A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. A wisdom psalm.
v.1-2 In vain we build a house (raise a family), watch over a city, or rise early and stay up late (laboring for food). In vain that is unless the Lord builds the house, and the Lord watches over the city, and the Lord gives sleep (see Ps 4:8).
v.3-5 Children are a blessing and reward from the Lord.
What we do in life will either be the Lord’s doing or it will be pointless. Divine sovereignty trumps human plans and effort. Versus 1-2 appear in sharp contrast to Prv 24:33-34. They are perhaps paradoxically two sides of the same coin. We must avoid burning the candle at both ends while neglecting time with our family and God.
The psalm also instructs us to count our children as blessings not as a burden. All of life’s blessings are from the Lord. Parents have the responsibility to raise children properly trained in righteousness (Prv 22:6). This requires a lot of prayer, discipline, and love.