Psalms 127:1-2
“A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
There are things in life that most people desire such as a good family life, protection from violence, success in their work, victory when there is war, worship that pleases God, and churches that flourish and grow. -- For such things people expend much time and energy to attain. Yet our effort alone will not ensure that we obtain such things.... Consider what is written in Psa 127:1-2 where the keynote is the word “vain” (used three times). Solomon’s theme is “that human enterprises only succeeds by the divine blessing” (JFB) -- Not all labor succeeds; there is “the labor that fails”.
In the Psalm, several examples are provided; elsewhere in the Scriptures we have other examples when not all labor is successful. Let’s first consider the examples in the Psalm, such as in our families. Good homes are certainly desirable. There are blessings to being part of a large family. There is nothing wrong with desiring such. However, good homes require God’s blessings. In Psa 127:1, the word “house” may refer to the temple, but the context suggests it refers to the home or family. A large family is indeed a blessing from God - Psa 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Not to imply that a small family or no family is a curse. For there may be times when it is God’s will that one be single or have a small family - 1 Co 7:7,32-35. Yet without God’s involvement, our effort will fail. It is necessary that we invoke God’s blessings our efforts. This also involves not putting family over God! - Mt 10:37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”; 22:37 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” If we put family before God, then our labor regarding our family will ultimately fail!
The principle also applies in our security. Protection from violence is desirable, which is why cities had walls, with watchmen standing guard. Providing security is part of providing for one’s family - 1 Ti 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” True security requires God’s protection. Unless God is our guard, efforts to protect are vain - Psa 127:1b “Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” While providing locked doors and security systems, don’t leave out God! - Psa 121:1-8 “A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Any labor to provide security without looking to God for help will fail.
Solomon then applies the principle in our work. God would have us to work with our hands. To walk properly toward those who are outside - 1 Th 4:11,12 “and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” To provide for those less fortunate than us - Ep 4:28 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” True success requires God’s favor despite efforts to work long and hard - Psa 127:2 “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” Our efforts will be little more than gathering and collecting for others - Ecc 2:26 “For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” We must therefore not put our jobs before God! - Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If we want to succeed in business (where we can enjoy the fruits of our labor), then seek to succeed with God first! Otherwise our labor is in vain.
Now let’s see how the principle of this Psalm is applied elsewhere... In our battles; when war is inevitable, victory is desirable especially when attacked by evil aggressors. Governments therefore build armies and weapons to defend themselves. However, victory does not depend upon might alone, nor does preparation alone guarantee success in battle - Pro 21:31 “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.” Armies and weapons are not sufficient to ensure victory - Psa 33:16-17 “The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.” We must also look to the Lord as our help and our shield - Psa 33:18-22 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” Many greater nations have fallen in the day of battle because of their arrogance and pride. A nation cannot hope for victory unless God wills it.
Now let’s apply the principle to more spiritual themes, as in our worship. God desires that we worship Him. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well - Jn 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” It is our duty that we proclaim His praises - 1 Pe 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” But not all worship is acceptable. There is worship that is an abomination - Pro 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.” There is vain worship, based on commandments of men - Mt 15:9 “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'" Such worship is labor that fails to please God.
Finally, consider the principle as it applies in our congregation. We are encouraged to labor for the Lord. A labor that is not in vain - 1 Co 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” A labor that God will not forget - He 6:10 “For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do.” Success does not come from labor alone. God is the one who gives the increase - 1 Co 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” He is the source of any sufficiency that we may have - 2 Co 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” While we work as though it depends on us, we must pray as though it depends on God (for it does!).
Whatever our endeavor (labor), it will fail unless God is involved... Will we look to God to build our families? Will we look to God to deliver us from evil? Will we look to God to bless our work? Will we look to God as our shield and protector? Will we look to God to guide our worship of Him? Will we look to God to give us the increase in His Vineyard, the church? Remember the words of 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.”
To ensure that our labor not be in vain, this prayer by Moses should be our attitude:
“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” - Psa 90:17
Are you looking to God to establish you in all your labors...?
