Each post is unique like its author. Log In. Benjamin Franklin quoted these opening words of Psalm 127 in … Is it good to work? You can be the very best automobile driver and still be involved in a fatal accident just one hour from now. There was a time when a large family was always considered a blessing of the Lord. Children are a heritage from the Lord, arrows in the hand of a warrior, and they bring honor and not shame. Daily Devotional: Psalms 127:1-5. All too often, in spite of our labor, money never seems to stretch far enough. See more of West Highland Church on Facebook. Unfortunately, the attitude expressed in verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 127 is very common today. What are the important things in life to us? How will a city survive, if there are no watchmen and no men to defend it? Release some tension with each breath. Lord, life me up and let me standBy faith on heaven's table-land,A higher plane than I have foundLord, plant my feet on higher ground. John Piper Mar 13, 2018 1K Shares Sermon. Not us. Psalm 127:1: “Unless the LORD builds the house, / They labor in vain who build it; / Unless the LORD guards the city, / The watchman stays awake in vain.” November 7th, 2017 by Pastor Ed in devotional. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Psalm 127 - NIV: Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. A preference for material wealth and a convenient lifestyle has trumped the kingdom of God and His righteousness in the minds of many Western Christians. What is one of the best tests of true faith? When brothers are bound together by blood and by Christ, there is a special strength and courage that forms against the enemy: the world, the flesh, and the devil. This reminds me of a hymn: Higher Ground; the words of the chorus are printed below. They would unite their voices in joyful praise, as they journeyed to attend one of the three pilgrim festivals. The Book of Psalms presents the Christian life in vivid color. Create New Account. Any lapse, spiritual or practical, could produce dire consequences. What does the Bible say about this? Today Pastor Kyle reminds us to constantly put God before us in everything we do. So let us trust in God. Psalm 127 is one such pilgrim psalm, which is attributed to Solomon and uses everyday activities, such as house building, civil defence, manual employment and the rearing of a family, to proclaim their dependence on God. 1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. What does our relationship with God look like? Let us believe that He will work all things for good, because He truly has “the whole wide world in His hands.”. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. They are not the property of a state or country, but a gift from God to the parents. MORNING. have about our ministry. All is vain if the Lord’s hand is not in it. While there is no mandate for a family to have “as many children as possible,” or “adopt as many children as possible,” Christian parents ought to receive children into their families as God’s good gifts. Heavenly Father, thank You for the benefits of a good night's sleep, but thank You also for the day by day provision of the gifts and graces, that are ours in Christ - and which are even poured out on us during the night-time hours. Psalm 127 devotional. Scripture: Psalm 127:1–2. Our focus diverts from our children to ourselves. Two main themes are presented: There is no hope for the house or city unless it is built by the Lord, and children are a reward from God. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. When a person comes to think, “everything depends on me,” he will soon find that he cannot rest well. Press alt + / to open this menu. Psalm 127, A Song of Ascents, of Solomon by Matt Slick "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. Pray today that by God's grace, as reminded in Psalm 127, you will live above the clouds on a higher plane, and that your focus and attitudes toward your life and family will be those taught in God's Word rather than those reflected in today's culture. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. The vision of Generations (formerly Generations with Vision) is This video is unavailable. Mya shares what God has been teaching her through her time in Psalm 127! Children are God's gifts to parents, and are given to them to raise and nurture for the Lord. May God give us children who are dangerous to the enemy, and useful to the King of kings who must reign until all of His enemies are under His footstool! How does this Psalm speak of the Sovereignty of God? This of course implies that the children have grown up to respect their … Our years in this life are really very few; what is the greatest thing we can do while we are here to benefit future generations? 3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. These verses reveal more of the blessings that come with children. His hand is active in a thousand different ways. Log In. A skilled and powerful warrior does well when he is armed with plenty of ammunition, arrows, and grenades. discipleship resources, the Christian Curriculum Project, and Browse Sermons on Psalm 127:3-5. you rest your life upon Christ and by His grace live in obedience to His Word, your house will not stand. 2. Why do we work; what do we work for; what do we rest upon? Devotional Reflections on Psalm 127 Before reading the passage, grab a pen and paper, find a quiet place, take a few deep breaths and let them out slowly. Of course, the Lord does not build the house with hammers or keep the city with guns and surface-to-air missiles. There is so much we cannot control about our family, our children, and our nation. How do these two topics relate? Read the verse for your self and meditate on it. This is an important test as to whether or not we really do believe that God retains absolute control over all things. © Copyright 2008 - 2020 Generations. How are we to think about our children? Most people will say that a father and a mother build the house, and soldiers defend the city or country. Related Videos. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you In some cases, our children will take leadership in the gates as pastors or civil leaders. Does our family rest in God’s sovereignty, or are we more inclined to rely on our own efforts as we build our home? Psalms 127 and 128. Of course, the Lord does not build the house with hammers or keep the city with guns and surface-to-air missiles. The workaholic pursues his career at the expense of his family. Peace and happiness. What happens to us when we focus on achieving wealth and fame rather than on our children? Who will watch over all of his responsibilities while he sleeps? Yes, of course. The key here, however, is to think deeper than that. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. discipleship events and retreats. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. However, there is this statement of indicative truth: Children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Unless the LORD protects a … CONCLUSION: Psalm 127 is a beautiful psalm that teaches us to rest in God’s blessing at work and at home. Given that God builds the house, we had better look to God for His work in our homes and churches. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Daily devotional with John Piper. All that we need comes from God: the house that brings us protection; the city that gives us security and stability; the food and daily provisions we need to sustain life; the children who support and protect us in our old age. We have no control over which children will apostatize and which will not. As I labor away, well into my fifth year of writing this devotional, Psalm 127:1 comes frequently to mind. Reading from Psalm 127, I'll address whether striving is negative or positive. Remember, Christ is robbing the rich man’s house and building His own kingdom. More Devotions on the 126th Psalm from my blog, ... linda@devotional-reflections-from-the-Bible.com ©2006-2020 Croft Enterprises. “On this rock,” says Jesus, “I will build My church.” Peter doesn’t build the church, and neither do we. Email or Phone: Password: Forgot account? Watch Queue Queue If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. Psalm 127:1(ESV) Verse Thoughts Whether running a home or building a house, working at a factory or supporting a ministry there is one vital principal that is all-embracing, all our undertakings require a total dependence upon God, without which all efforts will be frustrated, and … Parents enjoy your children, love your children, and above all, raise them to love and fear God. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. In this capacity, they exhibit even more courage when they take on the antithesis. ... Psalm 127:1–2. 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. How do we build our "house"? This, however, is not the way many see it. And when we look at our children, we are reminded that God has given us these gifts. Next: Psalm 127 - Above the Clouds. Just take a look around you and you will see that the answer is obvious. Thanks a lot. Truly it summarizes the real difference between the true Christian and non-Christian. Psalm 127 Devotional. Do armies guard our country, or does God guard our country? 1. family, discipleship, and education. Why do you think this is true? to pass on the faith to the next generation through the biblical Don’t you know he enjoys. Next: Psalm 128 - Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord. The Lord builds His church. Teach them the truths of the Word; go to church with them so that you may worship God together as a family. Children raised in the covenant home become useful in the hands of Christ. Don’t Eat the Bread of Anxious Toil Summer Psalms. 2. The devil has placed his own people in decision making places in america. Robert Fudge 09/08/17 - Devotionals. Who builds the house and who defends the city from marauders? These battles are fought in the universities, the churches, the media, and in the publishing industry. Which of these are good and godly motives, and which are ungodly motives? One of the best tests of faith is found in sleeping. How do we change that? In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. Ps 127:1-5 . Whether running a home or building a house, working at a factory or supporting a ministry there is one vital principal that is all-embracing, all our undertakings require a total dependence upon God, without which all efforts will be frustrated, and all activities will be rendered unsuccessful. 10:4, 5). or. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. But if He chooses not to protect the city or bless our covenant households, then all of our work is vain. 2 Responses to Bible Daily Devotional – Psalm 127 – How to build a house. Psalm 127 is one of the most practical passages in the Bible. All rights reserved. 1. A song of ascents. The gates represent the place of leadership (whether in church or state). 1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. We spend our lives getting up early and working into the wee hours of the morning to get the things that are important to us. Psalm 127:1. We can fail at a thousand points. God alone is the Ruler of the World; He alone is able to be our Rock and Stability and will keep our house from falling. Troubles with sleeping oftentimes are connected to weakness in faith. Watch Queue Queue. Psalm 127:2(NASB) Verse Thoughts Every Psalm contains its own special truth, and this song, which is credited to Solomon, reminds us that it is the Lord, Who blesses our daily lives; our domestic duties; our business opportunities and our various labours. As we are reminded in Psalm 127, we are called from God to live above the clouds, not on the plane of this world. 4. We are recipients of the kindnesses of God and we are happy. When we gather together, let us remember that it is the Lord that has assembled these living stones. B1 What does this mean? The two areas are those of our work and our family.In our “workaholic” society Christian men often have misplaced priorities with respect to these responsibilities. Christian churches that see the average birth rate within their communities falling from 3.0 to 1.5 ought to be concerned that God may be withholding His blessings. 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