Unless The LORD Builds The House
Devotional
Companion to the Psalter
A Devotional Guide to the Psalms
Object:
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
-- Psalm 127:2
Theme: A family needs God's blessing
Outline
1-2 -- Without God, anxious toil is futile. God gives peace and rest to those who count on his love.
3-4 -- A family is one of God's rich blessings.
Notes
• Wisdom
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• The title says "Of Solomon," perhaps meaning "in the style and spirit of Solomon," with similarities to the book of Proverbs. It reflects the circumstances of Nehemiah's time, where there was much house-building. The first chapter of Haggai provides an interesting background for the message of the psalm.
• "Enemies in the gate" -- the city gate was where the Justice of the Peace held court, and citizens met for business and legal issues. There an enemy might parley before engaging in battle.
• Families in which greed, selfishness, fear, and jealousy are unchecked by covenant loyalty will fail. Those with the Lord can experience peace and rest, his gift.
For Reflection
• Charles Spurgeon writes: "Ours is not a life of anxious care, but of happy faith. Our heavenly Father will supply the wants of His own children, and He knoweth what we have need of before we ask Him. We may therefore go to our beds at the proper hour, and not wear ourselves out by sitting up late to plot, and plan, and contrive. If we have learned to rely upon our God we shall not lie awake with fear gnawing at our hearts; but we shall leave our care with the Lord, our meditation of Him shall be sweet, and He will give us refreshing sleep."1
Prayer
Lord God, you have given us good reason to rest in you. You gave us Jesus, through whom we have peace with you. We rejoice in our hope of sharing your glory. Give us faith to realize that, having dealt with our greatest need with such extravagant love, you can deal with our lesser ones, too, in ways that keep us with you unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1987), p. 184.
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
-- Psalm 127:2
Theme: A family needs God's blessing
Outline
1-2 -- Without God, anxious toil is futile. God gives peace and rest to those who count on his love.
3-4 -- A family is one of God's rich blessings.
Notes
• Wisdom
• One of the Song of Ascents (Psalms 120-134).
• The title says "Of Solomon," perhaps meaning "in the style and spirit of Solomon," with similarities to the book of Proverbs. It reflects the circumstances of Nehemiah's time, where there was much house-building. The first chapter of Haggai provides an interesting background for the message of the psalm.
• "Enemies in the gate" -- the city gate was where the Justice of the Peace held court, and citizens met for business and legal issues. There an enemy might parley before engaging in battle.
• Families in which greed, selfishness, fear, and jealousy are unchecked by covenant loyalty will fail. Those with the Lord can experience peace and rest, his gift.
For Reflection
• Charles Spurgeon writes: "Ours is not a life of anxious care, but of happy faith. Our heavenly Father will supply the wants of His own children, and He knoweth what we have need of before we ask Him. We may therefore go to our beds at the proper hour, and not wear ourselves out by sitting up late to plot, and plan, and contrive. If we have learned to rely upon our God we shall not lie awake with fear gnawing at our hearts; but we shall leave our care with the Lord, our meditation of Him shall be sweet, and He will give us refreshing sleep."1
Prayer
Lord God, you have given us good reason to rest in you. You gave us Jesus, through whom we have peace with you. We rejoice in our hope of sharing your glory. Give us faith to realize that, having dealt with our greatest need with such extravagant love, you can deal with our lesser ones, too, in ways that keep us with you unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
____________
1. Charles Spurgeon, Faith's Checkbook (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1987), p. 184.
