Bible Commentary

Psalms 127

Psalms 127 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

This is a family-psalm, as divers before were state-poems and church-poems. It is entitled (as we read it) "for Solomon," dedicated to him by his father. He having a house to build, a city to keep, and seed to raise up to his father, David directs him to look up to God, and to depend upon his providence, without which all his wisdom, care, and industry, would not serve. Some take it to have been penned by Solomon himself, and it may as well be read, "a song of Solomon," who wrote a great many; and they compare it with the Ecclesiastes, the scope of both being the same, to show the vanity of worldly care and how necessary it is that we keep in favour with God. On him we must depend, I. For wealth, ver. 1, 2. II. For heirs to leave it to, ver. 3-5. In singing this psalm we must have our eye up unto God for success in all our undertakings and a blessing upon all our comforts and enjoyments, because every creature is that to us which he makes it to be and no more.

Dependence on Providence; God the Giver of Prosperity.

A song of degrees for Solomon.

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Psalms 127 — OverviewPsalms 127 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgePsalms 127:1, The virtue of God’s blessing; Psalms 127:3, Good children are his gift. Psalms 120:1, Psalms 121:1, Psalms 122:1, Psalms 123:1, Psalms 124:1, Psalms 125:1, Psalms 126:1 *titlesPsalms 127 — OverviewPsalms 127 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSong of degrees for Solomon. This psalm was written for Solomon; that is, for the sake of Solomon, as Aben Ezra interprets it; of concerning Solomon, as Jarchi: and so the Syriac title,"it was said by David concerning…Psalms 127:1-5Psalms 127:1-5 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe are here taught to have a continual regard to the divine Providence in all the concerns of this life. Solomon was cried up for a wise man, and would be apt to lean to his own understanding and forecast, and…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…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…Psalms 127:1Psalms 127:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe 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…