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This is a sermon based on Psalm 127:3-5 that discusses the value of children. It was preached on the occasion of Father's Day as well as the Dedication of an infant to the Lord.
Written Excerpts:
Psalms 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Introduction:
Our Scripture reading from a few moments ago relates to both the child dedication we have had today and the celebration of Fathers’ Day today.
We are living in a cultural environment in our society that seems to devalue human life. There seems to be a strong emphasis on not letting children get in the way of personal and career goals. Children are the victims of abuse and neglect in alarming rates. This word from God, however, stresses that our children are a valuable heritage from the Lord.
In our society we have been told that the abortion-on-demand policies would cause "every child to be a wanted child" and it would theoretically end child abuse and neglect. Well, we have now experienced 38 years of abortion liberties, and the abuse and neglect of children still soars.
If you have a King James Bible, you will notice this psalm, along with 14 others (120-134), are designated with a heading/title that reads, “A Song of Degrees”. (More recent versions list each of them as a “Song of Ascents” or “Song of Steps.”)
Four different explanations of this title include:
1) A song that would have been sung by caravans of exiles returning from captivity as they wound their way towards the city of Jerusalem and hills of Palestine
2) A song that Jewish pilgrims would sing as they journeyed toward Jerusalem
3) A song that was sung on the steps of the temple court; or
4) A song that contained “steps” of progression in the content or thought.
In reviewing these four explanations, it appears to me that each view is supported by content found in some of these psalms, but no one view seems to adequately explain all fifteen of the psalms. Therefore, I am inclined to think that it might be a combination of most if not all four views. That kind of sounds like a politician’s answer, doesn’t it?
It does seem possible that this particular Psalm could have been written around the time when the Israelite exiles were returning from captivity because of the writer's references to “building houses” (v.1a) and “guarding them from enemies” (v.1b) both of which would have been relevant topics during the rebuilding of the cities and walls after the captivity. Both Ezra and Nehemiah record instances of opposition that were experienced by the Israelites as they returned and tried to rebuild the city, temple and the walls.
I. Children are a gift from the Lord.
The author of this psalm describes children as a valuable gift. In fact, he equates receiving a child the same as receiving an inheritance. In the normal structures of Hebrew Poetry, there is little or no emphasis on rhyme or rhythm, but the emphasis is usually on parallel concepts in the thoughts or ideas presented. Therefore, in this passage, “children” is a parallel thought equivalent to “fruit of the womb,” and “inheritance” is equivalent to “reward.”
In other passages of Scripture the Promised Land of Canaan was often referred to as the inheritance given to the Israelites by the Lord, which they received purely because of the benevolence of God.
Biologically and genetically, we understand that children are the result of loving intimacy shared by a husband and wife. Yet, we all know that the “fruit of the womb” is truly a blessing of God’s grace, because many loving relationships are not blessed with the children they so fervently desire.
Since children are an inheritance and gift from the Lord, what implications does that have?
A. Childless couples are not loved less by God.
Some may hear this verse and understand it to mean that God must not love them as much as He does others since He did not bless them with children. That would be a misunderstanding or misreading of the text. This passage is not primarily teaching us a lesson about the ways that God chooses to demonstrate His love to people. Rather, the primary teaching of the text is to remind us of the value and importance of children. If you want to learn about all the ways God demonstrates how much He loves us, there are plenty of other texts throughout the Scriptures that describe the ways of God’s love.
B. We should treat our children with value and respect.
Suppose God gave you or me a jewel of some kind. He just sent it down from the sky into the back yard accompanied by a booming voice from heaven proclaiming, “This is my gift to you.” How do you think any person would cherish and value that gift?
Dear friends, children are much more valuable than any jewel. They are human souls that not only have the image of their parents indelibly stamped into their physical and psychological being, but they have the image of their Creator stamped into them as well.
Because each child has the image of God molded into them, they all deserve to be treated with respect and with dignity and honor. Now, don’t get me wrong. Children still need to be corrected, disciplined and instructed in order to be guided in due time into a responsible, mature adult. But, no child deserves to be neglected, abused, or victimized.
I’ll be real honest with you to say that there is nothing else I know of that stirs up anger in me any more than when I read about or hear about a child being abused. Jesus Himself has some pretty harsh words to say against anyone who causes “one of these little ones to be offended.” (Matt 17:6)
C. We should understand that our children are eternal souls.
Children are the only “earthly possessions” that we can take to heaven with us. Obviously, we do not “own” our children in the same way we do other material goods. But, out of all the “objects” that belong to us, our children are the only ones that we can also enjoy in heaven.
II. Children provide an invaluable service to the Lord.
As I read and studied the remaining verses of this Psalm (4-5) it appeared to me that the Psalmist was emphasizing the practical benefits of having a house full of children. The wording seems to be emphasizing the aspect of safety and security comparable to a warrior defending his home and/or his country from enemies.
The author’s choice of words and the analogy implied would again coincide with the possibility we spoke of earlier regarding the attacks from enemies when the Israelites were rebuilding their homes, the temple and the city walls. The author compares children born to a young man as being like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior.
(Keil &Delitzsch) This is a comparison which the circumstances of his time made natural to the poet, in which the sword was carried side by side with the trowel, and the work of national restoration had to be defended step by step against open enemies, envious neighbors, and false brethren.
I realize that there is a risk in over-spiritualizing some passages. Yet, I believe that there is a definite parallel between this “defense of the home” against enemies, and the defense that needs to be made in the church of God
The application I see is this: I don’t believe there is any better defense against the demise of a church than to raise “an army” of children and youth who are committed to Christ and are grounded in the truth of His Word. There is no better defense against the spiritual attacks of the enemy upon the life and effectiveness of the church than “an army” of children and youth who will grow up having been taught the truth of God and filled with the Spirit of God and committed to the work of God.
Buildings, programs, and technology all have their proper place, but nothing matches the value of children growing up physically and spiritually to assume leadership roles in the Kingdom of God
Conclusion:
As we come to a close, let me summarize the main theme of this message:
Our children are a rich and valuable gift or inheritance from God and deserve all our love, respect and investments of time and instruction.
Parenting, including the role of father, is an awesome responsibility, because it involves the molding and directing of a life that will ultimately live forever in either heaven or hell.
May the Lord grant every father the wisdom and the abilities necessary to raise our children for God’s glory.
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