Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Children are a gift from God! To completely understand these verses from Psalm 127, we need to consider the historical significance of the world in the days it was written. It is hard to understand that someone would refer to their children as weapons of war (like arrows in the hand of a warrior). However, when one understands the historical setting, this makes more sense to us. In the days this psalm was written, the family was the strongest institution on the earth. In a Jewish family, everyone lived together. Everyone worked together to survive the harshness and elements of the world in those days. Having more children (particularly sons) would allow the family to be more secure and more prepared for whatever life presented the family. Hence, the children born were “like arrows.” Having your “quiver” full is a word picture for having your family fully prepared and equipped. The “city gates” was that place of gathering. The people of that day all had the same thought: The more children you had, the more blessed you are. God had set man in the world and told man to multiple. Hence, their thought was that God gives a gift of children and the more children one has the more blessed one was. The take-a-way for us is that children are a gift from God. They add to our family and equip the family and contribute to family. We are to be thankful for God blessing us with children.
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