RTW May 26
Unless
Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.
Psalm 127:1
My Takeaways
Something Old
Let the LORD do His thing:
- Builder (v1)
- Protector (v1)
- Provider (v2)
- Rewarder (3)
- Defender (5)
Something New
Don’t overwork myself; it’s all in vain when I do.
Something to Do
Let God do His work in my life. Love and direction; discipline and correction.
My Takeaways: A closer look at Solomon
Something Old: Looking closely at Solomon’s kingdom and what it was like to live during his reign tells me that his administration was very organized and efficient, and “the people were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink… Throughout his lifetime, all of Judah and Israel lived in peace and safety… Each family had its own home and garden” (1 Kings 4:20, 25).
I gather from Psalm 72 that Solomon ruled and treated the poor fairly, he heled the less fortunate, he punished the oppressors, and he blessed the godly. I also learned that “God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding and knowledge too vast to be measured. In fact, he spoke with authority about all kinds of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. He was wiser than anyone else. Kings from every nation sent ambassadors to listen to his wisdom” (1 Kings 4:29-34).
Something New: After all of this praise of Solomon and his kingdom, the king himself identified the root cause in Psalm 127, as well as an unfortunate side effect if this cause were neglected. Unless my efforts are rooted in and directed by the Lord, they are a waste of time and energy (v.1). I can plan out all sorts of projects, as big as my mind can imagine, but, while they may be impressive or instructive, if they are not planted in God’s soil, they will dry up and die. Much is nothing without God in it as Solomon came to realize.
Something To Do: Make God my highest priority, let him do the building.