PSALM 127

CONSIDER

• The 15 'Song of Ascents' in the book of Psalm (ch 120-134) are the songs Levite priests would sing as they ascended the 15 steps to the temple in celebration of the feasts  <F60>

• When Jewish people went to Jerusalem for a feast or for some other reason it was said they 'went up to Jerusalem' along Processional or Pilgrimage Road that took them from the lower part off the City of David to the Temple area

• FYI: The Processional Road (or Pilgrimage Road) in Jerusalem was first discovered in the late 19th century by British archaeologists, with a significant section of the ancient Roman-era street excavated and revealed to the public in the 2000s; a major breakthrough occurred in 2004 when a burst pipe led to the discovery of the road's wide stairs, an event that was followed by extensive archaeological excavations in the City of David site  <W2201>

• They took the journey very seriously and kept their focus on the Lord, examining their motives and hearts, looking to the Lord for His mercy

• Jerusalem is on a hill, so to go to Jerusalem, you have to ascend

• Like the Jewish pilgrims of so long ago, Christians need to look to God for mercy  <G73>

• The attitude of the Jewish people toward children is best expressed in this psalm which views them as a gift from God

• The children God gives us are our ‘house’, a heritage from the Lord who does not build houses but families  <R1795>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** There are passages in the psalms confirming children as a blessing from the Lord, created for a purpose

Psalm 127:3-5 NIV

[3] Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. [4] Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. [5] Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Psalm 112:2 NIV

[2] Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Psalm 8:2,5-8 NIV

[2] Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. [5] You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. [6] You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: [7] all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, [8] the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.