Psalms 127:3

"Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah;

And the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

So are the children of youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:

They shall not be put to shame,

When they speak with their enemies in the gate."

The imagery here is that of a large family, a special inheritance from God, "Enabling a man to meet his enemies in the gate of his city."[11]

"As arrows in the hand of a mighty man" (Psalms 127:4). "A large family gave a man a strong position in the ancient community."[12] The comparison of children to arrows is common, especially in the poetry of the Arabs.[13]

"So are the children of youth" (Psalms 127:4). This especially refers to "Sons in their youth, in their prime and vigour of life."[14]

"Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them" (Psalms 127:5). A "quiver" was the device in which arrows were carried; and what us praised here is a large family.

"When they speak with their enemies in the gate" (Psalms 127:5). The whole implication here is that of a warlike society in which personal and family wars were the order of the day.

Before leaving this, it should be pointed out that children are "of the Lord." Only the Lord is able to give them; and, although they come "through" earthly parents, they still belong to God; and the parents who fail to recognize this and to rear their offspring in the fear and admonition of the Lord are of all human beings the most reprehensible.

More than once, this writer has observed children which were reared, not to fear God, but as mere animals, who turned upon their aging parents, oppressing them, deserting them, and in one instance murdering them. Parents who neglect to bring up their children as God has commanded are merely kindling the fires of their own hell.