July 6, 2020
For the next 15 days we will be reading through the Psalms of Ascent together as a church! The Psalms of Ascent are a collection of 15 psalms (Psalms 120-134) that pilgrims would sing on their way up to Jerusalem to worship. These songs are meant to instruct and prepare the hearts of the traveler to worship the Lord! As sojourners and aliens in this world, we too need to have our hearts prepared for and instructed in the worship of our God. Let’s meditate on these psalms and allow the Spirit of the Lord to move us to true worship as we seek Him together!
This psalm expresses the idea that, apart from the Lord’s providence, all human effort is in vain. The pilgrim worshipper reflects on the fact that, though His people are certainly required to be diligent in their work, they must also do it in faith. Apart from the Lord making our efforts useful and beneficial, all human effort is ultimately pointless.
Verse 2 paints a picture of a man working tirelessly and anxiously to establish his efforts, yet it is clear that all his efforts are vain because they are not done in faith. In contrast, the Lord gives rest to those He loves; to practice diligence in faith means to rest when rest is needed rather than anxiously toiling away, to trust in the Lord to provide for us instead of bending over backwards in our efforts to provide for ourselves. This is why God commanded the Sabbath for His people: to cease from work and rest for an entire day is an act of faith in God’s provision!
We need this reminder today as well. So many of us spend our time anxiously trying to prepare for every possible scenario. We work ourselves to death, worry ourselves to death, and labor and toil all in vain when the Lord is calling us to rest! He is calling us to trust that He is enough for us and that He will come through for us. We are called to diligence, yes, but diligence must never be divorced from faith!
Let’s give ourselves, our efforts, and our anxieties over to God, and rest in His provision and care for us. He is faithful and He will cause our efforts to bear fruit according to His purposes!
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 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.
2 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.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
5 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 Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- What are some ways that it is tempting for you not to trust in God’s provision and care, His sufficiency? How is the Lord calling you to rest in Him?
Dear Hravenly Father,
I am so guilty of working endlessly, toiling away, trying to save for what I was, taught, ” a rainy day”. Now that I find myself alone in my golden years, I feel the burden even more. I say that I have faith in You, Lord but am I really believing it? I question myself? Please help me to stop worrying so much and lay my burdens at Your feet. You have always been at my side and You say You will provide. I know You will. Please forgive me for having such little faith. Help my faith grow deeper each day. I want to praise You and give You the glory. I will keep saying, “God will provide ” and believe that You will take care of all of my tomorrows . In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dear Hravenly Father,
I am so guilty of working endlessly, toiling away, trying to save for what I was, taught, ” a rainy day”. Now that I find myself alone in my golden years, I feel the burden even more. I say that I have faith in You, Lord but am I really believing it? I question myself? Please help me to stop worrying so much and lay my burdens at Your feet. You have always been at my side and You say You will provide. I know You will. Please forgive me for having such little faith. Help my faith grow deeper each day. I want to praise You and give You the glory. I will keep saying, “God will provide ” and believe that You will take care of all of my tomorrows . In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amen. We must be reminded to give ourselves, our anxieties, and our efforts over to God on a daily basis. Our tolls are NOT in vain – they are for HIS glory.
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!
‘Its so sweet to trust in You Jesus…..just to take You as Your Word.
Oh Lord how compassionate You are to us. You tell us over and over in Your Word to not be anxious or worry and to trust in You and You alone. Knowing that I need to be reminded each and every day. For I fail each and every day to trust in You for everything. Thank you for Your compassion. Thank you for forgiving me for the nights I stay up worrying. Thank you for this reminder that You are our guard. You are our builder who paves our ways through life. Come Lord Jesus come. In Jesus Name Amen.
It is good to be reminded to REST in the Lord!!
We are blessed
on every hand
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Oh, Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
All my possessions and accomplishments are because of you Lord. Thank you for your generosity. Help me be diligent in being about my Father’s work, what builds the kingdom, but also help me rest in you and enjoy that kingdom that you are building through our efforts.
Jesus you tell us to rest in the Lord i know this all too well yet my anxiety still comes comes up. You have never left me nor forsaken me, you have been at my right side all the time. I pray every morning for the past year for this to leave my body because I know God you are in control of everything I love you so much.
Please Lord touch our brother in Christ, Luis Sauceda, who is fighting COVID in ICU. Luis and Angela have been such a wonderful example to our small group of how Lord you redeem us, you give us a chance to rebuild and restore. They both love you and their family – serving in our hospitals with their medical skills. Now dear Lord they are fighting for their physical lives. Please have mercy on them. Please touch Luis and strengthen him physically. Surround Angela with hope as she is ill at their house. I beg you dear Lord to cleanse our land of this virus, strengthen our people as they fight to keep others well with the work of their hands. Bless Luis and Angela – be honored by their servant attitude and taking care of others. Please restore their physical bodies to health!
I have prayed for Luis & Angela……..and will continue covering them with prayers of peace, grace and mercy right now!
Lord may healing hand be on Louis & Angela
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.
Lord please strengthen my faith daily. I am in much knee pain and can’t get through to my insurance company to find a doctor to go to. Please help me to have faith that you will help me be strong. Be with Angela and Louis now during these troubling times. I love you dear Lord. In Jesus name. Amen
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for the opportunity to be able to pray for Tanya Settle.
Please dear God relieve her from her knee pain. Please let the insurance open their phone lines so our sister in Christ can find a doctor to treat her. But Father please give her some needed comfort right now.
We Believe in your saving Grace.
Now Father, heal our land. We know your timing is not ours but dear God forgive us for our sins and have Mercy on this land.
We love you Lord. We Trust you Lord. We are resting in Your Word Lord.
Amen and Amen!!
I love this clear teaching–He is the One who matters, and not us. Whatever we are trying to accomplish, He must be in it, otherwise it will fail. Our present circumstances reveal just how dependent we are on Him, on His protection and His provision. And this is a healthy dependence because it forces us to acknowledge reality: He is sovereign, His ways are higher than our ways, and He does everything well! What a blessed privilege to place all our hopes, all our trust in Him!
Amen and Amen Norma Goldman.
Great words of wisdom learned over a lifetime of trust and obey.
I thank God for the Godly people that have been used in my life and have helped me to trust and obey every day.
This one really “hit” me today! Such a needed reminder that if I’m not working for You, to honor You, then what is it for??? Help me to do each task today, in Your name, no matter what it is! Help me to teach my kids to work for You and to rest in You, so as to not endlessly spin their wheels on fruitless endeavors.