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What does it mean that unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain?



      

Psalms 127:1 - 5

ESV - 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Clarify Share Report Asked August 08 2016 Data Vernice Sims Supporter

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

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Kindle camera 1398841996000 Joe Blankenship Supporter Disabled, study the word of God everyday
There are many false religions that build churches in the name of Jesus Christ. But the word tells us that unless the church is built in Christ, belief in Jesus and the atonement of His blood, and follows all the Word of God it is not of Christ. Those people labor in vain for when the Day of the Lord comes He will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you."

August 09 2016 1 response Vote Up Share Report


4
Mini Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
The psalmist (David, in this case) is expressing the idea that seeking the will of God and acting in accordance with it is essential to the success of any human venture, and that, if God does not favor an undertaking, no amount of desire, precaution, effort, or worry on the part of those involved in it will be able to accomplish it.

By contrast, God gives rest, peace, and protection to those acting in obedience to Him and in accordance with His will, no matter how many barriers to success seem to be in their way.

The psalm is indicated as having been written by David for Solomon. It would seem to me that it would have been occasioned by David's memory of having wanted to build a temple for God (2 Samuel 7:1-16). God commended David for his desire, but said that he was not the man to build God's temple, for he had participated in much bloodshed in war (1 Chronicles 28:3).

Instead, God said that David's son (who turned out to be Solomon) would build the temple, which Solomon accomplished during his subsequent reign (1 Kings 6-8).

August 09 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Ken Love Supporter
There are two aspects of this verse that should be noted. 

1. Unless the Lord builds the house. This applies to a person or family. Marriage, not co-habiting for instance. Raising children in the fear and admonition of the Lord - teaching them the 10 Commandments and how they are to be applied in all areas of life. Working as a means of getting income. The list can go on.

2. Unless the Lord watches over the city...
This is people living in community. If the various families each are building their house as mentioned above, then the Lord is pleased to protect that city/society in ways the inhabitants would not be capable of doing themselves.

3. Note that the raising of children of such households in turn pass the values on to their children. And those families will also speak to those in the community that want ungodly ways or values in the local economics and government.

Local government and much commerce was carried out in the gates.

August 09 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


1
My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church
127:1 Unless Yahweh builds a house Probably refers to a dynasty—the parallel reference to watching over a city creates a wider context than an individual who owns a house.

House-building and city-guarding cannot succeed apart from God's help. Life should be lived in dependence on the Lord (Ps 127:1-2). 
Jesus said, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NKJV).

This first verse in the didactic Psalm 127 brings to mind verses in 1 Corinthians 3:7, 9-15 and also stanzas in these 2 hymns:

Psa 127:1] O Father, All Creating...
Except Thou build it, Father,
The house is built in vain;
Except Thou, Savior, bless it,
The joy will turn to pain;
But naught can break the union
Of hearts in Thee made one;
And love Thy Spirit hallows
Is endless love begun.

[Psa 127:1] Unless The Lord The House Shall Build

Unless the Lord the house shall build,
The weary builders toil in vain;
Unless the Lord the city shield,
The guards a useless watch maintain.

In vain you rise ere morning break,
And late your nightly vigils keep,
And of the bread of toil partake;
God gives to His beloved sleep.

Lo, children are a great reward,
A gift from God in very truth;
With arrows is his quiver stored
Who joys in children of his youth.

And blest the man whose age is cheered
By stalwart sons and daughters fair;
No enemies by him are feared,
No lack of love, no want of care.

Not by our might, but Thy power,
Must dome and tower take upward flight,
Must dome and tower take upward flight.

Were all the stones that lie unquarried ’neath the sod
Piled up against the sky, it were not worthy God.
To make this dear, Lord, condescend
Thy head to bend and enter here,
Thy head to bend and enter here.

The heavenly only stands: Earth briefly typifies
The House not made with hands, eternal in the skies—
We see its towers: how sweet to know,
When hence we go, that House is ours!
When hence we go, that House is ours!

April 22 2020 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


0
Blood Phil Calvert Supporter husband and dad, follower of the bible and bible studies
John 14:2-3 KJV
[2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I believe that this question could refer to this
Jesus came down to teach the gospel, to teach about his father, to fulfill what was said in the old testament. 
He was to be born to a virgin, crucified, died, buried and rise from the dead.
We are the labors that go around praising him spreading the gospels, worshipping him, believing on him that we might be saved and go to the house that his father has prepared for us.
We are the builders that labor and build up his church and the faithful people. 
With out him coming to earth and being sacrificed for us, we would not have a house up in heaven that we could go to and our labor would be in vain.

August 12 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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