Children are a gift from God; they are his reward. 4 Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows to defend him. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. That man shall have the help he needs when facing his enemies.” Psalm 127: 3-5
Verse three describes the benefits of walking in faith and God-dependence: physical and spiritual children. Sons are a heritage from the Lord: the fruit of the womb a reward.” Sons were absolutely indispensable in Biblical times. Women couldn’t easily provide for themselves. The blessing of family described in verses three through five connotes a legacy, a family heritage. Hebrew children were considered God’s gifts and wealth. Sarah, Rachel and Hannah all prayed to have sons. Childless widows in the Bible were pictured as helpless and destitute. A man’s sons were his social security. They tilled the land and carried on the family name. They nursed Mom and Dad in their twilight years. The heritage of the family was entrusted to them. Heritage implies an identity, a culture, a set of values, and a lifestyle.
A close family is a precious treasure. Memories are made. Values are imparted. Community is implicit. When we lead someone to Christ, we become spiritual mothers and fathers. We impart life to those we lead to Christ. We must not dunk’em and drop ‘em (an old Baptist cliche), we love, teach and train our spiritual children.
Psalms 127:4 states that children are like a warrior’s arrows. The psalmist refers both to quality and quantity in this poetic phrase. The king’s symbolism was not lost upon any Hebrew reader. Every Israelite understood that a plethora of arrows provided protection and food for a family. Archery was used everyday in ancient times. Warriors drew their bows to stop aggressors on their home turf. Hunters wielded bows and arrows to kill prey and feed their faces. Even primitive Neanderthals knew that arrows must be carved carefully to hit the target. A crooked arrow whittled by a haphazard hunter could cost him his life. Don’t enrage an elephant by shooting him in the foot! Accurate aiming produced a tasty dinner. Missing the mark meant death. Today, a person who lives a lifestyle of uncompromising integrity is a “straight arrow”. Adult children who lead lives that are focused and effective bring joy to their parents. Parents who have carefully invested in the lives of their children will be happy and fulfilled when they “shoot their arrows” into society and watch them soar successfully.
“Sitting at the town gate” (verse 5) was an ancient custom first mentioned in the book of Genesis in reference to the stellar career of Lot as lukewarm judge presiding at Sodom’s gates. Moses tells us Lot tried cases for the citizenry at the city gate. Obvi- ously, Lot didn’t stay the tide of decadence and immorality in his hometown. God had to fry the city to a crisp and turn Lot’s wife into a saltine because of the depravity of the Sodomites and Gomorrahettes! In Moses’ day, his father-in-law assisted him by advis- ing him to delegate some of his governance to trusted leaders of each tribe. Moses heeded Jethro’s word and appointed judges to assist with administering justice among the wandering Jews. Judges resided at the city gate to solve domestic disputes, forge con- tracts and make treaties. Boaz bought Ruth as his bartered bride with a dusty sandal at the city gate. (Ruth 4:1-7.) Peace was kept by deft negotiators practicing diplomacy among warring tribes and nations. If the judges at the gate were savvy arbitrators, if they were men of their word, then peaceful coexistence ensued. If the ambassadors were corrupt or capricious, the community’s safety and prosperity were compromised.