1 PSALM 127 How to Build Your House and Home THESIS: Real religion = resting in God Psalm 120-134:

Trouble 120-Prayer The Songs of Degrees 123-Defense Steps to Spiritual 126-Fellowship Growth 129-Salvation
132-Rest

Trust
121-Expectation 124-Deliverance 127-Established 130-Patience 133-Unity

Triumph
122-Rejoicing 125-Security 128-Fruit 131-Hope 134-Blessing

Ps 127 is central in the songs of degrees Title: probably written by David for his son Solomon, who was both a builder and father Solomon wrote a whole book on vanity (Eccl) The Clark Sisters asked Is My Living in Vain? Life is vain except for 4 privileges of purpose God gives us as his people: 1. to build (1a) 2. to guard (1b) 3. to enjoy (2) 4. to conserve (3-5) Here are 3 things that are a waste of time if you dont get God involved: working, watching & worrying. watch! I. THE FOUNDATION OF A SUCCESSFUL HOME: KNOWING WHAT IS VAIN, 1-2 Three things are a complete waste of time unless God is recognized: A. What Is a Necessity, 1 1. Working is vain unless God is the builder, 1a

2 V1a When Solomon started building the Jewish temple he had no lack of materials All that wealth couple provide, all that skill could devise & all that zeal could do went into the building of Gods house Yet David was to say to Solomon: building for a family unit is vain if God is not in the house This truth still applies to your house & mine, bc some adults go thru their life just tearing things up! Labor = work ones self weary Jesus was a carpenter & Paul was a tentmakerboth related to construction Churches are not built by great programs & choirs Churches are built by the Lord being in them Your life is built by the HS as Christ lives in you A 2nd thing is necessary, but still can be done in vain: 2. Watching is vain unless God is the keeper, 1b There is no reason to build if you are not going to protect Neh teaches us building & battling go together in our age Neh 4:17-18 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. Keep = to guard (a collection of houses is a city) Your real defense is in God If God abandons your house what good is the policeman? This is the song our choirs need to be singing! Is your living in vain?

V1b

3 Is my living in vain? Is my giving in vain? Is my praying in vain? Is my fasting in vain? Am I wasting my time? Can the clock be rewind? Have I let my light shine? Have I made ninety-nine? No, of course not; it's not all in vain No, no Lord, no, 'cause up the road is eternal gain Is my playing the organ in vain? Is my labor in vain? Is my singing in vain? Is my speaking, is it in vain? No, of course not; it's not all in vain Up the road is eternal gain Elbernita Clark Vain also trans. guilt, calamity, falsehood We cannot right the good fight of faith in our own power What are your lines of defense (basic:) 1. A place of prayer 2. The authority of the Bible 3. Keeping Christ at the center 4. Reliance on the HS Have you got hose things? Samson fell. David fell. Peter denied the Lord. We will do the same if we do not build our home in God Now we moves from homes & cities to you individually V 1 = a caution against overconfidence V 2 = a warning against worry and anxiety Not that we should not act, but that we must not act independently of God B. What Is Needless, 2 3. Worrying is vain if God is not the rewarder

4 V2 How many of you worry a lot? David points out 3 things just for you: 1. It is exactingyou rise up early & sit up late *If a situation is beyond your control it is beyond your worry Once we let worry in it nags us 2. It is excruciatingeat the bread of sorrows A person in the grip of worry is in torment 3. It is exhaustinghe giveth his beloved sleep Solution = placing our total trust in the Lord, so *Every call to worry is a call to increase your faith in God to provide All worry does is decrease your ability to cope Eccl 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Many times we look back after a day of work and second-guess, forgetting that our God never sleeps nor slumbers Wait! this means he can make-up for your mess-ups while you sleep! Illus: Spurgeon preached in sleep Sat & his wife recorded it Work while it is day (John 9:4); when night comes rest So doing Gods will is nourishment, not punishment P.S. beloved = Solomons name, Jedediah 2 Sam. 12:25 25And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD. In NOT, all Gods people are called beloved! Did you ever comfort a crying child? So God does to us b/c he loves us Are you letting him love you like that? Thus Jesus could sleep in the storm Thus Peter could sleep in Herods prison We get weary in Gods work, but not of Gods work, bc the same God who gives his beloved strength also gives them sleep Sleep may substitute for many things, but nothing substitutes for sleep! The 2nd half of the Psalm moves from building the house to raising the babies born in them

5 II. THE FRUIT OF A SUCCESSFUL HOME: KNOWING WHAT TO VALUE, 3-5 A. That Parents Are Honored, 3-4 1. They are our heritage, 3 V3 Not everyone is supposed toget nmarried, and not all couples will have children, but all adults have to value our children, pray for them, be examples of the Lord to them, see they are protected, cared for, encouraged and taught in spiritual things Suppose the parents of Moses said, Pharaoh has commanded abortion. We are living in a ghetto. It is a burden to have children. Then there would never have been a Moses! *When God sends a baby it is b/c he has some purpose (Im not talking bout kids you dont have, but the ones you do have) Children are also: 2. They are our helpers, 4 V4 Ie arrows he intends to use You need to be asking God how he intends to use your children & giving them that hope We ALL grew up with youll never be nothing Since it was wrong, lets dont pass it on Cf key thot Children who turn out well are not the product of confusion *Children go the way you aim them As arrows, they will either shoot you, or shoot your enemies! Finally, children are: B. That Parents Are Helped, 5 3. This is our happiness V5 Happy = blessed (an OT beatitude) Our children grow up to become our defenders Illus: Bonanza, Ponderosa, Mr. Cartwright, Little Joe, Hoss

6 4 aspects of life fail when God is excluded Do not act independently of God in these 1. Social: house is not built, 1a 2. Civic: city is not guarded, 1b 3. Business: worker is not refreshed, 2 4. Home: family is not blessed, 3-5 Notes: Key Thot: Before you are mighty enough to direct your children (arrows, v 4), you have to discipline yourself Cross-References: Prov. 10:22 22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. 2 Sam. 12:25 25And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.