Psalm 127

• Their job was to be look-outs, to warn the people of any possible enemies attack.

• They played a vital role in defending a city,

• They were key people in protecting the people from danger.

• But there ability to defend a city was limited.

• Even if they played their part well, the city could still be conquered.

iLL:

• The Great Wall of China is the only man made structure that can be seen on the moon .

• It is 3,460 kilometres long and was built over a period of 2,000 years.

• It was built so high that nobody could climb over it,

• And so thick that nobody could break it down.

• Yet during the first 100 years of the walls existence,

• China was invaded three times.

• Not once did the enemy break down the wall or climb over it,

• Each time their enemies bribed the gatekeeper and they just marched on through.

These verses:

• Point out the folly of guarding, or trying to protect a city in our own strength alone,

• The folly of just relying on our own abilities & resources to get the job done.

This Psalm says there is a better way to protect a city, to protect a family, to protect a marriage:

• Not self-confidence and not self-reliance,

• It is folly to merely depend on our own gifts and talents.

• But instead the psalmist tells us to trust and depend on the Lord.

• He (The Lord) must be the ultimate source of our security.

If he is not than everything that's done will be "In vain":

• 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".

(c): Working for a reward (verse 2).

• The third illustration in this first section;

• Is somebody working for income and food.

iLL:

A television interviewer once asked the Pope:

• "How many people worked at the Vatican?"

• He replied; "About half of them!"

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!

NOTE:

• Hard work is commended in the Bible and laziness condemned,

• But hard work should never be at the expense of our key relationships.

• QUOTE:

• "Nobodies dying words where, I wished I had spent longer at the office".

ILL:

Christians have priorities:

• (1st). To the Lord - work each day on this relationship.

• (2nd). Their family - to each other and then to your children.

• (3rd). To the Lord's calling on our lives;

• Involves our local church fellowship, our workplace (job is a calling) & our home.

This Psalm is teaching us:

• Working long hours and being busy at work,

• Can never replace your allegiance to the Lord and his presence in your home.

• And the rewards of hard work; i.e. money and things cannot replace Christ in a life.