Labour of Grace

Psalm 127

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The most valuable things in life

are not earned by hard work

but given by God's grace

• The most valuable things in life cannot be earned by hard work
• we receive them by God's grace

1. Success and Security (v1)

2. Sleep (v2)

3. Sons / Daughters (v3-5)

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

The builders labor in vain

• projects / endeavours
  • edu, career
  • house: family, legacy
• worthless, false, deceptive
  • cf hebel (Eccl): breath, fleeting
• incl even proj for God: e.g. David

1 Chr 17:1 (NIV) (p.1/3)

After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet,

“Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

• project, do sth great for God
• what was God's response?

1 Chr 17:4,7 (NIV) (p.2/3)

You are not the one to build Me a house to dwell in.

[...] I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over My people Israel.

• God does not need my projects
• God is the one who has built us up
• like child "helping" in kitchen

1 Chr 17:10-11 (NIV) (p.3/3)

I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you:

I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.

• 12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
• not just Solomon, but Christ the Son of David
• our responsibility:
  • good + faithful servant
  • not foreman / director!

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

• security, fear
• money, educ as safety net
  • US: guns
• old/ill: how survive?

Mat 6:31-32 (NIV) (p.1/2)

So do not worry, saying,

‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Ps 37: do not fret, leads only to evil

Mat 6:33 (NIV) (p.2/2)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

What defines my success?

What is my source of security?

• success: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God

1. Success and Security (v1)

2. Sleep (v2)

3. Sons / Daughters (v3-5)

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat --

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

• rise for sake of being early
• tarry/delay sit
• bread of toil/suffering
• work orig good:
  • fruitful, fulfilling, fun
• but sin resulted in curse:

Genesis 3:17-38 (NIV)

Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

• Specific to Adam/man
• Not that toil is noble
  • result of curse
• what good is it to
  • work hard, save up
  • not enjoy it?
  • kids squander it?

Ecclesiastes 6:2 (NIV)

God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire,

but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead.

This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

• "grievous evil": result of curse from sin
• but work in the Lord is blessed:

Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

• Work (our job): fear God + obey commands
  • the whole of man
• Rest in God's abundant grace + providence

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NIV)

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much,

but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.

Do I view sleep as God's grace

or a necessary evil?

• Do I toil in my own strength,
  • or rest in God's grace?
• sleep + Sabbath as act of faith

1. Success and Security (v1)

2. Sleep (v2)

3. Sons / Daughters (v3-5)

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

Children are a heritage from the Lord

• heritage: inheritance
  • Heb: possession, not succession
• owned by God
• entrusted to our stewardship

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

• arrows: directed intent
• quiver full:
  • gift, not pursuit
  • every child a blessing

Proverbs 10:1 (NIV)

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

• not put to shame in court

Why does God give us children?

• Why have kids?
  • single: if/when have opportunity
  • kids: our choice?
• Close by reading Psalm 127 once again:
  • success + security
  • sleep
  • sons + daughters

Psalm 127:1 (NIV) (p.1/4)

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Psalm 127:2 (NIV) (p.2/4)

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat --

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Psalm 127:3-4 (NIV) (p.3/4)

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.

Psalm 127:5 (NIV) (p.4/4)

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.