or planning. This perspective should influence how we value and treat children in our families and communities.

Stewardship of Heritage
As children are a heritage from the Lord, parents and guardians have a responsibility to raise them in the knowledge and fear of God, ensuring that they understand their identity and purpose in Him.

The Reward of Parenthood
Parenthood is not only a responsibility but also a reward. Embrace the joys and challenges of raising children as part of God’s reward system, which brings fulfillment and purpose.

Community Responsibility
The community of faith should support families in raising children, recognizing that the upbringing of children is a communal effort that impacts the broader body of Christ.

Intergenerational Impact
Understand that the way we raise our children has a lasting impact on future generations. Instilling godly values and principles ensures a legacy of faithfulness.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does viewing children as a heritage from the Lord change the way we approach parenting or interacting with children in our community?

2. In what ways can the church community support families in raising children according to biblical principles?

3. How can we practically apply the concept of stewardship when it comes to raising children in today’s society?

4. What are some challenges parents face today in viewing children as a reward, and how can they overcome these challenges with biblical truth?

5. How can the principles found in Psalm 127:3 be applied to other areas of life where God has given us a "heritage" or "reward"?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:28
- This verse connects to the idea of children as a blessing, as God commands humanity to be fruitful and multiply, indicating that children are part of God's original design and blessing for mankind.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
- These verses emphasize the importance of teaching children about God’s commandments, reinforcing the idea that children are a heritage to be nurtured in the faith.

Proverbs 17:6
- This verse speaks of grandchildren as the crown of the aged, further illustrating the value and blessing of children within the family structure.
Children a Man's RewardR. Tuck Psalm 127:3
All Things are of GodN. McMichael.Psalm 127:1-5
Authorship of This PsalmE. J. Robinson.Psalm 127:1-5
Blessedness in Labour, in Rest, and in FatherhoodHomilistPsalm 127:1-5
Co-Workers with GodPsalm 127:1-5
God Keeping the CityW. M. Statham.Psalm 127:1-5
The Builder's PsalmS. Conway Psalm 127:1-5
The Building of the House of LifeJ. B. Brown, B. A.Psalm 127:1-5
The Divine BuilderB. Kent, M. A.Psalm 127:1-5
The Lord, the BuilderH. M. Dexter.Psalm 127:1-5
The Master-BuilderJ. Denney, D. D.Psalm 127:1-5
The True Source of SuccessJ. O. Keen, D. D.Psalm 127:1-5
About ChildrenA. MacEwen, D. D.Psalm 127:3-5
Children -- Divine GiftsD. Thomas, D. D.Psalm 127:3-5
Children -- God's GiftW. Braden.Psalm 127:3-5
The Pleasure Given by ChildrenPsalm 127:3-5
People
Psalmist, Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Behold, Body, Fruit, Gift, Heritage, Inheritance, Reward, Sons, Womb
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 127:3

     1355   providence
     5652   babies
     5665   children, attitudes to

Psalm 127:3-4

     5061   sanctity of life

Psalm 127:3-5

     5199   womb
     5210   arrows
     5658   boys
     5663   childbirth
     5685   fathers, responsibilities
     5724   offspring
     5874   happiness

Library
The Peculiar Sleep of the Beloved
The Psalmist says there are some men who deny themselves sleep. For purposes of gain, or ambition, they rise up early and sit up late. Some of us who are here present may have been guilty of the same thing. We have risen early in the morning that we might turn over the ponderous volume, in order to acquire knowledge; we have sat at night until our burned-out lamp has chidden us, and told us that the sun was rising; while our eyes have ached, our brain has throbbed, our heart has palpitated. We have
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Letter xxxiv. To Marcella.
In reply to a request from Marcella for information concerning two phrases in Ps. cxxvii. ("bread of sorrow," v. 2, and "children of the shaken off," A.V. "of the youth," v. 4). Jerome, after lamenting that Origen's notes on the psalm are no longer extant, gives the following explanations: The Hebrew phrase "bread of sorrow" is rendered by the LXX. "bread of idols"; by Aquila, "bread of troubles"; by Symmachus, "bread of misery." Theodotion follows the LXX. So does Origen's Fifth Version. The Sixth
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

The History of the Psalter
[Sidenote: Nature of the Psalter] Corresponding to the book of Proverbs, itself a select library containing Israel's best gnomic literature, is the Psalter, the compendium of the nation's lyrical songs and hymns and prayers. It is the record of the soul experiences of the race. Its language is that of the heart, and its thoughts of common interest to worshipful humanity. It reflects almost every phase of religious feeling: penitence, doubt, remorse, confession, fear, faith, hope, adoration, and
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Or are we Indeed to Believe that it is for any Other Reason...
41. Or are we indeed to believe that it is for any other reason, that God suffers to be mixed up with the number of your profession, many, both men and women, about to fall, than that by the fall of these your fear may be increased, whereby to repress pride; which God so hates, as that against this one thing The Highest humbled Himself? Unless haply, in truth, thou shalt therefore fear less, and be more puffed up, so as to love little Him, Who hath loved thee so much, as to give up Himself for thee,
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

The Great Shepherd
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. I t is not easy for those, whose habits of life are insensibly formed by the customs of modern times, to conceive any adequate idea of the pastoral life, as obtained in the eastern countries, before that simplicity of manners, which characterized the early ages, was corrupted, by the artificial and false refinements of luxury. Wealth, in those
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown.
Concerning the Maccabees But to Whom Written is Unknown. [69] He relies to the question why the Church has decreed a festival to the Maccabees alone of all the righteous under the ancient law. 1. Fulk, Abbot of Epernay, had already written to ask me the same question as your charity has addressed to your humble servant by Brother Hescelin. I have put off replying to him, being desirous to find, if possible, some statement in the Fathers about this which was asked, which I might send to him, rather
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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