SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). The Foundation of the home (127: 1-2)
(2). The way to view children in the home (127: 3-5).
(3). The importance of guiding children in the home (128: 1-2).
(4). The legacy when children depart the home (128: 4-6)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience.
• As she raised a glass of water,
• Everyone expected the old "half empty or half full" question.
• Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: "How heavy is this glass of water?"
• Well, people were keen to answer, and the answers ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
• When folks had all answered,
• Then the psychologist replied,
"The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
She continued,
"The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."
• TRANSITION: Family life can be stressful.
• We can all have the same size families, but our stress levels may differ considerably,
• These two Psalm will give us some good advice regarding family life,
• And maybe it will help reduce those stress levels as well!
Note:
• These two Psalms (127 & 128) fit together like a hand in a glove.
• Both of them have to do with living life in the home.
Just scan through over them and you will see that!
• Psalm 127 verse 1:
• Refers to building a house.
• Psalm 127 verse 3-5:
• Mentions children.
• Psalm 128 verse 3:
• Pictures a wife.
• Psalm 128 verse 3:
• Pictures a wife the home and children again.
• Psalm 128 verse 6:
• Even traces the progression of time to one’s grandchildren.
• And with that theme in mind I would suggest that Psalm 128 verse 6:
• Teaches or at least hints at a nation’s strength comes from a strong family unit.
• A crumbling family life is one of the signs of a crumbling culture.
(1). The Foundation of the home (127: 1-2)
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat –
for he grants sleep to a those he loves.”
ILL:
• If you are Scottish, you might recognise the words from verse 1,
• It is the motto of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland,
• It appears on the crest,
• And is affixed to the city's official documents.
• In Latin it says, 'Nisi Dominus frustra’
• Which means; "Without the Lord it is in vain".
• But sadly, how many in that city will be ignoring the advice this Psalm gives?
Note: There are two major ideas in these two verses:
• FIRST: The Lord must be central in our homes.
• SECOND: The Lord must be centre of our life and work.
FIRST: The Lord must be central in our homes.
• Twice the Psalmist uses the words, ‘Unless the Lord’
• That is his way of highlighting & underscoring that fact to us!
• Now obviously this is symbolic and not literal,
• God is not talking about a hammer and nails to build with,
• He is not talking about holding a weapon to guard and protect a city.
• The idea is clear and simple,
• God must be the foundation to any home, if that home is to stand firm.
• Foundations are always unseen but essential!
• He must be the trusted unseen guardian of a city,
• If that city wants to consider itself safe.
Notice Twice in these verses we have the words, ‘in vain’
• These verses point out the folly of building and guarding a home or a city,
• In our own strength alone.
• The folly of just relying on our own abilities & resources to get the job done.
• In fact, the words "in vain" appear first in the Hebrew text.
• Emphasising the emptiness of it all.
• "In vain they labour who build".
• "In vain the watchmen keeps awake".
Ill:
• A teenage girl was wearing the T-shirt that said:
• “I see your lips moving but all I hear is Blah, Blah, Blah”
• TRANSITION: You can work hard, you can buy expensive materials,
• You can consult with the very best in the building trade or security services.
• But if the Lord is not central, then it is all ‘Blah, Blah, Blah’ or in vain!
SECOND: The Lord must be centre of our life and work.
“In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat –
for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.”
• This verse reminds us we can work hard and work long hours.
• We work for a reward for an income to buy food and pay the bills.
iLL:
• A television interviewer once asked the Pope:
• "How many people worked at the Vatican?"
• He replied, "About half of them!"
NOTE:
• Verse 2: Is a picture of not just a worker, but a hard worker:
• He gets up early and goes to bed late.
• But after all that effort, surprisingly he only knows sorrow, not joy.
• All his hard work has been in vain,
• He may have pleased the boss, but he has not pleased the Lord!
NOTICE: the contrast in verse 2:
"in vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat
for he grants sleep to those he loves".
There is a contrast between working & resting:
• The psalmist says,
• When the Lord is the foundation to our lives.
• Not only is our hard work productive and useful,
• Be we also experience a good night’s sleep.
• Sleep is a gift from God,
• We wake up refreshed, after having had health-restoring, therapeutic sleep.
• And when we allow God to have his rightful place in our lives,
• We can actually sleep peaceably, because we are living life in God
• He gives us rest!
(2). The Children in the home (127: 3-5).
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate
ILL:
• A young minister, with very small children,
• Preached to his congregation on the theme,
• "10 ways to raise good and godly children ",
• Some years later, with his children entering their teens,
• He returned to his theme, but the same sermon was entitled:
• "10 suggestions for raising good and godly children".
• Several years later, with his children now in their late teens,
• The sermon got another airing, this time presented as,
• "Feeble hints for fellow strugglers"
• TRANSITION:
• The theme of these verses is the coming of children in the home.
• And the parent’s attitude towards them.
Note: The Psalmist then gives three titles to his children:
• (1). "Heritage" or "Gift" (vs 3).
• (2). "Reward" (vs 3).
• (3). "Arrows" (vs 4).
• (1). "Heritage" or "Gift" (vs 3).
• Hebrew word, "Property, possession...that which is shared or assigned".
• Children are the Lord's possessions and his property,
• Which he graciously assigns to us, he shares them with us the parents.
• We may talk about a surprise pregnancy or an accidental birth,
• But from God's viewpoint there is no such thing.
• And wise are the parents,
• Who acknowledge the fact that their child or children are a personal gift from God.
• (2). "Reward" (vs 3).
• The Hebrew word reward conveys the idea of pleasure,
• Something given as tangible proof of appreciation.
• Children should never be seen as a punishment from God,
• In fact, the opposite is true.
• Children are given to us to enrich our lives.
• (3). "Arrows" (vs 4).
• This time the word picture is that of a warrior with arrows in his hand.
• No ancient warrior would go out to battle with just one or two arrows,
• And only a foolish warrior in the middle of a battle would stop to make arrows,
• An ancient warrior would take a full quiver into battle,
• And he would use them by firing, directing them towards a target.
• The Bible makes it very clear:
• That parents are responsible for the direction of their children.
• A child is like an arrow, incapable of directing themselves.
• It is the basic responsibility of parents to instruct and guide,
• To direct the early lives of their children.
• Verse 5 may cause you to panic:
• "Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them ".
• Remember that in biblical days,
• Half the children born would not survive infancy and childhood.
• To have many children was a kind of insurance
• That a sufficient number would live long enough to perpetuate the family name.
NOW l AM GLAD TO say:
• Not everyone has the same sized quiver.
• In our day of contraception and medical skills.
• Most of us have the choice as to how many children we would like.
• And in our culture and society we go for smaller families as a rule.
• But regardless of numerical size
• The principles of building a family remain the same.
By concluding the Psalm in verse 5 the songwriter has gone full circle:
• Like the builder and the watchman,
• The children work for the family's welfare.
• And with God central to that family,
• It will be fruitful, meaningful and peaceful.
(3). The Children guided in the home (128: 1-2).
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in obedience to him.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labour;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
round your table”
We thought about children as arrows in our hands,
• That as parents we give them guidance,
• Verses 1-3 of Psalm 128 show us how we guide them.
• FIRST: In the fear of the Lord – Respect for God
• SECOND: Walk in his ways – Obedience to God.
• Notice: The end result is to be ‘blessed’ or “Happy many times over”
Ill:
• This means the parents must be pulling together,
• Or walking in the right direction.
• These psalms remind us of the folly for a Christian to marry a non-Christian.
• And a Christian should not just marry someone who claims to have a faith,
• They need to be pulling together or walking in the same direction.
Notice:
• The Psalmist then gives an illustration.
• “You shall eat of the fruit of your hands”
• You folks who have allotments or grow stuff in your garden or in grow bags.
• You know that if you plant a seed and water it and care for it,
• Then in time you will enjoy your reward (e.g. fresh tomatoes or cucumbers etc)
• TRANSITION: What is true in the world of gardening,
• Is also true in family life.
• Sow good seed (principles & values, water it with your prayers,
• “Blessings and prosperity will be yours”
• Your home will be marked out by the rewards of your efforts.
• It is not a guarantee,
• But as a general rule these principles will be true.
Notice verse 3 – it’s incredible!
• The Psalmist looked into the future and is describing my household!
• (Tongue-in-cheek of course)
• He pictures me at the dinner table gazing around at my family,
• He describes my wife as a ‘fruitful vine’
• He describes my children as a ‘olive plants’
• Notice these children are not called branches but plants.
• It seems to emphasize that each child is independent, unique.
• As parents we have to remember that,
• That although our children may resemble us in looks and mannerisms.
• Their path in life may be very different to the one we chose to take.
• As parents we are not to try and produce clones of ourselves!
• Rather we give spiritual guidance and instruction to produce men and women of God.
(4). The legacy when children depart the home (128: 4-6)
“Yes, this will be the blessing
for the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children’s children –
peace be on Israel”
In this final section the family picture is now complete:
• The children are trained, raised, and launched from the nest!
• The Psalmist them mentions three realms of blessing.
FIRST: Personal pleasure (vs 4).
“Yes, this will be the BLESSING (Happy many times over)
for the man who fears the Lord.”
ill:
• We all know the Bible verse and the principle,
• “What you sow, you will reap”
• What we invest in our children now, will determine what we reap in later years.
• e.g. Time.
• For busy career people, by all means work, and work hard, but get the balance!
• Remember that no-one’s last words were, “I wished I had spent more time in the office!”
• I heard someone say years ago these insightful words:
• “If we do not give our children time now, they will take it later on in life!”
• TRANSITION: But if we have sown well, we will reap well.
• And we will look at our children with pride and pleasure.
SECOND: Community benefits (vs 5).
“May the Lord bless you from Zion;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.”
• The Psalmist says Zion & Jerusalem will be favourable towards us.
• The point I think these verses are saying is,
• Your children will be used to make a dent in society for good.
• They will make a difference in the lives of those they encounter
• Because you made the effort to install those principles in them,
• (i.e. Biblical principles about valuing others and living righteously.)
THIRD: National blessing (vs 6)
“May you live to see your children’s children –
peace be on Israel””
• Now in this final verse grandchildren arrive on the scene.
• And as grandparents you witness a second-generation investment.
Ill:
• A grandmother was giving directions to her grown-up grandson,
• Who was coming to visit her with his new wife.
• The grandma said:
• “You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 14T.
• There is a big panel at the door.
• With your elbow push button 14T. I will buzz you in.
• Come inside, the elevator is on the right.
• Get in, and with your elbow hit 14.
• When you get-out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell.”
• The grandson said:
• “Grandma, that sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?”
• The Granma replied, “Surely, you’re not coming empty handed?”
• TRANSITION:
• Now in this final verse grandchildren arrive on the scene.
• And as grandparents you witness a second-generation investment.
• In other words, the principles and values you taught your children,
• You will see them through your children being passed on to your grandchildren.
Note:
• The blessings of this Psalm are traced out from the centre outwards,
• ill: Drop a pebble in a pond the ripples move outward from the centre.
• From the godly man, to his family, to his community and to his nation.
The way to get these blessings come from the principles found at the beginning of each Psalm.
• Psalm 127 verse 1: Make God your foundation!
• Psalm 128 verse 1: Make sure you fear the Lord and walk in his ways!
ill:
• It is visited each year by thousands of people,
• It is one of the great tourist attractions in the world,
• It stands 60 meters (196 feet) tall and is a work of beauty,
• The problem is the architect built it on 3 meters (10 feet) of foundations.
• The leaning tower of Pisa,
• Is externally impressive but was a disaster waiting to happen!
• And it has only survived to this day,
• Thanks to the knowledge and skill of many different experts.
• TRANSITION: Without Jesus Christ central to our lives,
• We too will be building on dodgy foundations.
ill:
• Jesus finished the greatest sermon ever preached,
• With a simple illustration that we think of as a kids talk!
• The Wise & Foolish builders. (Matthew chapter 7)
• If you want to catch a Christian congregation out ask them this question,
• Who is the wise man in this story and who is the foolish man?
• I can almost guarantee that someone will shout out,
• “The wise man is the person who asks Jesus Christ to be there saviour,
• And the foolish man doesn’t!”
• You can then reply, you are wrong!
• That might be an application of the parable but it is not what Jesus said!
• The wise man, “hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is”
• The foolish man, “hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice.”
• Even a Christian can build on the wrong foundation if all he/she does is knows the truth,
• But refuses to obey it!
Punchline: Are you wise or foolish?
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=VRhiKellCC6USTCX6FlUGFkmb3J32Ura
SERMON VIDEO:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ugFaL80v9nw
