The last three verses of the Psalm speak about children. The reason for this is that the Lord wants us to realise
that there is fruitfulness when the Lord is in the work. When you are involved in the Lord's work, it is not a matter
of burdens, worry and anxiety, but of fruitfulness and blessing.
Children are a heritage from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. They are like arrows. The man
who has his quiver full of them is a happy man. Spiritually speaking this is true too, for when we see others
coming to that new birth as they put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, born again of the Spirit, becoming
children of God, then we rejoice. It is wonderful to see. It is a great blessing. Such children are a heritage.
What you inherit, you have not worked for. It was not earned. Those who have become part of the family
of God did nothing to deserve it. When we see God's grace being manifested as people are born again, as
they become children of God, it is wonderful. It is an inheritance from the Lord.
However, it says also that they are the fruit of the womb; they are a reward from the Lord. The fruit of the womb
points us back to the time before birth occurred. Birth does not occur unexpectedly. A period of growth, which
began at conception, has been taking place. Similarly, there is such a period leading up to the new birth. The
seed of the Word is sown in the heart. There is a time of growth; there is a time of struggle and labour; then
there is the birth. After the labour, the birth of the child is a joyous time of reward. In this, we, as workers together
with God, see this glorious fruit of the new birth as a fantastic reward. This is not a reward of a pat on the back or
anything that would elevate self and pride, but the reward of seeing the fruit of our labour in the Lord. Does the
Word of God not assure us that our labour in the Lord is not in vain? (I Corinthians 15 v 58)
The Psalm begins by telling us that if we build and work without the Lord, then it is in vain. But here, at the end of
the Psalm, where we discover the blessing and reward of God, we learn that when we abound in the work of the
Lord always, such work is never in vain. Hallelujah!
Children are like arrows in the quiver. Arrows are special. Each one is carefully shaped so that it will fly true. Its
shaft must be straight, its flights well balanced and its head sharp, otherwise it will not fly accurately or strike its
target. When we see people being born again, entering the kingdom as children of God, we do not want to leave
them as mere babes. We are working together in the process of building up each other, of building up the
people of God, of warning and directing. We want to see these new converts being made into true disciples of
the Lord Jesus Christ, that they may be useful in the Lord's work, that they too may go out and reach others for
Him.
There are three weapons in the Scripture which remind us of the work of God. There is the sword which is used
in close combat; then there is the spear which can be thrown a fair distance; finally there is the arrow which can
be shot over a very long distance, so that the word of God can reach to the ends of the earth. Do we not desire
to see people going out, full of the Holy Spirit, to serve God? Do parents not feel proud when their children grow
up and it is evident that they have been brought up well? They are straight and true. They know where they are
going. Is it not the case also spiritually? We are not content just to see people being born again. We want to
see them being formed for the Lord's use. Ready like arrows to fly out into enemy territory to effect God's work.
The Psalm, of course, refers to their being like arrows in the hand of a mighty man. Well, of course, that mighty
man is our Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them. My desire,
and I am sure that it is your desire too, is to see our assembly full of "arrows" - those who have been formed and
disciplined, straight and true, fully conformed to the will of the Lord and who are now ready to speed on any and
every mission that the Lord gives them to do.
Such people will not be ashamed. Paul exhorted Timothy to study to show himself approved, a workman that
needs not to be ashamed. They will speak with the enemies in the gate, ensuring that God's standards are
applied within (for the gate was the place of justice) and that no enemy could gain entrance from without.