Sunday, 5 February 2017

Psalm 127 - God protects what belongs to Him

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Psalm 127:1-2 "(Song of Ascent for Solomon) Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep." NKJV

If the Lord does not build the house, they labor in "vain". The Hebrew word for "vain" in Hebrew here is Shav. What is "vain" anyway? This same word is translated on other places as empty, false visions, and worthless. The Bible is teaching us here that without God we are working under a false and worthless vision.

The last part of the verse teaches us further that without God protecting our city, the watchman lies awake under that same false and worthless vision. That same word, Shav, meaning "false and worthless" begins verse 2. Only here it is not a vision that is false and worthless, but a person. One who wakes up early and stays up late, only to eat the bread of Etzev (pain, hurt, toil).

The verse ends with the phrase "to those He loves, He gives sleep". We sleep while God protects us and our city.

We thank you, Lord, that it is not on us, but You, Yourself, who protects what belongs to You. In Yeshua's name. Amen.