Unless The Lord 110525
Unless the Lord…
Of the 1 005 songs of Solomon, only this psalm and Psalm 72 are attributed to him in the book of psalms. It’s a psalm that is neither prayer or praise addressed to God but instead is an observation about godly living, more like the book of proverbs.
In the first verse right from the get go, we see ‘The Lord’ and the ‘House’ brought together.
These two things should lead us to think about the temple because the temple is the dwelling place, the house of God. And it speaks directly to us. Apostle Paul reminds us 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.
Unlike the proverbs that predominantly sets before us, good and bad behaviour. This Psalm very quickly brings us back to the main focus reflected in Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. – 1 of this psalm Unless the Lord builds the house those who build it labour in vain.
Solomon says, all the honest hard work in the world is in vain, Unless the Lord builds… rather than you, yourself being the person you rely on. These verses are a condensed version of what Jesus Himself says in Matthew 6:25 34
Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink. Don’t be anxious. Don’t try and ‘make it happen’ Instead trust that Jesus has got it, that He through Holy Spirit will work things out for your good and to your advantage.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2 Samuel 6:6 You will remember David returning the Ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem after recovering it from the Philistines …And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
In that moment it seemed the right thing to do. – You too maybe in a moment where in your own understanding it seems the right thing to do.
But there is a warning 2 Samuel 6:3 …Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart. The Lord never ‘drives’ instead He ‘Leads’ us beside waters of rest Psalm 23:2
v.3 ‘Behold children are a heritage from the Lord…’ This is speaking to us spiritually, propheticly, not just naturally. A man’s offspring would join him in his defence of the city’s gates. His children were seen not for the now but with the understanding he was creating a legacy for a future generation. Philippians 2:19-22
What we do today, will not just be of benefit to us in this moment but we are creating a legacy for a future generation. The decision you make today will have a ripple effect down through the generations.
Unless the Lord builds…because only that will stand strong and bless.