The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The Divine Builder.

(For the opening or reopening of a church.) "Except the Lord build the house," etc.

I. OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD FOR ALL REAL PROSPERITY.

1. Consider the material of the house we are building. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" "Ye also as living stones, are built up a spiritual house," etc. The spiritual temple dwarfs the most magnificent material cathedrals.

2. The Divine implements employed on the building. Spiritual men working with Divine truths—the gospel—to build up a spiritual edifice. But some conditions to be remembered.

II. HOW DEPENDENCE UPON GOD MAY BEST BE PROMOTED.

1. By the most strenuous spiritual effort on our part. This no paradox; for the more we aim to do for God, the more shall we feel the need of God to give us true success.

2. By constantly thinking of the greatness of his work, and the littleness of our faculties in relation to it. Men succeed in grand material enterprises and intellectual achievements—construct mighty bridges and steam-engines—and write magnificent books and poems; but to win men to Christ a good life is the most arduous work in life, demanding the highest inspirations of the mind.

3. We must realize the spirit of dependence by the constant help of prayer. To know the value of work we must put ourselves forth in constantly renewed endeavor; but our highest work can be sustained only by the help of the devoutest prayer.—S.

Psalms 126

Psalms

Psalms 128

Psalms 127 - psalms-127 - worlddic.com

More for Psalms 127:1

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Psalms 127:1-5Psalms 127:1-5 · Matthew Henry Concise Commentary—Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising a family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and t…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5Psalms 127:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION A DIDACTIC psalm, preaching a contented trust in God as more conducive to the prosperity of a man, or a state, than any amount of fussy activity. The ascription to Solomon is borne out The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1Psalms 127:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryExcept the Lord build the house; rather, a house; i.e. any house whatsoever. They labor in vain that build it. They will effect nothing—no house will be built. Except the Lord keep the city; rather, a city. The watchman…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5Psalms 127:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe blessing of God. The psalm is in keeping with that prevalent piety which led the devout Israelite to trace God's hand in everything, and ascribe both good and evil, both joy and sorrow, to his directing power. I. UN…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5Psalms 127:1-5 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe builder's psalm. Our ignorance of the exact reference of this psalm enables us to apply it, as perhaps otherwise we might not be able, to all builders whatsoever. Four such seem to be pointed at here. I. THE TEMPLE-…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1Psalms 127:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe God of the family life. "These pictures are mild and bright; humanizing are they in the best sense: they retain certain elements of Paradise, and yet more the elements of the patriarchal era, with the addition of th…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 127:1-5—Let us always look to God's providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing. 1. For raising a family. If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing; and t…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5EXPOSITION A DIDACTIC psalm, preaching a contented trust in God as more conducive to the prosperity of a man, or a state, than any amount of fussy activity. The ascription to Solomon is borne outJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1Except the Lord build the house; rather, a house; i.e. any house whatsoever. They labor in vain that build it. They will effect nothing—no house will be built. Except the Lord keep the city; rather, a city. The watchman…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5The blessing of God. The psalm is in keeping with that prevalent piety which led the devout Israelite to trace God's hand in everything, and ascribe both good and evil, both joy and sorrow, to his directing power. I. UN…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1-5The builder's psalm. Our ignorance of the exact reference of this psalm enables us to apply it, as perhaps otherwise we might not be able, to all builders whatsoever. Four such seem to be pointed at here. I. THE TEMPLE-…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1The God of the family life. "These pictures are mild and bright; humanizing are they in the best sense: they retain certain elements of Paradise, and yet more the elements of the patriarchal era, with the addition of th…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 127:1The true city watchman. "Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." This would come home very forcibly to the restored exiles if, as we may well assume, the psalm was written before Nehemiah restor…Joseph S. Exell and contributors