Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary

Psalm 127

Psalm 127 and Solomon

There is a connection between Psalm 127 and Solomon. Of course, Solomon’s name appears in the ancient title of the Psalm. Usually, that would mean that Solomon wrote the Psalm. But it could mean that someone else wrote Psalm 127 for, or about, Solomon.

Some people have guessed that David wrote Psalm 127 as a lesson for Solomon. As we have already seen, verse 1 seems to refer to important events in Solomon’s life. It was Solomon who built the house of God in Jerusalem. And as king, Solomon was responsible for the defence of Jerusalem, as well as Israel’s other cities.

Verses 3-5 may be about David’s hopes for Solomon. Solomon was still young when David died – 1 Chronicles 29:1. (Solomon was about 20 years old then.) There were many things that David was unable to achieve during his own life. And he wanted Solomon to achieve those things. It was a great responsibility. But David encouraged Solomon to do his work well.

The most special connection with Solomon is in verse 2. Here the poet hides in the words the name ‘Jedidiah’. God gave that name to Solomon in 2 Samuel 12:25. It means the son ‘whom God loves’. Our English translations show this as ‘those people that he loves’ in Psalm 127:2.

But Psalm 127 also has a sadder connection with Solomon. Solomon did not continue to serve God through his whole life (1 Kings 11:4-10). The Book of Ecclesiastes seems to describe his later thoughts and attitudes.

Solomon became very aware that a man’s efforts cannot bring success. This disappointed him. It seemed to him that work was almost without purpose. He wrote that the only purpose for work was to achieve a feeling of satisfaction. See Ecclesiastes 2:17-26.

It seems as if Solomon only learned part of his own lesson. He understood completely that, without God, a person’s best efforts are in vain. The Book of Ecclesiastes says that many times. But, near the end of his life, he seems not to know that a person must depend completely on God. He did not appreciate that, with God, a person’s life has real purpose.

Each person needs God to lead and to guide everything that he or she does. Then that person’s life and work will not be in vain.

Next part: Psalm 127 as poetry

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