Reading Psalms in various life situations. Interpretation of the books of the Old Testament. Psalm Psalm 126 for which they read 40 times
Psalm 126, which with some probability was written by King Solomon himself, the author of Ecclesiastes and the Book of Proverbs, also belongs to the so-called Songs of Ascension. Although there are other versions of authorship, regardless of this, these five stanzas are essential for the believer.
An Orthodox believer should also be able to read in the Old Church language in order to understand the words of the service, but for a start it is quite normal to assimilate the content in the modern dialect. In order to more accurately determine the interpretation, one must also be able to take into account the historical context of the writing of this piece from the Psalter.
This text was written, according to historical information, during the return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity or almost immediately after it. In the first two stanzas, we see the emphasis on the shift of the believer's attention to the Lord, who is the only hope and opportunity for man. Without Him, any effort is futile, and in a sense, these semantic notes have a tinge of fatalism, but only a tinge, and upon closer examination, something else becomes clear.
If the author of Psalm 126 is Solomon, then such a narrative does not require special explanation. The great king created incredibly much, but at the same time he never extolled or praised his own greatness, but always put the will of the Lord ahead. This is what the author of these verses says, initially you need to rely on the Almighty.
Of course, such hope does not mean inaction or only prayer, which is chosen as an alternative to any action in order to win Divine favor. It says something a little different here:
- people do not have all the power in this world;
- a sincere believer receives the support of the Lord, and those who do not enlist it often waste their own efforts in vain;
- you need to understand why any work is done, and see the true purpose, which is the Lord.
Such words were especially needed by the captive Jews, who could only hope for the help of the Almighty in such difficult circumstances. Freed from imprisonment, they saw in this the highest providence and grace sent down, which ensured freedom. Thus, the initial part places the believing Lord at the center of the world.
Psalter, one of the books of Holy Scripture
Further, we are talking about the inheritance from the Lord, that is, children, who are the highest good and allow even exiles to adequately answer to any adversaries. It must be said that the value of the family and the creation of offspring has had a special role in Judaism since ancient times. Therefore, children were perceived as a blessing from the Almighty, and the main goal of each person was to create a family and receive offspring.
Note! In large offspring, Jews have always seen the special mercy of the Lord. Actually, Orthodox Jews still have a significant number of children, as do Orthodox priests, who, as a rule, have large families. However, this tradition is now being gradually superseded by the fashion for a small number of children with a concentration on the quality (rather than the quantity) of the resulting offspring.
Perhaps for some, such a goal will sound trite and primitive, but psalm 126 speaks not only about physical reproduction, which, as scientists say, is instinctively laid in every living being. The offspring is perceived as something more, as a reward from the Lord himself. After all, if we return to the beginning, we will see: nothing happens without His will, respectively, and posterity is also a part of this will.
As you know, the Lord initially gave quite a simple commandment. Be fruitful and multiply, so it was said. Therefore, in fact, receiving offspring and creating a family for this is the fulfillment of the will of the Lord.
Family blessing from the Lord
Useful video: interpretation of the Psalms (kathisma 18 - psalm 126)
When reading a psalm
The Song of Ascension refers to a set of psalms from 119 to 133, which glorify the Lord and have been used in the process of the festive procession since ancient times. They were used by believers during the ascent to the Jerusalem temple on the hill, and were also read at the sight of this temple from anywhere. In Russian, a translation from the Septuagint is used, from which they also translated into the Old Church.
Psalms are read in all needs
It is this psalm that is associated with the creation of the so-called second temple. The creator of the first was King Solomon, in connection with which the psalm is named after him.
Note! At this time, the Jews are waiting for the construction of the so-called third temple, but now there is a mosque there. Therefore, in Jerusalem (due to the protests of Muslims) they cannot build a new temple, which in turn will be the beginning of the end of time, the coming of the Messiah and many other interesting events, according to Jewish beliefs.
In addition, this psalm was originally read in their own language by the builders of the second temple, who were also engaged in restoration work throughout Jerusalem. This period was difficult, and people needed support. Poetic lines performed just such a function and encouraged the Jews, recalling the old prophecies and the need for strong faith.
Modern people read these lines, too, when some kind of support is needed:
- before a significant matter;
- in moments of sadness;
- to be strengthened in faith.
In addition, a very popular option is to read the previously mentioned stanzas for liberation from various negative influences. In particular, various occult influences are meant. In order to get rid of negative occult influences, one should read this psalm in combination with the prayer May God rise again.
Useful video: Psalm 126 in Russian
Conclusion
The opening lines clearly indicate the participation of the Lord in any matter, but occultists use the help of demons and are contrary to the Lord. He will never give support to such people. Therefore, no matter how hard they try, they cannot harm a sincere believer.
In the Psalter, in the book of praises, there are 150 inspired psalms and a special 151 psalms.
There are 15 psalms - songs of degrees, from 119 to 133; penitential 7 psalms: 6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, 142.
Each psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sings of the mysteries of God, good deeds, providence for the world and man, love, and most of all, about the coming of Christ the Savior to earth, His most pure passions, about mercy for man, about the resurrection, the building of the Church and the Kingdom of God - Heavenly Jerusalem.
In each psalm, you can highlight the main idea
On this basis, all psalms can be divided into groups:
Glorification of the attributes of God: 8, 17, 18, 23, 28, 33, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 65, 75, 76, 92, 94, 95, 96, 98, 103, 110, 112, 113, 133, 138, 141, 144, 148, 150
Thanks be to God for the blessings of God's chosen people: 45, 47, 64, 65, 67, 75, 80, 84, 97, 104, 123, 125, 128, 134, 135, 149
Thanks be to God for good deeds: 22, 33, 35, 90, 99, 102, 111, 117, 120, 144, 145
Glorification of the goodness of God in relation to individuals: 9, 17, 21, 29, 39, 74, 102, 107, 115, 117, 137, 143
Asking God for forgiveness of sins: 6, 24, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, 142
Hope in God in confusion of spirit: 3, 12, 15, 21, 26, 30, 53, 55, 56, 60, 61, 68,70, 76, 85, 87
Turning to God in deep sorrow: 4, 5, 10, 27, 40, 54, 58, 63, 69, 108, 119, 136, 139, 140, 142
Petition for God's help: 7, 16, 19, 25, 34, 43, 59, 66, 73, 78, 79, 82, 88, 93, 101, 121, 128, 131, 143
Good luck - 89-131-9
Finding the right job 73-51-62 (If the job is dangerous to you and your safety, then the desired will not be received.)
For respect and honor in the service, work, read psalms - 76,39,10,3
For the fulfillment of desires - 1,126,22,99
To the aid of wealthy patrons - 84,69,39,10
Find a job- 49,37,31,83
Retribution for Mercy - 17,32,49,111
To get hired(before or after the interview) - 83.53.28.1
For a happy woman's lot - 99,126,130,33
Getting rid of money troubles - 18,1,133,6
Charm of family life and happiness from witchcraft- 6,111,128,2
Exit the vicious circle - 75,30,29,4
For financial well-being - 3,27,49,52
For happiness in family life - 26,22,99,126
So that everyone in your family has a job - 88,126,17,31
From longing and sadness - 94,127,48,141
Change of fate (apply in special cases! At the beginning, specify the request what exactly and in what direction you want to change) - 2,50,39,148
To make aspirations come true - 45,95,39,111
To reach the goal - 84,6,20,49
From misfortunes and troubles - 4, 60, 39, 67.m
To overcome adversity - 84,43,70,5
Cleaning and protection - 3, 27, 90, 150.
To remove damage - 93, 114, 3, 8.
The most powerful psalms:
3 Psalm
24 Psalm
26 Psalm
36 Psalm
37 Psalm
39 Psalm
90 Psalm
17 Kathisma
Psalms for every need:
Psalm 80 - from poverty (24 times to read!)
Psalm 2 - to work
Psalm 112 - from getting rid of debts
Psalm 22 - to calm the children
Psalm 126 - to eradicate enmity between loved ones
Psalm 102 - from getting rid of all diseases
27 Psalm - from nervous diseases
133 Psalm - from all danger
Psalm 101 - from despondency
Psalm 125 - from migraine, headache
58 Psalm - speechless
44 Psalm - for diseases of the heart, kidneys
37 Psalm - for toothache
Psalm 95 - to improve hearing
Psalm 122 - from pride
116 and 126 Psalm - to preserve love and harmony in the family
108 Psalm - prayer-curse. It contains the wish "Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow." Psalm 109 is David's prayer to the Lord, in which he asks for revenge on his enemies who relentlessly pursue him. This psalm is replete with curses, mostly directed at one of David's sworn enemies. Many people offer prayers for the death of their enemies. But not all of these prayers reach God. In addition, often evil thoughts directed against someone turn against the person praying. It means that in heaven they hear those prayers that should be heard. This psalm is analogous to the cabalistic ritual of Pulse de-nura.
Introductory Prayers:
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Eternal Heavenly Father, You said with Your pure lips that nothing can be done without You. I ask for your help! To begin every business with You, for Your glory and the salvation of my soul. And now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen."
"King of Heaven, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our souls."
"Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us"(3 times)
"All-holy Trinity, God and Creator of the whole world, hasten and direct my heart, start with reason and finish good deeds inspired by this book, even the Holy Spirit will burp the mouth of David, even now I want to speak az, unworthy, understanding my ignorance, falling down I pray to You and asking for help from You: Lord, direct my mind and strengthen my heart, not about the verbal speech of the mouth, but to rejoice in the mind of the verbs, and get ready to do good deeds, I am learning, and I say: yes, I am enlightened with good deeds, Judges of the right hand of The land, I will be a partaker with all Your chosen ones.
Come, let us worship our King God.
Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ, our King God.
Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ Himself, the King and our God."
"Our Father, Thou art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us our daily bread today; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave the debtor ours, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."(3 times)
Closing prayers:
"King of Heaven, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fills everything, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed, our souls."
“Give thanks to the unworthy of Your servants, Lord, for Your great blessings on us who were, glorifying You, we praise, bless, thank, sing and magnify Your goodness, and slavishly love crying out to You: Our benefactor Savior, glory to You. servant of indecent, vouchsafed, Master, diligently flowing to you, giving thanks according to strength, and glorifying you as the Benefactor and Creator, crying out: glory to you, God the All-Bountiful, glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen."
"Theotokos, Christian Helper, Thy intercession has been acquired by Thy servants, we cry out thankfully to Thee: Rejoice, Most Pure Theotokos Virgin, and always deliver us from all troubles with Thy prayers, One who soon intercedes. We thank Thee, O Lord our God, for all Thy good deeds, even from the first age to the present, in us, unworthy Thy servants (names), who were, they are also visible and not visible, about the manifested and the unmanifested, even the deeds of the former and the word: loving us, as if and Thy only-begotten Son for us to give, vouchsafe us worthy of being Thy love. Give by Your word wisdom and Your fear, inhale strength from Your strength, and if we sin willingly or unwillingly, forgive and do not blame, and save our holy soul, and present to Your Throne, I have a clean conscience, and the end is worthy of Your humanity; And remember, Lord, all who call upon Your name in truth; the same we pray to Thee, O Lord, grant us Thy benevolence and great mercy."
"The Cathedral of the Holy Angels and Archangels, with all heavenly powers, sings to Thee, and says: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, fulfill heaven and earth with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Save me, Izhe Thou art in the highest King, save me and sanctify me, Source of sanctification; from Thee, for all creation is strengthened, To Thee, without number, they sing the thrice-holy song. Cleanse your heart, and open your mouth, that I may worthily sing to You: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, Lord, always, now, and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
"Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Holy Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen."
Only in the Hebrew Bible does this psalm have an indication of the name of the author of Solomon, but in the Vulgate and in the LXX there is no last addition, which can be explained by the fact that 70 translators found it difficult to put the name of Solomon, as a writer, above that psalm, which is included in the category of "song ascension”, written upon returning or upon returning from the Babylonian captivity. Meanwhile, the content of the psalm, where the writer preaches about the complete obedience of a person to God and life according to His guidance, and not according to his own strength, is in full agreement with the content of the works of Solomon (the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes), where the latter considers “the fear of the Lord” as the basis of human behavior. "() and where he proves the senselessness of man's attachment to the earth. The inclusion of this psalm, written by Solomon, in the category of a song of ascent by the compilers of the canon is probably explained by the fact that this psalm, which preached complete devotion to the Lord, was most often used by Jews returning from captivity at a time when they were engaged in the construction of the second temple and when on this the paths met numerous obstacles, insurmountable by their forces, and when, therefore, their steadfastness in business and confidence in its completion could only be fed by faith and hope in God, which is what the aforementioned psalm speaks of.
If the Lord does not show favor to a person, then all his attempts and efforts to strengthen his well-being are in vain; the Lord gives calmness and peace only to those whom He loves (1-2). Here is an expression of Divine favor - children who are for parents the same protectors as for the shooter of his arrows, with whom he will confront the enemies of the people at the gates of the city (3-5).
. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain; if the Lord does not guard the city, the watchman watches in vain.
. In vain do you rise early, stay late, eat the bread of sorrow, while He gives His beloved sleep.
The words of these verses have a special meaning in the mouth of Solomon, who became famous for his grandiose structures of the temple and palaces, on the construction of which many architects and craftsmen of that time worked, why it would seem that the perseverance and efforts of a person are always crowned with success. Solomon says otherwise. The meaning of his words is that every work of man, begun with the blessing of the Lord, will be crowned with success, but built not with the blessing, but especially against His will, no matter what the efforts of man, will end in failure. The example of the latter is the building of the Tower of Babel after the flood, which is an expressive monument, not of how great the effort of man and how fruitful his genius, but how futile all his efforts are if they are directed against God or provoke His wrath. - "To His Beloved He Gives Sleep"- not in the sense that whom the Lord loves, he can do nothing, but in the fact that he who creates in accordance with the will of God and at His command can be at peace for the successful completion of his work, since he finds protection in the Almighty Being. In relation to the position of the Jews after the captivity, with their concerns about building a second temple, these words could fill them with confidence that no matter how great the obstacles they met on their way, the building work would end in success, since it was in accordance with the will of God, and therefore, the Jews drew strength and energy here to continue it.
. Here is an inheritance from the Lord: children; reward from Him is the fruit of the womb.
. Like arrows in the hand of a strong man, so are young sons.
. Blessed is the man who filled his quiver with them! They will not remain in shame when they speak to the enemies at the gate.
In the abundance of children, the ancient Jews saw a sign of Divine favor. The writer finds out the meaning of what is the external good with many children and what Divine favor is seen here: children are the protection of their parents, children are also the protection of the city and the fatherland from enemies when they come to the defense of both during attacks.
The Bible provides, as I like to call it, a blueprint for building strong families. These principles are found in Psalm 126.
This short, five-verse psalm contains an incredible look at parenting. In fact, the rabbis teach that this psalm contains an example of training children to serve God.
Remember when in the Bible we see the word house, the word is often used a family. Let's take a closer look at the wisdom of Psalm 126 about building a family that serves God and stands firm in the midst of the attacks of the enemy.
1. Be dedicated. The psalm begins by telling us that as long as we build a family not in God's way, all our attempts are in vain. And this is true - you can work hard building something, but it will not bring any results. This is what it means to work in vain. Useless efforts.
2. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Notice what Psalm 127:1 says - "Unless the Lord builds the house..." and "Unless the Lord guards the city...". This shows us that we need God's help. God has given us His Word as a recipe for the guidance of our children, and He has also given us a living Helper to guide and advise us in the process.
3. Be partners with your spouse. By God's design, father and mother have different and distinct roles in building up a family. But father and mother must combine their unique abilities and cooperate in raising their children. If you are a single parent, you will face unique challenges, but God offers unique help for single parents (See Isaiah 54:4-5)
4. Give your worries to the Lord. I want to encourage you right now to let go of any guilt you have for failing to raise your children. As a parent, you sometimes get upset about the mistakes you make while raising your children. Whatever parent you are, let go of bitterness and regret. Give your worry to Jesus (see 1 Peter 5:6-8)
5. Be faithful servants. Our children are the only thing we can take with us to Heaven. We will never see our houses, cars or money after we leave this earth. But if our children know Christ, we will be with them in eternity. Our children do not really belong to us. They belong to Jesus. Being a parent is being a minister.
6. Develop a warrior mindset. We need to have a military mindset, like we're training soldiers for battle. We must be extremely selective in raising our children. The devil seeks to afflict our children. It fires live ammunition. When our children are trained to be arrows for God, they become dangerous weapons that will do much harm to the kingdom of darkness (see Psalm 127:4-5)
Perhaps your children are not serving Jesus. Maybe they were raised according to God's principles, but then they moved away from Him. Maybe you were saved when your children were grown and you couldn't raise them for Jesus when they were little. If this applies to you, remember this magnificent promise of God to us:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus...and you will be saved, and so will your household." (Acts 16:31 New Russian Translation)
If you proclaim this scripture about your children, it will release God's work in them—and in all the rest of your family. God desires that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Your children are no exception.
Do not give up. Prayer can change everything.
Don't miss the fun!
It's worth it. Raising your children is hard work. Let's be honest. That is why many parents do not do this. But it's worth it. It will bring good fruit in your life. If you sow and nurture the seeds in your children, after a while the harvest will surely come. And harvest time is a joyful and happy time.
PSALM 126
Unlike the previous psalms, which deal with affairs of state significance and concerning the Church as a whole, this psalm is intended for family worship. It is preceded by the words “Song of Ascension. Solomon42”, indicating that Solomon's father dedicated the psalm to his son. David, knowing that Solomon will have to build a house, protect the city and continue the family of his father, instructs him to look up at the Lord and rely on the providence of the Most High, without which neither wisdom, nor labor, nor care will help. There is an opinion that this psalm was written by Solomon himself, since the line preceding it can also be read as “Song of Solomon”, who was the author of many songs. Those who hold this opinion compare this psalm with the Book of Ecclesiastes, which traces the same idea of the futility of worldly fuss and explains the need for gaining God's grace. It is in the Lord that we must trust when it comes to
(i) wealth (arts. 1, 2) and
II. of the heirs to whom it will pass (v. 3-5). Singing this psalm, we should raise our eyes to the Lord and ask Him to grant us success in all our undertakings and bless everything that brings us joy and comfort, for any creation of the Most High should mean no more to us than the Creator intended for him.
Ascension song. Solomon.
Verses 1-5
Here we are taught never to forget God's providence, no matter what happens to us in this life. Solomon was famous for his wisdom and was inclined to rely on his own understanding and forecasts, so his father teaches him to look up and turn to the Lord in all his undertakings. Solomon was destined to become an enterprising person, so David instructs his son how to conduct his business, obeying the ethical principles of religion. Parents, when they teach their children, must see to it that their admonitions are appropriate to the occasion and the conditions. We should turn our eyes to the Lord:
I. In all your family affairs, even if it is about the royal family, for the king's house stands only as long as the Lord protects it. We must trust in God's blessing and not in our own ingenuity,
(1.) When we build a family: Unless the Lord builds the house by his providence and blessing, they labor in vain, even if they are very skillful in building it. Perhaps we are talking about a house in the literal sense: if the Lord does not bless its construction, then it makes no sense for a person to build. So it was with those who built the Tower of Babel in their attempt to openly oppose the will of heaven, and with Ahiel, who built Jericho while under a curse. If the project is drawn up when a person is full of pride and vanity, and the foundation is laid on oppression and injustice (Hab. 2:11, 12), the Lord does not take any part in it. Moreover, without showing proper respect to the Lord, we have no reason to hope for His blessing, and without the blessing, everything is meaningless. But, most likely, in this verse we are talking about creating a family. People try their best to find a good match, to get a position in society, to find a good job, to make material acquisitions; but all this is in vain, unless the Lord Himself raises a family and raises the poor from the dust. The best plans fail, unless the Almighty crowns them with success (Mal. 1:4).
(2.) To protect a family or a city (for this is what the psalmist mentions): If the watchman is unable to keep the city without God's help, then how can a good man keep his house from destruction. If the Lord does not protect the city from fire and enemies, then the guard who goes around the city or stands on guard at its walls, even if he does not doze and does not sleep, is awake in vain, for an indomitable fire may flare up, from which even the most timely detection will not be able to avoid losses. . The guards can be killed, and the city can be surrendered or lost from a thousand different catastrophes, which neither the most vigilant guard nor the most prudent ruler can prevent.
(3) In the business of improving the well-being of the family, which requires intelligence and time, but without the favor of providence, there will be no tangible results: “In vain do you get up early, stay late and deprive yourself of rest in pursuit of all the riches of the world.” Usually, an early riser does not stay up late, and a late-nighter cannot bring himself to get up early; but there are people who are so carried away by the world that they are not too lazy to get up early and stay up late, they deprive themselves of sleep for the sake of worldly concerns. But food brings them as little comfort as rest - they eat the bread of sorrow. Such was the sentence upon all of us, that we should eat our bread in the sweat of our brow, but these people go further: they eat in the dark all their days (Eccl. 5:16). They are constantly immersed in worries and do not find consolation for themselves, so that life becomes a heavy burden for them. And all in order to get money; and all in vain, unless the Lord helps them, for the prudent do not always have riches (Eccl. 9:11). The one who loves God and is loved by Him does not bother his head and manages perfectly well without this fuss. Solomon was named Jedidiah - Beloved of the Lord (2 Kings 12:25); he was promised a kingdom, so there was no need for Absalom to rise early and deceive the people; neither should Adonijah make a fuss and say, "I'll be king." Solomon is calm, and the Lord, who loved him, will grant him both a dream and a kingdom in addition. Note:
Excessive concern for worldly things is a futile and fruitless pursuit. If we have vanity, it wears us out, and we often wear ourselves out in vain (Hag. 1:6).
Sleep for the body is a gift from the Lord to His beloved. We owe God's goodness to peaceful (Ps. 4:9) and pleasant sleep (Jer. 31:25, 26). The Lord gives us sleep, as He grants it to His beloved, and together with sleep we gain the grace to fall asleep in the fear of God (our souls return to the Lord and find rest in him), and we awaken in order to be with Him again after the granted us sleep and rest with renewed vigor to serve the Almighty. To His Beloved He gives sleep, that is, peace and rest of the soul; we are content and glad with what we have, and calmly await what is to come. We should take care to keep ourselves in the love of God, and then we will not worry whether we have much or little in this world.
II. With an increase in the family. The psalmist shows:
(1) Children are God's gift (v. 3). If children are not born, then the Lord does not give them (Gen. 30:2), and if they are born, then the Most High will give them (Gen. 33:5). Children for us become what the Lord intended them to be - a comfort or a cross. Solomon, contrary to the law, multiplied the number of wives, but we will not read anywhere that he had more than one son, because he who wants to have children as an inheritance from the Lord must take the path of adding a family that is pleasing to God, that is, legally married with one wife. He desired to have offspring from God (Mal. 2:15). They will fornicate and not multiply. Children are an inheritance from the Lord and a reward, and so they should be treated - as a blessing, not a burden, for he who multiplies the number of mouths will take care of food for them, if we rely on him. Obed-Edom had eight sons, for the Lord blessed him for his diligent service at the ark of the Lord (1 Chr. 26:5). Children are an inheritance not only from the Lord, but also for the Lord. The Almighty says: “They are my children, whom you bore me” (Ezek. 16:20); and even more so, children are our consolation and honor, if the Lord considers them his offspring.
(2) Children are a good gift, good support and protection for the family: like arrows in the hand of a strong man who knows how to use them correctly for his own safety and advantage, so are young sons, sons of youth, born when parents were still young , are the strongest and healthiest children; they have grown up to serve their parents when they need it; most likely, we are talking about young sons; they become a good support for their parents and the family as a whole and can be considered to strengthen the family against enemies. A family with many children is like a quiver full of arrows of different sizes, all of which can come in handy at one time or another. Children with different inclinations and abilities can be useful to their families in different ways. A person who has numerous offspring can boldly speak with enemies at the gate. With so many helpers—so zealous, faithful, young, and energetic—he need not be afraid in battle (1 Sam. 2:4, 5). Here, note that young sons are like arrows in the hand, which, with prudence, can be directed directly to the target, to the glory of the Lord and to the service of their kind; but afterwards, when they leave the house and go out into the world, they cease to be arrows in the hand, and then it is too late to subdue them. But even those arrows in the hand often turn out to be arrows in the heart - a constant grief for their parents, they bring them to early gray hair and a sad death.