Psalm 127 (KJV): Except if the Lord keeps the city, we stand guard in vain

From Psalms

Psalm 127
(A Song of Ascents.  Of Solomon.)

¹Except the Lord build the house,
      they labour in vain that build it:
except the Lord keep the city,
      the watchman waketh but in vain.
²It 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.
³Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
      and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
⁴As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
      so are children of the youth.
⁵Happy is the man
      that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed,
      but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

The message in the first two verses here, unless it's the will of the Lord our effort is just a waste.  Unless the Lord builds the house the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stands guard in vain.  From that we can guess that unless the message is the Lord's it is given in vain.  If we take it even a step further a life that is lived without God is a life that is lived in vain.

Please God, let my life be one that is lived for You.  That I can reflect your light, your hope, and your spirit.  Not just in this blog but in everything I do.  Let the message I deliver be your message.  Allow me to be your hands and arms.  To reach other people, like me, that struggle with what Your will in their lives, as they struggle to build a relationship with you.  Guide me as I continue to replace my addiction and vices with Your hope.  Give me courage as I surrender the comforts of my old habits.  As I cut away the things in my life that keep me from You.  Place in me the peace of sobriety, amidst these struggles, that I may show others Your power in my life.  That I can show that we are all Your children and we can see Your hand working in our lives.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 126 (KJV): They that sow in tears shall reap in joy

From Psalms

Psalm 126
(A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.)

¹When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion,
      we were like them that dream.
² Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
      and our tongue with singing:
then said they among the heathen,
      The Lord hath done great things for them.
³The Lord hath done great things for us;
      whereof we are glad.

⁴Turn again our captivity, O Lord,
      as the streams in the south.
⁵They that sow in tears
      shall reap in joy.
⁶He that goeth forth and weepeth,
      bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
      bringing his sheaves with him.


As I pray over this psalm on the first eve of lent this psalm makes a lot of sense.  Lent, "40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting or abstinence" is a season, or period, of suffering.  A season where we, as Christians, have the opportunity to share some of the suffering that Christ went through when he went into the desert to fast for 40 days.  A season where we, through our abstinence, can demonstrate our trust in God through the refusal of temptation.

For me, this is a season of hope.  For hope, by definition, is expectation with confidence, the expectation of promise.  Planting a seed is an act hope.  Sowing, even in tears, should then also be done in hope.  Abstaining and suffering in honor of Christ shall also be done in hope.  A hope that God will renew us and save our lives.  A hope that we too can share in being the light of the world.  Of course, this hope, this expectation, cannot be planted without a faith that God can, and will, work in our lives.

God, be with those that are suffering, and give them hope.  Be with those who suffer as addicts.  Show them that there is a path to refusing the temptation.  Give them hope of a life that you intend for them.   As well, be with those who suffer at the hands of addicts.  We know that alcoholics have no control of their actions and hurt those around them - especially the people that love them the most.  Give hope to those people who suffer.  Give them the strength they need and show them mercy.  Especially for the those victims who are children, protect them and guide them.  Let them also plant seeds so their stories become ones of hope and inspiration.  Finally, God, when and where we see this suffering let us be your hands in this world.  Where we see this suffering let us be that hope.  Your hope - in Your son's name.  Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalms 125: As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people

From Psalms

Psalm 125
(A Song of Ascents)

¹They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion,
      which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
²As the mountains are round about Jerusalem,
      so the LORD is round about his people
      from henceforth even for ever.
³For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon
      the lot of the righteous;
lest the righteous put forth
      their hands unto iniquity.

⁴ Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good,
      and to them that are upright in their hearts.
⁵As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways,
      the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity:

but peace shall be upon Israel.

Indeed, the Lord surrounds his people the way the mountains surround Jerusalem.  In the same way the mountains provide some protection God provides protection.  In the same way the mountains provide beauty God provides beauty in our lives.  In the same way the mountains provide a sanctuary so does God provide sanctuary.  Indeed from psalm 72:3, "The mountains shall bring peace to the people," so too shall God surround us with the same peace.

I am fortunate that I live in a place where, on clear days, I can generally see mountain peaks from my neighborhood without much effort.  So this analogy, or parable even, works well for me.  Nevertheless, In the worries, hustle, excitement, sickness, victories and the general things life brings us every day, sometimes it's easy to forget about the mountains.  Or maybe it's a symptom of taking them for granted because they're not going anywhere.  Nevertheless, despite the proximity of the mountains, I need to take sometime to bring their beauty and peace into my life.  In a similar way with God, God is always around us but I need to actively bring him into my life.  For example, to keep my recovery stable I need to consciously make decisions to pray.  As you can see by the amount of time between my entries...I have been distracted from beauty and peace the God provides.  Thankfully though I am well aware as I go about my day I am well aware of the love, beauty, and peace that He surrounds us with.

Thanks for letting me share.