Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Psalms of Ascent Part 8

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. 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.
Psa 127:2 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.
Psa 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psa 127:4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Psa 127:5 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.

This Psalm begins by showing the futility of human endeavor. If God is not in whatever we are doing it is vain and will fail. Even if it appears to succeed in the light of eternity it will be a failure. We need to look beyond man and see the hand of God. When God has determined to judge a city all efforts of man will be defeated. In Isaiah 29:14 it says, “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” When the great San Francisco earthquake took place, one of the first casualties was the fire chief. This is one of the reasons why the response to the fire which occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake was ineffective. Unless the Lord keeps the city the watchman wakes in vain.

In the midst of troubles God provides rest for His own. God judged Sodom, but rescued Lot, and as Peter tells us, is able to preserve the righteous even as He judges the wicked. With that in mind we can rest and not worry.

The psalm then goes on to show how children are blessing which God gives. They reach areas that you never could go yourself, even as an arrow can reach somewhere that the archer could not himself. It is the young men, both naturally and spiritually, that are involved in the bulk of warfare. Inheritances are contested in the spirit and it is often the spiritual children who help fight the battles to enter into an inheritance.

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