05/01/2025 – Day 305 – Psalm – Chapters 125 – 127 // Psalm 127 – “The Blessing of the Lord”
“In vain you get up early and stay up late, eating food earned by hard work; certainly he gives sleep to the one He loves.” Psalm 127:2
At first the commentary on this verse seemed counterintuitive but sticking with it, I see the words of wisdom in it, particularly the last phrase:
“127:2 It is not necessarily pointless, or vain, to rise early or stay up late, The key to understanding this verse is the phrase ‘eating food earned by hard work.’ The expression ‘hard work’ translates the same word that is rendered ‘painful labor’ in Genesis 3:17, it stresses anxieties as well as painful experiences. the Bible commends the diligent worker (Proverbs 24: 33-34; 2 Thessalonians 3: 10-13; cp. Col. 3:17), but lengthen the day with anxious toil and stress only leads to greater problems of body and spirit. By contrast, the Lord gives sleep to the person He loves – the one who trusts Him (Psalm 4:8). The Psalms’ words may apply equally to literal sleep and to the rest and peace of mind that sleep symbolizes. Anxious toil burns the candle at both ends. One can work hard at worthwhile projects (e.g., building a house — cp, v. 1, where ‘house’ could even refer to the place of worship), but it is the Lord’s involvement that makes the effort worthwhile and successful.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.