THE PSALMS – A JOURNEY IN WORSHIP AND FAITH - December 19, 2014 - Day 127 - Psalm 127

One reason Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year is because for most of us it is a time that our families will gather around each other. For me it is one of those rare days when my house will again have all of my grown children together for a time. They will bring their children and we will all be together. This is God’s plan. But Christmas has a greater purpose. It is the time we remember that God has built a house and in it resides a family. God’s house and God’s family is the church. Without the birth of the Christ-child we could not be reunited with our Father in heaven. Psalm 127 reminds of how to build a home and what to fill it with.

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Notice there are three things listed that are vanity in the first two verses.

 
First of all it says “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” There is not one single thing you do in this life that will matter one bit unless you have done it by God’s power and in His will. Man has built many great buildings but one day they will fall. Man has invented many wonderful things but they all break, they all fall apart, and they all eventually rust or rot away. But the work of God is eternal.

Secondly, we read that “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” America boasts of the greatest army in the world. We have the most weapons with the most destructive power that watches over our nation. We have thousands of police officers patrolling our cities. Yet we do not have peace in the world. We have not stopped crime. Our children are abducted and killed. Illegal drugs continue to be sold. Even our computers are not safe. The only reason and I repeat, the only reason America still exists is because God has willed it thus far.

 
Thirdly it says “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil…” We worry about everything. Christians seems just as anxious as the unsaved. This is killing us. We should worry more about our worrying. Anxiety will wear you out and break you down. We rush everywhere to get nowhere. We get up early and we stay up late but we never seem to have enough time. So we drink energy drinks to fire us up during the day and then drink alcohol or take sleeping pills in the hopes we might sleep. This is vanity.

But the psalmist tells us the answer in the end of verse two. Why is this vanity? For he gives to his beloved sleep. If we will let God have all our worries and just trust in Him then we can rest and we can sleep. Do not go to bed anxious. Go to bed praying. Give your troubles to Jesus.

 Next the psalmist speaks about how to build your house correctly. Fill it with children and raise them up in His ways.

 
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

The destruction of the family is the root of all our troubles here in America. Christians divorce at the same rate as non-Christians. This should not be. I have never been one to trust others. But I believe if there is anyone you should be able to trust it should be your family.

 As we age we will find it harder to take care of ourselves. I remember how I had to help my dad in his final years as old age and sickness had weakened him. I would fight any enemy no matter how strong for my family. I depend on them when I need help.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. I did not do a very good job of building my “house”. I tried to do it my way. Now I look back and see that God had a better set of blueprints but I was too busy doing my own thing then. But now God and I are doing a rehab job on my “house.” Its hard work but it’s worth it. It’s not too late to get our houses up to code. Just open His Word and get on your knees and ask God to build your house. It is no coincidence that Jesus came as a carpenter. Call on Him today; He would love to do it.