WEBVTT

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 I'm going to invite one of our members, Douglas, up. He's going to read God's word to us.

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! Douglas is going to read Psalm 127.

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 A Song of Ascents of Solomon.

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 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

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 Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

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 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil.

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 For he gives to his beloved sleep.

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 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.

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 The fruit of the womb is a reward.

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 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

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 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.

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 He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 When we eat lunch together after the service today,

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 two of the questions, two of the most common questions that we'll probably ask each other

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 are going to be, how's work going?

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 How's the family?

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 And I'm not trying to make you feel paranoid.

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 These are good questions to ask one another.

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 But it's not just in church that we ask these questions.

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 These are the questions that we ask each other at work, at school, as we're studying, whatever we may be.

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 If you want to be a social media influencer, if you want to get a big following on Instagram,

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 look at the trials of work, or hustle culture, how to build, or the challenges of raising a family,

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 and you're bound to get a big, healthy following.

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 And when we read the words of Psalm 127, we see that those are the things that the psalmist is talking about too.

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 He's talking about building a life, security for life, raising a family.

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 But Psalm 127 isn't just asking us how we're getting on with that.

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 It's forcing us to ask ourselves, what are these things really for?

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 What kind of life are you building?

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 What is it you're trying to protect?

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 How are you raising a family?

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 Does anyone know the motto for Edinburgh's coat of arms?

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 It's Nisi Dominus Frustra.

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 And I know that you guys all know what that means, but I don't speak Latin.

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 But the English means, without the Lord, in vain.

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 So, without the Lord, everything is in vain.

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 The motto of this amazing city is Psalm 127.

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 And what it tells us, I think it's pretty shocking when you look at it.

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 Because it's that, without God, our work, our life building, our protection, even our family, is meaningless.

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 And when you think about the society that we live in today, we're kind of a dichotomy.

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 So, there's never been a time, really, I don't think, where we've had so much freedom around work,

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 and yet we voluntarily almost imprison ourselves to our careers.

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 Have we ever had a society that enjoys so much security and safety in one sense,

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 but then seems to live in such fear and anxiety on the other?

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 Have we ever had a society where children are the very epicenter of people's lives,

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 like their whole lives revolve around what their children want, what they want to do?

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 And yet, for other people, children, family, just seem disposable.

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 Well, through this Psalm, we're going to learn that the anecdote for our workaholism,

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 for our anxiety, the solution to the imbalanced way that we think about family life,

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 is in this Psalm.

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 I've got three points.

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 And the first point is, what are you building on?

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 If we look together at verse one of the Psalm, it says,

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 So, we're not just talking about construction here.

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 We're not all builders.

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 But the idea of building can apply to anything that you are building in your life.

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 So, whether you're an entrepreneur, a fireman, a software engineer, an artist,

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 someone who's building a home,

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 these things apply to you.

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 These are all really important forms of building in life,

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 and they require us to work hard.

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 The word labor that the Psalm uses here is hard work, toil, struggle.

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 Whether you enjoy what you do for a living or you don't,

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 you've got to admit that sometimes work is pretty frustrating.

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 We find it hard to get through the things that we need to do,

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 let alone to the point where we feel like we're getting ahead.

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 And sometimes that makes us feel overwhelmed in life,

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 makes us feel like we're struggling to keep up

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 while everyone else is running away ahead.

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 But what is the thing that we feel that we're struggling to keep up with?

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 Well, often we're drowning because we feel pressured

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 by the material world that's around us

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 and the material measures that people use to define success.

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 More money, bigger house, nicer car, flashier clothes.

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 These are the things that all around us,

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 in our workplace, in our neighborhoods,

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 people put such emphasis on,

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 they look at this as a sign of what building success is.

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 The thing about constantly pursuing more material things, though,

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 is that it is a bottomless pit.

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 It never ends.

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 No matter how much you make or accumulate,

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 we only seem to want more.

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 We need the next thing,

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 the extension onto our big house,

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 or the faster car than the one that came out last year,

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 or the new iPhone that comes out,

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 probably in a few months' time,

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 it's going to cost a thousand pounds and make your one old.

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 The beast of consumption is never satisfied,

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 no matter how much you feed it.

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 And then all the while,

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 as we're trying to feed this beast,

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 work is toil.

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 It's hard.

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 Even if you really love what you do,

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 you've got to admit that there's times

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 where you face frustration.

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 A report in 2024

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 found that poor mental health in work,

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 just in the UK,

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 costs employers,

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 just costs employers,

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 not the country.

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 51 billion pounds a year.

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 That's a number that's so big

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 we can't visualize it.

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 There's too many zeros

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 to fit it into our mind's eye.

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 So work is hard,

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 and our relationship to work is broken.

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 But why?

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 How?

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 Well, as Christians,

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 we know why.

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 It goes right back to the very beginning of the world,

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 when everything was very good,

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 and Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden city,

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 and they were given everything that they could imagine,

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 and they were given a practical purpose as well,

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 to work the land.

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 They weren't put there to lie on sun loungers,

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 they were to work the land,

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 to build it,

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 to grow it,

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 to expand this garden across the world.

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 But Adam and Eve thought that they could climb the ladder,

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 and by themselves.

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 Achieve more without God.

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 And they were convinced

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 that they should do the one thing

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 that God told them not to do.

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 And then because they disobeyed God,

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 in Genesis 3, 17,

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 we're told God said,

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 cursed is the ground because of you.

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 In pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

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 So the very ground,

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 that's Adam's place of work,

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 becomes cursed

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 because of their disobedience to God.

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 So maybe

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 you feel like your office is cursed,

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 but if you want to know why work is so hard,

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 it's because we live in a broken,

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 fallen world.

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 Because Adam tried to build without God.

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 The first part of this psalm,

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 well, it reminds us that

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 all of our work without God

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 is ultimately meaningless,

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 in vain.

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 The word vain appears three times

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 in just these two first verses.

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 Without God,

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 building is empty.

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 Without God,

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 protecting our stuff is worthless.

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 Without God,

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 getting up at the crack of dawn

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 to get ahead

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 is totally futile.

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 So what does that mean?

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 Should we all just quit our jobs,

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 set up a cute commune

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 in the foot of the Pentlands?

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 Well, no.

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 The psalmist is not telling us

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 that our work is worthless.

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 Work is not worthless.

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 And he's not telling us

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 that building life is meaningless.

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 He's saying

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 that these things are meaningless,

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 that these things are worthless

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 if they're not built

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 on the right foundation.

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 When we build and work

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 without acknowledging

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 that it is for God

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 and by God

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 that we are working

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 and building.

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 You see,

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 work isn't the punishment

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 for Adam's disobedience.

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 Work is purpose.

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 That's what he was put here

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 in the garden to do.

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 And so when we

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 work with obedience to God,

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 work becomes worship.

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 So that means that

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 no matter what you do

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 for a living,

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 no matter how you spend

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 your days building,

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 whatever it is you're building,

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 we're building something

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 when we're building with God

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 that's not going to crumble.

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 It's not going to disintegrate

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 into dust.

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 Okay, second point.

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 How do you sleep at night?

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 So the psalmist, I think,

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 seems to know about the UK's

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 mental health at work crisis

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 thousands of years ago.

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 In the second half of verse one,

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 he says,

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 unless the Lord watches over the city,

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 the watchman stays awake in vain.

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 It's in vain that you rise up early

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 and go to bed

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 and go late to rest,

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 eating the bread of anxious toil.

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 I mean,

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 I wonder if you can relate

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 to getting up early,

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 staying up late,

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 trying to get ahead

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 and not feeling like

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 you're making any progress.

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 Or maybe you have.

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 Maybe you've got up early,

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 you've gone to bed late

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 and you have made progress.

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 You've got the promotion,

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 you've got the pay rise,

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 you've built yourself

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 a reputation as somebody

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 who gets things done,

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 but that's only resulted

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 in you being given

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 more to do.

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 So you have to get up early,

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 you have to go to bed late,

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 you have to stay away

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 from home longer,

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 you have to go to bed

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 later and later.

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 Sometimes, maybe,

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 for some of us,

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 it feels like success

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 in work itself.

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 Without God is a curse.

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 The more you get ahead,

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 the more you have to work,

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 the less you get to rest.

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 And I think the psalmist

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 hits the nail on the head

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 for our society

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 when he writes the phrase,

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 eating the bread of anxious toil.

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 So the bread of anxious toil

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 is not an artisan loaf

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 from 12 triangles.

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 In Hebrew,

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 the word bread

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 can be used to refer

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 to any form of food.

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 So this is the way

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 that we keep ourselves alive.

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 And he's saying,

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 you're giving your life

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 over to the grind

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 and your reward

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 is indigestion.

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 Have you been so anxious?

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 Are you so anxious in life

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 that you feel

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 that you can't even

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 swallow down food properly?

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 Have you been so worried

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 about what lies ahead,

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 about what you might lose,

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 that your favorite food

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 doesn't bring you any pleasure?

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 Have things,

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 good things,

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 like food and drink,

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 almost become an anesthetic

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 to help you cope

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 with the pressure you feel

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 from the people

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 and the work

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 that you have to do?

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 Well,

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 this is another question.

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 Is that because,

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 functionally,

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 you're living

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 and even eating

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 as an atheist?

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 Do you go to work,

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 come to the dinner table,

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 even,

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 don't even get to the table.

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 You sit on the sofa

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 or you sit

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 in the driver's seat

00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:57.600
 of your car

00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.820
 on your way

00:12:58.820 --> 00:12:59.540
 to another meeting

00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:00.040
 because you've got

00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:00.879
 to keep going.

00:13:02.020 --> 00:13:02.800
 And then you lie down

00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:03.820
 in your bed exhausted,

00:13:04.520 --> 00:13:05.460
 riddled with anxiety

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:07.160
 because you think,

00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:10.200
 this is all down to me.

00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:11.160
 Well,

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:12.260
 the second half of verse one

00:13:12.260 --> 00:13:13.879
 speaks about protection,

00:13:14.520 --> 00:13:16.220
 about keeping the things

00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:16.820
 that we're building,

00:13:18.020 --> 00:13:19.280
 of how futile it is

00:13:19.280 --> 00:13:20.260
 to stay up all night

00:13:20.260 --> 00:13:22.080
 guarding our stuff

00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:24.900
 as if we can protect it

00:13:24.900 --> 00:13:25.640
 on our own.

00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:27.899
 when we're scrambling

00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.580
 to hold on

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.559
 to our material possessions

00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:30.919
 without the Lord,

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.939
 without relying on God,

00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:33.840
 without being confident

00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.939
 that he is with us.

00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.340
 It's like that dream

00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:37.059
 people talk about

00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:38.580
 where they've got coins

00:13:38.580 --> 00:13:39.159
 and they just keep

00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:39.939
 falling through

00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:41.159
 your fingers.

00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:44.319
 That's what our material

00:13:44.319 --> 00:13:45.059
 stuff is like.

00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.120
 We can't hold on to it.

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.159
 J.D. Rockefeller,

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:48.740
 when he died,

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.100
 he was,

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.120
 they said that he was

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:51.000
 the richest man

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.319
 in the world.

00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:54.740
 probably the richest man

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.460
 that I'd ever been.

00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.160
 And somebody asked

00:13:58.160 --> 00:13:58.660
 his accountant,

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.879
 how much did he leave?

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.520
 And his accountant said,

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.440
 he left all of it.

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.400
 The psalmist is saying,

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.180
 worrying,

00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:08.240
 building,

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.000
 and protecting in life

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.020
 becomes meaningless.

00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:13.760
 But he's saying

00:14:13.760 --> 00:14:14.400
 it's meaningless

00:14:14.400 --> 00:14:16.520
 because we don't rely on God.

00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.259
 So here it is,

00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.939
 right at the end of verse 2,

00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:23.439
 in the center of this psalm,

00:14:24.179 --> 00:14:24.899
 here's the solution

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.819
 to our tendency

00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:27.299
 to fall into workaholism

00:14:27.299 --> 00:14:27.960
 on one hand,

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.960
 anxiety on the other.

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:32.139
 The Lord gives

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:34.299
 his beloved sleep.

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.720
 C.S. Lewis,

00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:39.259
 who wrote the Narnia series,

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.759
 was a Christian thinker as well.

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:43.199
 And he said this about work.

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:43.519
 He said,

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.600
 if we thought we were

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.079
 building up a heaven on earth,

00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.860
 if we looked for something

00:14:47.860 --> 00:14:49.400
 that would turn the present world

00:14:49.400 --> 00:14:50.560
 from a black pilgrimage

00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:52.480
 into a permanent city

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.980
 satisfying the soul of man,

00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:55.400
 we're disillusioned.

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:56.879
 But if we thought

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.980
 that for some souls,

00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:59.080
 and at some times,

00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.580
 the life of learning,

00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:02.100
 humbly offered to God,

00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.840
 was in its own small way

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.560
 one of the appointed approaches

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:07.180
 to the divine reality

00:15:07.180 --> 00:15:08.780
 and the divine beauty

00:15:08.780 --> 00:15:10.020
 to which we hope

00:15:10.020 --> 00:15:11.120
 to enjoy hereafter,

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:14.480
 we can think so still.

00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:15.940
 So Lewis is saying

00:15:15.940 --> 00:15:16.500
 that whether you're

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.040
 an engineer,

00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:17.900
 a joiner,

00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:19.420
 a nursery teacher,

00:15:19.760 --> 00:15:21.740
 we can rest safe

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.720
 in the knowledge

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.800
 that when we're working

00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.400
 with God,

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:26.120
 we are working

00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:27.380
 for God's kingdom.

00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:28.980
 And as Lewis puts it,

00:15:29.040 --> 00:15:31.540
 we can think so still.

00:15:32.100 --> 00:15:34.180
 Or as Psalm 127 puts it,

00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:35.560
 the Lord gives

00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:36.580
 his beloved sleep.

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.260
 It's such a humbling

00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:41.500
 humbling and beautiful reminder

00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:43.580
 of the limits of humanity,

00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:45.539
 the limits that we have ourselves,

00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.399
 our own frailty,

00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.639
 and also God's care

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.500
 for his people,

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.759
 that every night

00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:53.240
 we have to lie down

00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.960
 for about a third of our lives

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.539
 and be blind,

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:57.580
 defenseless,

00:15:58.179 --> 00:15:58.639
 unconscious

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.639
 for hours at a time.

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:04.840
 There's a beautiful song

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:08.240
 by a Scottish singer-songwriter,

00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:09.419
 he's called John Martin,

00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.000
 and it's called

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.779
 May You Never,

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.439
 and the repeated refrain

00:16:12.439 --> 00:16:13.620
 in that song

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.580
 is,

00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.580
 may you never lay your head down

00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:17.799
 without a hand to hold,

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.840
 may you never make your bed

00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:20.740
 out in the cold.

00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.379
 And this is what Psalm 127

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.500
 is telling us

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.259
 about God

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:26.500
 and sleep.

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.720
 anxious about

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.480
 what you're building

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:31.200
 or about how you're going

00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.000
 to hold on

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:32.559
 to the things

00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:33.179
 that you have.

00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:35.059
 God's saying to everyone

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.840
 who trusts him,

00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:37.519
 come and lay down,

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.259
 take my hand,

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.559
 and know

00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.480
 that I'm watching

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:42.460
 over you.

00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:45.600
 And God gives

00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.039
 his beloved sleep.

00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.919
 This is a precious gift,

00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.200
 in fact,

00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:50.360
 sleep's two precious gifts

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.019
 in one.

00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.519
 It refreshes us

00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:55.879
 and it restains us

00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:58.100
 but it also reminds us

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.820
 that we're not in control

00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:01.720
 and that God is.

00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:03.279
 And that means

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.000
 that our life

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:06.019
 doesn't come down

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:07.099
 to us.

00:17:08.299 --> 00:17:11.019
 We sang Psalm 121

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.839
 earlier on

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.940
 and that Psalm asks,

00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.359
 when I look to the hills,

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.099
 fearing danger,

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.480
 where will my help

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.059
 come from?

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.960
 And the answer is,

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:23.200
 the Lord keeps me.

00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:24.819
 And that word keep,

00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:26.599
 in Psalm 121,

00:17:26.679 --> 00:17:27.079
 it's used

00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.019
 six different times

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.059
 and it's the same route

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.619
 that we have

00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:31.480
 in Psalm 127

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.819
 for watchers over

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:34.799
 or watchmen.

00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:36.839
 So while

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:38.159
 Psalm 127

00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:38.960
 tells us

00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.500
 that God

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.059
 gifts

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.559
 his people sleep,

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.539
 Psalm 121

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.220
 reminds us

00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:45.019
 that God

00:17:45.019 --> 00:17:45.740
 never sleeps.

00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.279
 And so we can lay down

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.779
 safe and secure

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.480
 in the fact

00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:51.579
 that

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:53.039
 although we can't guard

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.720
 all the things

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.359
 of our lives,

00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:56.680
 God can.

00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.279
 Do you feel like

00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:01.559
 you're in need

00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.460
 of this secure,

00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.200
 peace-filled,

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:06.359
 life-giving sleep?

00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.299
 Because I do.

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:09.879
 Which is probably why

00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:10.779
 Matthew,

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.659
 Matthew chapter 11,

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.879
 28 to 30

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:15.240
 is my favorite

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.740
 verses

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.779
 in the Bible.

00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.519
 Jesus says,

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:20.879
 come to me,

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.440
 all you who labor

00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.539
 and are heavy laden,

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:25.019
 and I will give you rest.

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.259
 Take my yoke upon you

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.039
 and learn from me,

00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.139
 for I'm gentle

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.059
 and lowly in heart

00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.000
 and you will find rest

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.599
 for your souls,

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.279
 for my yoke is easy

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.059
 and my burden

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.119
 is light.

00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:37.759
 And then it's interesting

00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.779
 that straight after

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.339
 recounting these words,

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.279
 Matthew writes

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.500
 that Jesus is Lord

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.259
 of the Sabbath,

00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:45.779
 the God-ordained

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:48.160
 time of resting in him.

00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.339
 It's also a shadow

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:52.079
 of the wonderful

00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.279
 forever rest

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.680
 that lies ahead

00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:55.160
 of people

00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.759
 who put their trust

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:57.180
 in Jesus.

00:18:58.500 --> 00:18:59.599
 So if you want to rest

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.440
 from the anxiety

00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.139
 of toil,

00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:03.160
 the struggle

00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.859
 of building

00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:05.259
 and protecting life,

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.420
 accept Jesus

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:09.000
 and come to him.

00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.119
 Put on Jesus' yoke

00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:12.899
 which is light

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:14.000
 and easy.

00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:16.460
 But here's the thing,

00:19:17.079 --> 00:19:18.000
 to put on

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.579
 this light

00:19:18.579 --> 00:19:19.460
 and easy yoke,

00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:21.220
 we have to take off

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.359
 the heavy,

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.779
 difficult yoke

00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:26.440
 of whatever it is

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.359
 that's dragging us down.

00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:29.500
 Is it living up

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.519
 to people's expectations?

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.299
 Is it protecting

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.460
 the things that you have

00:19:33.460 --> 00:19:34.039
 because you think

00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.740
 it all relies

00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.980
 on you?

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.079
 Life doesn't become easy

00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:42.640
 necessarily overnight

00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:43.460
 when you put your trust

00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:43.820
 in Jesus.

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:45.040
 It's not what he's

00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.560
 saying here.

00:19:47.100 --> 00:19:48.000
 But it does become

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.520
 more peaceful

00:19:48.520 --> 00:19:51.380
 because we rest

00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:52.100
 not in what we've

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.860
 stored up for a rainy

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.240
 day,

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:55.540
 but because of what

00:19:55.540 --> 00:19:56.640
 God has done

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:58.080
 through Jesus,

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.000
 his beloved,

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.060
 for his beloved.

00:20:02.280 --> 00:20:03.100
 And that takes us

00:20:03.100 --> 00:20:03.700
 to our third,

00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:04.680
 final point.

00:20:05.620 --> 00:20:06.660
 Who is our

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.060
 eternal inheritance?

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:10.119
 Well,

00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:10.960
 the psalmist has told us

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:11.879
 that one gift from God

00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:12.700
 has been able to sleep

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:14.019
 even although we're

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.659
 traveling through

00:20:14.659 --> 00:20:15.579
 a cursed world

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.079
 and working

00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.599
 in a cursed workplace.

00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:19.339
 And that tells us

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:22.480
 of a second blessing

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.799
 that he gives to people

00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.899
 and that's children.

00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.139
 Verse 3 says,

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.500
 Behold,

00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:28.079
 children are a heritage

00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:28.740
 from the Lord,

00:20:29.139 --> 00:20:30.639
 the fruit of the womb

00:20:30.639 --> 00:20:31.639
 a reward.

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.319
 He calls his children

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.639
 a heritage,

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.519
 an inheritance,

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:37.000
 and he calls them

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.139
 a reward or wages.

00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:40.139
 So,

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:42.019
 first of all,

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.960
 I think maybe poignantly

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.759
 that it's Mother's Day

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.059
 today,

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.500
 I didn't plan this,

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:47.059
 but it gives

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:47.700
 incredible honor

00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.660
 to those who

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.720
 are raising children.

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.559
 So,

00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:53.000
 those precious souls,

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.259
 precious gifts

00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.059
 from God.

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.480
 When I was in school,

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.119
 we would say,

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.579
 my mom just

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.879
 stays at home.

00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.059
 Just.

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:04.420
 C.S. Lewis

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.220
 would disagree

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.640
 with that just.

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.420
 To paraphrase something

00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.839
 he wrote in a letter once

00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.240
 about,

00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:11.140
 it's a woman

00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:11.680
 who was struggling

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.539
 being a mom,

00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:13.740
 everything was difficult.

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.000
 And he said,

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:15.799
 the homemaker

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.519
 has the ultimate career.

00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.299
 All other careers

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.620
 exist for one purpose

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:22.240
 and that's to support

00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:23.400
 the ultimate career.

00:21:24.360 --> 00:21:24.579
 So,

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.700
 keeping those at home

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.680
 fed,

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:27.400
 warm,

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.240
 and safe

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:30.079
 is the most important job

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.860
 that there is,

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.579
 Lewis says.

00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.740
 But it's not

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.759
 a career

00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.299
 where you get

00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:35.759
 pay rises.

00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.079
 You don't get

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.519
 promotions,

00:21:38.939 --> 00:21:39.439
 you don't get

00:21:39.439 --> 00:21:40.399
 an OBE

00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.199
 for services

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:41.980
 to staying up

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.740
 for 72 hours

00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.119
 straight

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.119
 while your kids

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:45.559
 are vomiting.

00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:49.019
 But the Lord knows.

00:21:50.419 --> 00:21:51.299
 He knows

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.279
 that you read

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.720
 your Bible

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.159
 to your children

00:21:54.159 --> 00:21:55.299
 when nobody else

00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.079
 could possibly know.

00:21:56.879 --> 00:21:57.559
 He knows that

00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.119
 when you hold

00:21:58.119 --> 00:21:59.019
 your baby crying

00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:00.000
 and praying

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:01.240
 at 3am

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.440
 when you feel

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.940
 like everyone else

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:04.559
 in the world

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.220
 is asleep.

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.500
 He knows

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:07.879
 that you need

00:22:07.879 --> 00:22:08.460
 him to be there

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:08.920
 with you.

00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:11.059
 The psalmist

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.559
 is saying

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:12.700
 to you,

00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:13.579
 carer,

00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.480
 the Lord knows.

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.500
 And the Lord's

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:17.879
 not putting

00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:18.680
 a tally mark

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.779
 onto your sheet

00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.200
 saying,

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:20.779
 good job,

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.220
 well done.

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.019
 It's a credit

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.559
 to your account.

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.500
 He's saying,

00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.019
 my beloved,

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.319
 I'm right here

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:27.900
 with you

00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:29.460
 singing with you

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.320
 to your little baby.

00:22:31.320 --> 00:22:32.420
 As you teach them

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.000
 to pray,

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.320
 I'm with you.

00:22:35.040 --> 00:22:35.840
 I'm the one

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.600
 making those

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.640
 precious seeds grow.

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.060
 Trust me

00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:40.080
 to care for you

00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.580
 as you care

00:22:41.580 --> 00:22:42.400
 for your children.

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.180
 And then in verses

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.880
 4 and 5,

00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:46.780
 the psalmist

00:22:46.780 --> 00:22:47.360
 kind of suddenly

00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:48.820
 changes tone

00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.720
 because he chooses

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.700
 battle language

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.600
 to describe children.

00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.860
 He calls them

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.920
 arrows in the hands

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.400
 of a warrior.

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:56.980
 He calls the one

00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.019
 who has them blessed.

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.640
 The one with many

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.380
 children will not

00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.160
 be put to shame

00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.000
 in front of his enemies.

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.700
 So in the ancient world,

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.200
 children,

00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.299
 and particularly

00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.980
 sons,

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.880
 because of the society

00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:07.620
 they lived in,

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.960
 they were protection.

00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.700
 More men

00:23:09.700 --> 00:23:11.120
 meant more power.

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:12.960
 And having sons

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.799
 was a sign of blessing

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:14.680
 because it literally

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.180
 meant you had

00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.680
 more workforce,

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.799
 more soldiers,

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.720
 whatever you need

00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.319
 those men

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.660
 to be.

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.120
 The references

00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.679
 to being not

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:26.359
 to be shamed

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.099
 in the city gates

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:29.039
 because in those days

00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.259
 they would gather

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:30.839
 at the gates

00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.299
 of the city

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.159
 and make decisions,

00:23:32.719 --> 00:23:33.359
 make judgments

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.279
 about how things

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.000
 were going

00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.039
 to be handled.

00:23:36.659 --> 00:23:37.459
 So having somebody

00:23:37.459 --> 00:23:37.939
 in the family

00:23:37.939 --> 00:23:39.139
 capable of representing

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:39.939
 you well

00:23:39.939 --> 00:23:41.159
 was super important.

00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.659
 So I think

00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:45.119
 we can think

00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:45.619
 about children

00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.139
 as arrows

00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:47.639
 in terms of the church.

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:49.059
 So the church

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.079
 passes from generation

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:50.859
 to generation

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:53.599
 and in itself

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.179
 is extraordinary

00:23:54.179 --> 00:23:54.819
 when you think

00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.299
 about that.

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.479
 And it's through

00:23:56.479 --> 00:23:57.299
 covenant children

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.619
 that the church

00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.599
 will continue right

00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.119
 until the very end

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.699
 of the age.

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.339
 These arrows

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.019
 are prepared

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.819
 and they're sent.

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:07.319
 That's also how God

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:08.119
 through the church

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:09.519
 pushes back

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.759
 into the darkness,

00:24:12.619 --> 00:24:14.179
 pushing against

00:24:14.179 --> 00:24:15.159
 the forces of darkness

00:24:15.159 --> 00:24:15.759
 with a quiver

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.539
 full of shards

00:24:16.539 --> 00:24:17.019
 of light.

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:19.859
 We were

00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.940
 in the garden

00:24:20.940 --> 00:24:21.799
 a little while ago

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.519
 thinking about

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.539
 work

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.460
 and protection

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.400
 takes us back there

00:24:25.400 --> 00:24:26.099
 as well I think

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.519
 because Adam

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.299
 was to work

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.660
 in the garden

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.339
 but he was also

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.059
 part of that job

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.000
 was to protect it

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.660
 and he failed.

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.960
 He failed twice

00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:34.900
 as a protector.

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.639
 He failed to protect

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.099
 the garden

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.779
 but he also failed

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.779
 to protect his eve

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.480
 from the snake.

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.059
 And this just shows us

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.639
 how desperately

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.339
 we need

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.220
 a protector.

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.900
 Someone who will come

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.819
 and protect us.

00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.160
 We need a son

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.559
 who can place us

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:50.980
 in a garden

00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:52.000
 and never let anyone

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.440
 come and harm us.

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.440
 The talk of children

00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:59.859
 can sometimes feel

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.279
 awkward or problematic

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.220
 because we know

00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.519
 that not everybody

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.200
 is going to be a parent

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.240
 and that's utterly

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.379
 heartbreaking for people

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.539
 and

00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:12.220
 it feels as though

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.240
 speaking about children

00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.799
 is something

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.400
 difficult to do.

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.759
 but we know

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.299
 that the Lord

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:19.099
 can bring peace

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:21.279
 to even the most

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.180
 broken hearted.

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.700
 If that's you

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.519
 if you're in that position

00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.279
 you're not any less

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.740
 beloved

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:29.000
 because God

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.619
 hasn't given you

00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:29.980
 children.

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.400
 So to help us

00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:33.339
 understand the full

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:33.900
 significance

00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.579
 I think

00:25:34.579 --> 00:25:35.799
 of what this message

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.519
 about children

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:38.200
 really means

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.519
 we need to think

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.299
 about the psalm

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.379
 in the original

00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:42.059
 context

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:43.319
 that it exists.

00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:45.000
 this is a psalm

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.539
 of ascent

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.200
 so this would have

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.779
 been likely sung

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.460
 by the children

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:48.859
 of Israel

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:50.240
 as they journeyed

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.980
 up to Jerusalem

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.119
 to worship God

00:25:52.119 --> 00:25:52.720
 in the temple

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.480
 and to commemorate

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.279
 their great feasts.

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.379
 So there's 15 psalms

00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.019
 of ascent

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.799
 and psalm 127

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.619
 is the one right

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:00.980
 in the middle

00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.700
 like the peak

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.399
 in the pyramid

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:04.600
 and this psalm

00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:05.540
 is attributed

00:26:05.540 --> 00:26:06.300
 to Solomon

00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:07.000
 so Solomon

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.340
 was king of Israel

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:10.160
 I don't know

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.660
 if it was

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:12.860
 two by or for Solomon

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.440
 different people

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.880
 think different things

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.280
 maybe he commissioned

00:26:16.280 --> 00:26:16.720
 the song

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.740
 because he was the one

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.500
 who built the temple

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.220
 and that's where

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.759
 God's priests served

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:22.320
 on behalf of the people

00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.360
 or maybe it was

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.320
 written by Solomon

00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.160
 we know that he wrote

00:26:25.160 --> 00:26:28.280
 1005 songs

00:26:28.280 --> 00:26:31.100
 or maybe it's dedicated

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.959
 to Solomon

00:26:31.959 --> 00:26:33.459
 because he's the one

00:26:33.459 --> 00:26:34.439
 who's kind of

00:26:34.439 --> 00:26:35.019
 the epitome

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.959
 of human success

00:26:35.959 --> 00:26:37.959
 he's got all the wealth

00:26:37.959 --> 00:26:39.039
 and all the knowledge

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.379
 the wisdom

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:42.159
 but he came

00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:43.079
 to a disappointing end

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:43.480
 when he started

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.619
 to build without the Lord

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:47.459
 people used to say

00:26:47.459 --> 00:26:48.419
 or some people say

00:26:48.419 --> 00:26:49.719
 that this psalm

00:26:49.719 --> 00:26:50.399
 is actually

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.679
 two proverbs

00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:52.939
 kind of spliced together

00:26:52.939 --> 00:26:53.500
 so you've got

00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.839
 the first couple of verses

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.659
 that are about building

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.819
 and then you've got

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.639
 the next three verses

00:26:57.639 --> 00:26:58.980
 that are about children

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.879
 but I don't think

00:26:59.879 --> 00:27:00.500
 that's the case

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.180
 and one of the reasons

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:02.539
 I think that that's

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.279
 not the case

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:03.880
 that this psalm

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:04.700
 is clearly one

00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.180
 combined thought

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:08.579
 is a play on words

00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:10.660
 in the story

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:12.680
 of 2 Samuel 7

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:14.559
 so there David

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.240
 who's Solomon's dad

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.660
 David's king

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:19.640
 and he decides himself

00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.079
 that he's going to

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:20.720
 build a house

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.700
 to the Lord

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:23.519
 but God says to David

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.299
 you're going to build

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.819
 me a house

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.160
 no

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.359
 I'm going to build

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.039
 you a house

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:29.079
 when David said house

00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:30.639
 like in verse 1

00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.740
 he meant a temple

00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.740
 he's going to build

00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.919
 a temple for the Lord

00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:36.099
 but when God said house

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:37.399
 he meant a dynasty

00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.460
 or a heritage

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:40.220
 like in verse 3

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:42.659
 God was going to build

00:27:42.659 --> 00:27:43.079
 David

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.779
 a kingly line

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.500
 of succession

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:47.819
 and Solomon

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.960
 inherited his father's throne

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:53.860
 but it's from

00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:55.400
 this Davidic

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.059
 kingly line

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.740
 that the true

00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.660
 the great

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.660
 king

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.759
 was going to come

00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.620
 in Matthew

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.600
 we can read

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.559
 Jesus' genealogy

00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:03.759
 and it tells us

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.340
 the genealogy

00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:04.960
 of Jesus Christ

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.880
 the son of David

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:07.259
 so Jesus

00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.900
 it's Jesus

00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.600
 who's the true

00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.120
 fulfillment

00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.600
 of the kingly

00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:11.420
 house of David

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.799
 Solomon

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.600
 he built

00:28:13.600 --> 00:28:14.500
 a physical temple

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:16.859
 a house

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.460
 where God

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.259
 would dwell

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:18.940
 God's presence

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.380
 would be

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:20.339
 with his people

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.980
 but Jesus

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:23.779
 is the temple

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:25.400
 God himself

00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:27.119
 come to live

00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.779
 with his people

00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.319
 and Jesus

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:29.740
 is also

00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:30.779
 the forever priest

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.740
 in the temple

00:28:31.740 --> 00:28:33.500
 who makes sacrifices

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.119
 and stands

00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:34.900
 before God

00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.839
 on behalf

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.640
 of his people

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.200
 so Jesus

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.380
 is the temple

00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:40.440
 and Jesus

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:40.940
 also said

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.299
 he was going

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:41.660
 to make

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.539
 his people

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.319
 his church

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.079
 to be a living

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.599
 temple

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:47.199
 in Genesis

00:28:47.199 --> 00:28:48.059
 Jesus

00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:49.299
 God didn't just

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.359
 curse the ground

00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.079
 and leave it

00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:51.859
 to rot

00:28:51.859 --> 00:28:53.460
 he promised

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:54.079
 that the offspring

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.679
 of the woman

00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:56.679
 the fruit of her womb

00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:58.279
 would come

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.960
 and crush

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.599
 the enemy

00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:01.319
 and that's Jesus

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:03.159
 Jesus has come

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:03.859
 and he's broken

00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.379
 the curse

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.240
 and even although

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.980
 we're still living

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.639
 in a world

00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.639
 that's fallen

00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.319
 and broken

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.659
 and where

00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.639
 work and security

00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:11.539
 and even family

00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:13.059
 so often feel

00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.899
 difficult

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:15.900
 when we put

00:29:15.900 --> 00:29:16.280
 our trust

00:29:16.280 --> 00:29:16.680
 in Jesus

00:29:16.680 --> 00:29:17.880
 we get to

00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:18.280
 live

00:29:18.280 --> 00:29:20.019
 in him

00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.600
 work

00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.040
 rest

00:29:22.040 --> 00:29:22.900
 and praying

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:24.280
 because we're

00:29:24.280 --> 00:29:24.640
 covered

00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:26.380
 by his righteousness

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.140
 his goodness

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:29.000
 so that means

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.300
 that while

00:29:29.300 --> 00:29:29.960
 work rest

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.680
 and play

00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:33.340
 might still be hard

00:29:33.340 --> 00:29:35.740
 God is teaching us

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:38.340
 that he is with us

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.799
 but also

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.579
 that something

00:29:40.579 --> 00:29:41.099
 better

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.980
 is waiting

00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:42.619
 for us

00:29:42.619 --> 00:29:44.500
 in John 14

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:44.740
 2

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.279
 Jesus says

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.539
 he's going

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:45.980
 to prepare

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.579
 a place

00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:48.000
 for his people

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.339
 in his father's

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.720
 house

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.679
 the forever

00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.220
 temple

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:54.000
 so Jesus

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.439
 is the one

00:29:54.439 --> 00:29:54.959
 from the kingly

00:29:54.959 --> 00:29:55.480
 line of David

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.679
 who wasn't

00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:57.039
 welcomed

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.799
 as a king

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:59.359
 but who was

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.019
 mocked

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.699
 and slandered

00:30:00.699 --> 00:30:01.339
 and rejected

00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:02.939
 who wasn't

00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.359
 defended

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.059
 in the gate

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:04.539
 in front of his

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:04.819
 enemies

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:06.299
 but he was put

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.159
 outside the city

00:30:07.159 --> 00:30:07.599
 to die

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:09.879
 despite his

00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:10.700
 divine power

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.439
 and strength

00:30:11.439 --> 00:30:13.079
 he didn't pursue

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:13.859
 riches

00:30:13.859 --> 00:30:14.960
 or wealth

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.659
 even his own

00:30:16.659 --> 00:30:17.099
 comfort

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:19.419
 but he humbled

00:30:19.419 --> 00:30:19.960
 himself

00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:21.819
 and completed

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.819
 the work

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.159
 that God

00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:23.480
 gave him

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.859
 to do

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:25.539
 even to the

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:25.839
 point

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.919
 of death

00:30:26.919 --> 00:30:29.359
 God's beloved

00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.779
 became cursed

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.399
 for us

00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:33.099
 not so that

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.519
 we can make

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:33.960
 more money

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.180
 or get bigger

00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:35.500
 houses

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.140
 or even

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:37.319
 as heartbreaking

00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:37.700
 as it is

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:37.980
 for some

00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:38.180
 people

00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:38.559
 to have

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.120
 a family

00:30:39.120 --> 00:30:41.500
 so that we

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:41.900
 can live

00:30:41.900 --> 00:30:42.220
 in this

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.000
 new garden

00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:43.460
 city

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.500
 that was

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:44.920
 designed

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.380
 and built

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:46.160
 by God

00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.299
 where work

00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:47.740
 will never

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.299
 be in vain

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:50.120
 but will be

00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:51.000
 utterly

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.860
 satisfying

00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:53.880
 where peace

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:54.740
 and tranquility

00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.940
 will reign

00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:56.600
 because God

00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.100
 will live

00:30:57.100 --> 00:30:57.720
 with his

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.059
 people

00:30:58.059 --> 00:31:00.299
 at the end

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.680
 of the Bible

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:01.059
 it talks

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.900
 about

00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:03.420
 Jesus

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.220
 as a

00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:04.820
 bridegroom

00:31:04.820 --> 00:31:05.300
 coming

00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:06.380
 for his

00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.840
 bride

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:08.720
 and that's

00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.160
 the church

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.700
 the bride

00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.780
 of Christ

00:31:10.780 --> 00:31:11.500
 is the church

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:13.120
 when instead

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:13.420
 of eating

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:14.280
 anxious toil

00:31:14.280 --> 00:31:15.100
 the bread

00:31:15.100 --> 00:31:15.860
 of anxious toil

00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:17.519
 will feast

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.340
 with Jesus

00:31:18.340 --> 00:31:19.840
 at a marriage

00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:20.180
 supper

00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:22.500
 Jesus finished

00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.000
 the work

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.460
 that God

00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:24.980
 his father

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.340
 gave him

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:25.680
 to do

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.580
 so that he

00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:26.980
 could bring

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.460
 his people

00:31:27.460 --> 00:31:28.180
 glorious

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.440
 blissful

00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:30.500
 eternal

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.000
 rest

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.519
 let's

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:32.920
 pray

00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:36.059
 Lord God

00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.680
 we ask

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:36.980
 that you

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.640
 would bless

00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.160
 us to this

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.440
 day

00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.259
 we

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:40.279
 confess

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.600
 we so

00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.000
 often

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:43.000
 attempt

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.539
 to build

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.059
 our lives

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.820
 on foundations

00:31:44.820 --> 00:31:45.440
 that are not

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:45.900
 sure and

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.220
 certain

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.720
 we're often

00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:48.200
 so

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:49.740
 tempted

00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.600
 to build

00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.299
 on our

00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.940
 own strength

00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.660
 or rely

00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.140
 on other

00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:53.480
 people

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.120
 put pressure

00:31:54.120 --> 00:31:55.160
 on them

00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.580
 to deliver

00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:56.259
 for us

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.320
 Lord help

00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:57.720
 us to be

00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.140
 looking to

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.540
 you for

00:31:58.540 --> 00:31:58.920
 everything

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.259
 that we

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.580
 need

00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.860
 realizing

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:02.520
 that Jesus

00:32:02.520 --> 00:32:03.440
 is our

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:03.840
 greatest

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:04.259
 treasure

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.900
 the true

00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.259
 treasure

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.360
 the one

00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.620
 thing

00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.060
 needful

00:32:07.060 --> 00:32:08.180
 and that

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:08.480
 we would

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:08.759
 be

00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.759
 our whole

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.060
 lives

00:32:10.060 --> 00:32:10.320
 would be

00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:10.700
 oriented

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.680
 around

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.259
 pursuing

00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.560
 him

00:32:12.560 --> 00:32:13.640
 forgive us

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:13.860
 for our

00:32:13.860 --> 00:32:14.120
 sins

00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:14.520
 in Jesus

00:32:14.520 --> 00:32:14.820
 name

00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.620
 Amen