Read Psalm 127:1-5 1Unless 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. 2It 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. 3Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5Blessed 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.
It’s amazing how, even after 3,000 years, the things that dominate man’s search for meaning haven’t changed. Building. Security. Family. Watch any holiday movie this season and you will see that family is the highest good in our culture. And no one can deny our preoccupation with toiling, building, and watching over what we’ve built.
This psalm was composed by Solomon, a king who literally built the house of God, but not before building his own much larger palace. A king whose excessive recklessness in marriage almost destroyed the family of God and the kingdom of God on Earth. Like almost everything with Solomon’s name attached to it, the writing does not match the living. What Solomon wrote did not take hold of his own heart.
In Christ alone, this psalm can take hold in our hearts when we realize that we are NOT the toilers, builders, and watchers. Jesus is! We are not the parents in God’s family, we are the children. The heritage.
Through Christ we are being built up into a holy temple. The Lord Jesus is building his house, and we are the living stones. The Lord Jesus is watching over the city, and we are that city of God. The city on a hill. His bride the New Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus has given the Father a quiver full of arrows. We are God’s children, the family of God. And Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters.
To live is Christ is to rest as the beloved of God, knowing that Jesus is toiling, building, watching and raising his family, his church, his temple home.
You: In what ways are you toiling to build what only Christ can build?
You in Christ: In what ways is it reassuring for you to know that Jesus is the builder, and you are the stone? He’s the parent, and you are the child?
Christ in you: If you are the stone and the child (not the builder and the parent) in what ways can you embrace this position of submission?
Pray: Jesus, when I make this psalm about me it becomes futile. But when I make it about you it becomes rest and peace. Amen.
To Live is Christ 