Day 8: Psalm 127

Psalm 127 is a psalm filled with wisdom. One can only imagine as the psalmist looked upon the Temple in its magnificence that it could only be the Lord who could have done this! This is an important psalm according to Fr. Lawrence Krieghauser O.S.B. because it is “the central psalm of the Songs of Ascents. It communicates the profound source of Israel’s strength: not human effort but the action of God. The psalms that follow will show how this divine grace produces true human community.”

When I was in the Seminary, Fr. Moriarty used to tell us with a chuckle, “in vain is your earlier rising and your going later to rest.” This was in response to many of us, myself included, who would be frantically studying as if all depended on us. We forgot, as Fr. Moriarty pointed out, that it is the Lord who will help us if we trust in Him and cooperate with His grace. We were to study, that was true, but we needed to leave room for the Lord! That is the lesson the psalmist teaches – we rely so much on ourselves, but without the Lord it all is in vain! The Lord provides for those who love Him even in their sleep! It is a true sense of security when the psalmist says, “He pours gifts on His beloved even while they slumber.”

That same security is reinforced by the psalmist as he compares the protection of God to a family in his day. The City Gate was where all the action in the town took place: it was like a mini court where disputes were settled. The father who had many sons had a sense of security when it came to be his turn at this court: they provided witnesses and prevented others from taking unfair advantage of him. It was like a warrior’s quiver filled with arrows!

The pilgrim now has reached the eighth step on the ascent to the Temple Mount. Here Psalm 127 is prayed as the Temple comes into sight. The sense of security must have been strong when seeing the building; however, knowing that he is ever closer to entering that place where God dwells in a powerful way had to increase that sense of security and trust.

Pray Psalm 127 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How does the psalmist envision God as his security?

What are some the temptations in your lives that cause you to forget to put our trust in the Lord?

What are some images that you could use to help strengthen your trust in the Lord and provisions for you?

What words or phrases stood out to you? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!