The Hebrew word "khayts" is literally a "piercer" or arrow or
dart--a shaft with a sharpened point. By implication, it could mean
a wound received.
A warrior in the time when Psalm 127 was penned was responsible for
developing his own arrows. He took raw wood that God created and
spent a whole lot of time fashioning that wood until it had the
right size, weight, and balance. He placed the feathers in just the
right way so that the arrow's balance was perfect. The arrow’s tip,
whether stone or metal, had exactly the right sharpness. It was the
warrior's own unique arrow.
The warrior knew each one of his arrows well. Ancient archery was
something of a science. A warrior knew which of his arrows to shoot
in what circumstance.
In the same way, parents who do their job well will develop an
impressive "arrow." The wise warrior dad and mom will know how to
use their children for family and societal safety and advantage.
Their arrows will be sent out at the right time to hit the right
mark for God's glory and the service of their generation.
But if a warrior misshapes his arrows and sends them forth, it is
not likely that the job can be redone. Too often, sons and daughters
become arrows that pierce the parents' hearts: a constant grief to
their Godly parents.
Stretching and exploring is normal and, with loving guidance, is
healthy. Defiance is not. It reveals the failed workmanship of the
warrior in crafting his or her arrows.
A quiver--the Hebrew word " 'ashpah"--was a sheath for
arrows. It was a covering. Figuratively, it was the home of God's
instruments.
How large this sheath might have been is unknown. The typical number
of arrows that filled a typical quiver was not likely recorded. But
one could guess that any warrior went forth to battle with his
quiver full.
There is a lesson here for Christian families. One way that the
enemy has deceived Christians is to make them believe that the world
is overpopulated and it is our responsibility to curtail having
children. Many Christians, too, have been trained to want the
pleasures of this world instead of fulfilling God's design for them
to raise up a Godly generation after them. Yet others buy into
philosophies that keep them from establishing a nest for children
until they are much older than is best.
There is Biblical merit to having the children that God gives to you
then working hard with Him and trusting in Him to provide the
resources that are needed to raise them.
The Hebrew word "sha`ar" or "shah'-ar" means
gate of entrance, gate to a city, door, port or space inside gate: a
marketplace, public meeting place.
In ancient Israel, the elders of each city sat in the gate of the
city. In this way, they could observe who came and went. It was
there that city matters were decided. It was there that they had
their counsels.
In Matthew 16:18b, Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Literal
gates are not attacking the Church. It is the counsels of hell--the
plans and decision born in darkness--that will not prevail against
her.
In Psalm 127:5, God is saying through the psalmist that the man who
has a full number of children that he has carefully shaped into
Godly citizens will have his answer standing with him when any enemy
challenges him in the courts or before the decision-makers of his
land. His character will be established, defendable.
For those parents who have failed: If your children are still in
the home, it is not too late to rework your arrows. It will take
effort. It may take outside help. It will take God. Apologize to
your children individually for failing to obey God's Godly
principles of living. Then, with God's grace, turn the corner.
Remove ungodly influences, which may mean--as it did for
us--removing them from public education. And pray. God is the great
Redeemer.
If you have failed and your arrows have flown, you still have a job
to do. Go to your arrows and woo them back to receive some
reworking. Apologize to them for your failures. And pray. Truly, God
is the great Redeemer.