Psalm 127 & 1 Chronicles 29:1-9. Building House and Home
1. The Sense of Vanity 1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
Working in Vain (127:1a)
(a) David's Motto Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
(b) Solomon's Mission Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
1 Chron 28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
Like the tabernacle before it, the temple was to be built to divine specifications.
When Solomon began to build the house he had no lack of materials; David had provided.
Then Solomon set to work, he drafted thirty thousand Hebrews and sent them to Lebanon,
ten thousand at a time, to cut wood.
(c) Hezekiah's Mandate Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: (On rebuilding the Temple)
(d) Bible's Mantra Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The truth applies to every local church and assembly, to every effort made down here to build God's house, that great "habitation of God through the Spirit."
It is not going to be built by super-programs, by slick advertising, by TV commercials;
it is not going to be built by oratory in the pulpit or by excellence in the choir;
it is not going to be built by high-pressure evangelism, by vast sums of money.
It is going to be built by the Holy Spirit, by Christ living in and through believers.
Watching in Vain (1b) except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
The people of Jerusalem believed their city, sheltered by mountains and hills, to be invincible.
(a) The Canaanites couldn't take it.
(b) The Egyptians couldn't take it.
(c) The Mighty Assyrians were now at the gate (A World Power)
"Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."
Living In a Day Of :-
Prayerlessness, - the place of prayer neglected
Carelessness, - the Bible's authority set aside
Powerlessness - the daily quiet time allowed to decay.
Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Jesus had come from his transfiguration (The Presence Of God)
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
So Samson fell, so David fell, so Peter fell. So may you and I fall.
A. We must pray for God's Presence
B. We must pray for God's Power
C. We must pray for God's Protection
D. We must pray for God's Provision
E. We must pray for God's Pre-eminence - Thy Kingdom Come.
Worrying in Vain 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.
(a) Worry is an Exacting thing: "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late."
(b) It is an Excruciating thing: "It is vain... to eat the bread of sorrows."
(c) It is an Exhausting thing: "For so He giveth His beloved sleep."
The situation in Hezekiah's day, The Assyrians were at the gates.
Sleep is one of God's great gifts. Thus Jesus could sleep amid the storm.
Thus Peter could sleep in Herod's prison, knowing that the warrant of his execution had been signed and that he was destined to meet the headsman the next day.
Rather it is "He giveth to His beloved in sleep."
So it was with Daniel, when knowing that next morning he must tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream, or perish. He simply went to bed and went to sleep, and God gave to His beloved while he slept.
So too He gave to Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15),
to Adam (Genesis 2:21-22),
to Jacob Gen 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
So too he gave to John Bunyan. in Bedford jail
As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a den; and I laid me down to sleep: and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed and behold I saw a man clothed with rags standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.
Thus begins the immortal Pilgrim's Progress
2. The Sense of Values 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
Children are:
(a) Our Heritage (3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:
F. W. Boreham said, "When God sees that in this poor old world a wrong needs righting or a truth needs preaching, or a benefit needs inventing—He sends a baby into the world to do it." Which is why, nearly two thousand years ago, He sent a Child to be born at Bethlehem.
(b) Our Helpers (4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
They demand attention and direction or they could go wrong (arrows are lethal weapons)
can be used for good or ill.
It is significant that arrows are likened to children.
The flight, direction and effect of an arrow depend on the way that arrow is
produced, polished, pointed and poised.
The tragedy is that so many arrows leave our homes today dipped in poison.
Williams sisters inspired by their father, who learned to play tennis from watching videos.
(c) Our Happiness (5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
3. The Sense of Victory
they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
A. The Boldness in their Speech - speaking the word. - they shall not be ashamed,
B. The Blessedness in their Stance - but they shall speak with the enemies.
C The Basis of their Service. - in the gate.
