Psalm 127:1, 2 - Leave God Out Of The Picture And Suffer The Consequences!
Psalm.127:1, 2; Leave God Out Of The Picture And Suffer The
Consequences!
Psa 127:1,2 (KJV) Except the LORD build the house, they labour
in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain. 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.
Psa 127:1,2 (CWB) If the Lord is not the builder of our house,
the efforts of the workers are useless. If the Lord does not
protect us from evil, it does no good for us to be on guard. If the
Lord does not shield our cities and homeland from invading armies,
there's no point in having sentries on duty. Unless the Lord is in it,
it's useless to get up early for devotions or to work hard for a
living; it's useless to stay up late to study or work without God being
present. He's the One who blesses and gives us food while we sleep.
Do not forget the Lord (1-2). Jesus warned, "Without Me you can
do nothing" (John 15:5), and that truth is illustrated in this
psalm. What good is all your working, watching, and waking if the Lord
is not with you? Long hours and sleepless nights are a waste apart
from the blessing of the Lord. This psalm is not a plea for idleness,
for God expects you to work and watch. But He wants to work in you
and to accomplish His will (Phil. 2:12-13). [Chapter by Chapter
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
Man's labor is in vain unless God is in it [New Bible Companion]
Everything is vain if the Lord is not in it. [Believer's SB]
Though work is necessary, without the blessing of God it is
futile. [Ryrie SB]
Life should be lived in dependence on the Lord [Ryrie SB]
Don't make the mistake of leaving God out of your life--if you
do, all your accomplishments will be futile. Make God your highest
priority, and let him do the building. [Life Application SB]
God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God (Proverbs
31:10-29). But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family
may be a cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our
needs. We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On
the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy (Proverbs
18:9). Be careful to maintain a balance: work while trusting God, and
also rest while trusting him. [Life Application SB]
Accomplishments in life, of whatever dimension, come as the
result of God's gift. He provides the skill for accomplishment and
allows us to complete projects we start. This does not call us to
idleness in the face of His sovereignty but to gratitude as we labor with
Him to accomplish His purposes on earth. [Disciple SB]
If God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his
blessing, and without his blessing all is nothing. (Matthew Henry's
Commentary)
Usually, those that rise early do not care for sitting up late,
nor can those that sit up late easily persuade themselves to rise
early; but there are some so hot upon the world that they will do both,
will rob their sleep to pay their cares. And they have as little
comfort in their meals as in their rest; they eat the bread of sorrows.
(Matthew Henry's Commentary)
The point is that work done independently of God will be futile.
But a person who trusts in the Lord will find rest. Without the
Lord, all domestic work is in vain. . . . .this verse stresses that to
work long days without divine providence and support is futile.
[Bible Knowledge Commentary]
The emphasis is placed upon the futility of human effort without
God's help. . . . .Man's utter dependence on God is illustrated by
reference to basic human endeavors. Building a house and watching over a
city cannot succeed (according to divine standards of success) if God
is not included in man's plans and efforts. Even the diligent man
who works from early morning until late evening cannot hope for
success without God's blessings and sanction. [Wycliffe Bible
Commentary]
While, therefore, ye are not slothful in business, be fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord; for there is no success either in spiritual or
secular undertakings but in consequence of the benediction of the
Almighty. (Adam Clarke Commentary)
While the wisdom teacher does not reject hard work (Prov.
6:6ff.; 10:4, 5), he humbly acknowledges that hard work cannot guarantee
results. God alone is the one who distributes consequences, and hence it
is he who is to be feared (Prov. 1:7). [Jamieson, Fausset, And
Brown Commentary]
I Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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