Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Where do you turn? Where do you turn when you feel like you don't have it in you, when you feel like you don't have the strength to carry on and do all the things you need to do?
The Songs of Ascents were sung by the people of God on the way up to Jerusalem (and while they longed for home in exile in Babylon). These heartcries emphasize the people's dependance on the LORD & their longing to dwell in His presence.
Psalm 127, A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon, speaks with the voice of wisdom:
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 (Psalm 127:1-2).
Unless. Unless the LORD builds... Unless the LORD watches (or keeps, cf. Psalm 121:3-8)... All our efforts are vain (empty, meaningless, gone like the wind).
Working hard is commended often in Scripture, while laziness is always foolish and sinful in God's sight (see Proverbs 15:19; 19:24; 24:30-34), but there is a kind of work that is of no value. Work that is done apart from God is described by Solomon as emptiness.
No matter how hard you labor, you cannot work against the plans of the Almighty God. No matter how hard we labor to build a home, a family, a nation, the church, you & I remain dependent on God to make something meaningful of what we have done.
The godly trust in God and so have rest. The Lord "gives to his beloved sleep" because they know their limitations and they lean on God to do what only He can. They experience rest in the midst of hard labors because they know & trust the LORD, who determines all things and works them for the everlasting good of His people and the glory of His name.
Church in Cardston,
- Are you running ahead without the Lord or turning to Him for strength and wisdom?
- Are you working to build God's kingdom trusting Him to make it stand or are you working to build your kingdom?
The answers to these questions will determine the trajectory of our steps in this weary life of exile on the path to the New Jerusalem, the House of God; whether we find life & refreshment for our souls in God or we find in the end that our works have vanished with the wind and we ourselves are lost.
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*The word "House" carries the concept not only of a physical home, but also the "house of God" (the Temple) and the "house of David," the line of the King. See 2 Samuel 7 for the LORD's promise to build David a house.
Grace & Peace be with you in Jesus our Lord,
Matt
Matthew Deneault
Pastor at Christ Community Fellowship
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