1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,680 We’ll I invite you to open your Bibles at Psalm 127 and Psalm 128. 2 00:00:06,680 –> 00:00:10,420 Two Psalms of exquisite beauty. 3 00:00:10,420 –> 00:00:15,480 Wonderful encouragement and deeply searching truth. 4 00:00:15,480 –> 00:00:18,160 You’ll notice that the first was written by Solomon. 5 00:00:18,160 –> 00:00:20,959 We’ll come back to the significance of that a little later. 6 00:00:20,959 –> 00:00:24,100 Solomon, of course, was the son of David, King of Israel. 7 00:00:24,100 –> 00:00:26,080 He wrote two Psalms. 8 00:00:26,100 –> 00:00:29,820 This one and Psalm 72 both bear his name. 9 00:00:29,820 –> 00:00:35,340 Then, of course, the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the song of Solomon. 10 00:00:35,340 –> 00:00:40,660 These books of the Bible are sometimes called wisdom books because they deal 11 00:00:40,660 –> 00:00:45,400 with the very practical issues of how to put your life together. 12 00:00:45,400 –> 00:00:50,020 They speak a lot about work and about family and about what a 13 00:00:50,020 –> 00:00:51,959 successful life looks like. 14 00:00:51,959 –> 00:00:55,259 And these two Psalms, one written by Solomon and the other one, 15 00:00:55,259 –> 00:01:00,599 we are not given the authorship of, both fit right into that theme. 16 00:01:00,599 –> 00:01:06,339 So, let us hear the word of God from Psalm 127 and then 128. 17 00:01:06,339 –> 00:01:07,599 Again, notice the title. 18 00:01:07,599 –> 00:01:10,760 With all of these Psalms, we’re looking at on Sunday mornings, 19 00:01:10,760 –> 00:01:13,239 a song of a sense. 20 00:01:13,239 –> 00:01:16,820 And this one, Psalm 127 of Solomon. 21 00:01:17,820 –> 00:01:24,220 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. 22 00:01:24,220 –> 00:01:31,480 Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 23 00:01:31,480 –> 00:01:37,699 In vain, you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat, 24 00:01:37,699 –> 00:01:42,459 for he grants sleep to those he loves. 25 00:01:42,480 –> 00:01:46,580 Sons are a heritage from the Lord. 26 00:01:46,699 –> 00:01:50,480 Children a reward from him. 27 00:01:50,480 –> 00:01:56,660 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. 28 00:01:56,660 –> 00:02:00,779 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. 29 00:02:00,779 –> 00:02:07,019 They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate. 30 00:02:07,019 –> 00:02:11,399 Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways. 31 00:02:11,399 –> 00:02:14,119 You will eat the fruit of your labour. 32 00:02:14,160 –> 00:02:17,720 Grownings and prosperity will be yours. 33 00:02:17,720 –> 00:02:23,179 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house. 34 00:02:23,179 –> 00:02:27,500 Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 35 00:02:27,500 –> 00:02:33,080 Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord. 36 00:02:33,080 –> 00:02:37,360 May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life. 37 00:02:37,419 –> 00:02:41,100 May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 38 00:02:41,100 –> 00:02:45,800 and may you live to see your children’s children. 39 00:02:45,800 –> 00:02:50,000 Peace be upon Israel. 40 00:02:50,000 –> 00:02:52,639 This is the word of God. 41 00:02:52,639 –> 00:02:55,479 Now these two Psalms obviously belong together. 42 00:02:55,479 –> 00:02:59,039 Both of them talk about work, both of them talk about family, 43 00:02:59,039 –> 00:03:01,520 but having said that they are very different. 44 00:03:01,520 –> 00:03:06,880 Psalm 127 begins with a picture of frustration, 45 00:03:07,199 –> 00:03:11,440 and Psalm 128 ends with a portrait of fulfillment. 46 00:03:11,440 –> 00:03:13,100 Let’s look at these together. 47 00:03:13,100 –> 00:03:17,119 First the picture of frustration in Psalm 127, 48 00:03:17,119 –> 00:03:19,699 unless the Lord builds the house, 49 00:03:19,699 –> 00:03:22,899 its builders labor in vain. 50 00:03:22,899 –> 00:03:27,899 Now think about what that would mean, to labor in vain. 51 00:03:29,100 –> 00:03:33,360 To labor means to work to the point of exhaustion. 52 00:03:34,179 –> 00:03:39,000 To labor in vain would mean to work to the point 53 00:03:39,000 –> 00:03:41,880 of exhaustion and to achieve nothing 54 00:03:41,880 –> 00:03:44,259 of lasting significance out of it. 55 00:03:45,520 –> 00:03:47,199 Now nobody wants to do that. 56 00:03:47,839 –> 00:03:51,279 The watchman his work is to protect the city. 57 00:03:51,279 –> 00:03:53,479 But if the city is overrun by enemies, 58 00:03:53,479 –> 00:03:56,720 what was the point in all he did all these nights? 59 00:03:57,960 –> 00:04:00,240 The builder’s purpose is to put up houses 60 00:04:00,240 –> 00:04:02,000 but if enemies come in and tear them down, 61 00:04:02,419 –> 00:04:04,199 what was the point of all the detail 62 00:04:04,199 –> 00:04:06,339 that he put into the woodwork 63 00:04:06,339 –> 00:04:08,039 and the structure and the finish? 64 00:04:10,119 –> 00:04:12,119 Nobody wants to labor in vain. 65 00:04:13,320 –> 00:04:15,240 Some of us, of course, have gone through 66 00:04:15,240 –> 00:04:17,720 at least part of that experience. 67 00:04:17,720 –> 00:04:20,000 It can happen in a business, 68 00:04:20,000 –> 00:04:21,739 it can happen in a ministry, 69 00:04:21,739 –> 00:04:23,600 it can happen in a relationship. 70 00:04:23,600 –> 00:04:25,799 You put yourself into something 71 00:04:27,000 –> 00:04:30,079 and then when it comes tumbling down for some reason 72 00:04:30,119 –> 00:04:32,559 you feel that something of your very self 73 00:04:32,559 –> 00:04:35,640 has been destroyed because what you built 74 00:04:36,480 –> 00:04:38,380 has been torn down. 75 00:04:38,380 –> 00:04:41,179 That’s a terrible picture, an awful experience. 76 00:04:42,779 –> 00:04:44,799 And it’s Psalm 127, the beginning, 77 00:04:44,799 –> 00:04:46,720 a picture of frustration. 78 00:04:47,760 –> 00:04:51,880 Now, notice the end of Psalm 128 is precisely the opposite. 79 00:04:51,880 –> 00:04:54,079 It is a portrait of fulfillment. 80 00:04:54,079 –> 00:04:55,559 Verses five and six. 81 00:04:55,559 –> 00:04:58,920 May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life, 82 00:04:58,920 –> 00:05:01,200 may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, 83 00:05:01,200 –> 00:05:04,380 and may you live to see your children’s children 84 00:05:04,380 –> 00:05:07,000 peace be upon Israel. 85 00:05:07,000 –> 00:05:09,359 So here is someone who sees God’s blessing 86 00:05:09,359 –> 00:05:11,920 following them all the days of their life. 87 00:05:12,920 –> 00:05:15,839 They experience peace, they see the fruit 88 00:05:15,839 –> 00:05:17,899 of their own lives, not only in their children, 89 00:05:17,899 –> 00:05:19,700 but in their children’s children, 90 00:05:19,700 –> 00:05:21,559 it is a picture of great beauty, 91 00:05:21,559 –> 00:05:24,579 it is a portrait of fulfillment. 92 00:05:25,700 –> 00:05:27,619 So the question that obviously arises 93 00:05:27,619 –> 00:05:31,260 from these two psalms is how do you move 94 00:05:31,260 –> 00:05:34,540 from frustration to fulfillment? 95 00:05:36,200 –> 00:05:40,179 See, all of us experience some frustration 96 00:05:40,179 –> 00:05:42,820 in the areas of work and family, 97 00:05:43,779 –> 00:05:45,299 that is simply part of life. 98 00:05:45,299 –> 00:05:49,179 When Adam and Eve sinned, there were two direct consequences 99 00:05:49,179 –> 00:05:51,959 of that first sin that entered into the world. 100 00:05:51,959 –> 00:05:55,299 One was that there was frustration at work, 101 00:05:55,859 –> 00:05:58,279 Adam worked the ground by the sweat of his brow, 102 00:05:58,279 –> 00:06:00,420 frustration at work, and the other was 103 00:06:00,420 –> 00:06:01,700 that there was pain in the family. 104 00:06:01,700 –> 00:06:04,640 Eve gave birth to children in great pain 105 00:06:04,640 –> 00:06:08,619 and with great struggle, and you find this pattern 106 00:06:08,619 –> 00:06:11,899 that is there in Genesis right throughout human experience, 107 00:06:11,899 –> 00:06:15,359 there is no work without some frustration, 108 00:06:15,359 –> 00:06:19,079 there are no families without some pain. 109 00:06:19,079 –> 00:06:21,839 But God has given tremendous dignity 110 00:06:21,839 –> 00:06:24,760 both to work and to family life, 111 00:06:24,760 –> 00:06:26,880 and these psalms remind us that God wants 112 00:06:26,880 –> 00:06:29,880 to enter into your work, 113 00:06:29,880 –> 00:06:32,859 God wants to enter into your family, 114 00:06:33,820 –> 00:06:36,119 and he wants, graciously, to move you 115 00:06:36,119 –> 00:06:41,119 along this path from frustration to fulfillment. 116 00:06:41,279 –> 00:06:42,799 It’s a wonderful thing. 117 00:06:42,799 –> 00:06:45,399 Now, notice just briefly what we learn here 118 00:06:45,399 –> 00:06:49,079 about the blessing and the dignity of work. 119 00:06:49,079 –> 00:06:53,480 Three things, number one, God builds, 120 00:06:53,519 –> 00:06:57,799 and so when you build, you reflect his character. 121 00:06:57,799 –> 00:07:01,739 Verse one, unless the Lord builds the house, 122 00:07:01,739 –> 00:07:03,799 its builders labor in vain. 123 00:07:03,799 –> 00:07:07,640 Think of that, God builds. 124 00:07:07,640 –> 00:07:08,940 Now, I think that’s wonderful. 125 00:07:08,940 –> 00:07:11,839 Sometimes we get too narrow of view 126 00:07:11,839 –> 00:07:14,760 and imagine that God is only interested 127 00:07:14,760 –> 00:07:18,619 in what we call the spiritual areas of life. 128 00:07:19,880 –> 00:07:22,700 God is spirit, and so we conclude 129 00:07:22,700 –> 00:07:25,179 from that that he is only interested 130 00:07:25,179 –> 00:07:27,459 in this narrow segment. 131 00:07:28,820 –> 00:07:30,320 And you see, here’s the problem. 132 00:07:31,339 –> 00:07:32,839 God is also the creator. 133 00:07:33,820 –> 00:07:37,899 He’s the creator of this entire physical world 134 00:07:37,899 –> 00:07:40,339 and everything that is in it. 135 00:07:40,339 –> 00:07:43,100 The raw materials that are used in construction 136 00:07:43,100 –> 00:07:45,160 are all part of the creation of God 137 00:07:45,160 –> 00:07:47,459 and so when engineers and scientists 138 00:07:47,459 –> 00:07:50,299 and architects and builders work together 139 00:07:50,359 –> 00:07:52,799 to develop new products, invent new processes, 140 00:07:52,799 –> 00:07:55,779 solve new problems, they are reflecting 141 00:07:55,779 –> 00:07:57,640 the character of God. 142 00:07:59,459 –> 00:08:00,959 Jesus was a carpenter. 143 00:08:02,220 –> 00:08:06,040 He took the raw materials made by His own hand 144 00:08:06,040 –> 00:08:08,739 and crafted them with His flesh. 145 00:08:11,380 –> 00:08:13,600 Now there certainly are spiritual applications 146 00:08:13,600 –> 00:08:15,299 of this verse, but when Solomon wrote 147 00:08:15,299 –> 00:08:16,940 about building a house, he was talking 148 00:08:16,940 –> 00:08:18,940 in the first place about construction 149 00:08:19,019 –> 00:08:21,760 and so here is a word of encouragement 150 00:08:21,760 –> 00:08:24,859 for all of those who are involved in the trades 151 00:08:24,859 –> 00:08:26,540 or any kind of construction. 152 00:08:26,540 –> 00:08:28,640 God builds. 153 00:08:28,640 –> 00:08:30,500 And so when you build something, 154 00:08:30,500 –> 00:08:32,659 you are reflecting His character. 155 00:08:32,659 –> 00:08:35,340 Wonderful, great dignity in that. 156 00:08:35,340 –> 00:08:38,140 Second, God protects. 157 00:08:38,140 –> 00:08:41,340 So when you protect, you reflect His character. 158 00:08:41,340 –> 00:08:44,280 Verse two, unless the Lord watches over the city 159 00:08:44,280 –> 00:08:46,919 the watchman’s stand guard in vain. 160 00:08:46,919 –> 00:08:49,440 So now we’re being told that God watches. 161 00:08:49,440 –> 00:08:53,159 We’ve already remembered that from Psalm 121. 162 00:08:53,159 –> 00:08:56,900 Watchmen have the job of protecting others. 163 00:08:56,900 –> 00:08:59,000 So here is another wonderful area of work 164 00:08:59,000 –> 00:09:01,200 in which many of us in this congregation again 165 00:09:01,200 –> 00:09:03,219 are involved in one way or another 166 00:09:03,219 –> 00:09:05,140 that reflects the character of God 167 00:09:05,140 –> 00:09:07,539 to protect other people. 168 00:09:08,760 –> 00:09:12,440 Thank God for those who work in the emergency services, 169 00:09:12,440 –> 00:09:17,440 the police, fire, ambulance, paramedics, 170 00:09:17,799 –> 00:09:20,520 doctors, lawyers, 171 00:09:20,520 –> 00:09:23,859 those who serve in the military, national security, 172 00:09:23,859 –> 00:09:26,239 people who work in the area of insurance, 173 00:09:26,239 –> 00:09:28,739 counselors, crisis intervention, 174 00:09:28,739 –> 00:09:31,039 ushers for large crowds of people, 175 00:09:31,039 –> 00:09:33,919 security guards, night watchmen. 176 00:09:33,919 –> 00:09:35,719 God protects. 177 00:09:36,599 –> 00:09:40,280 And when you protect, you reflect His character. 178 00:09:41,179 –> 00:09:44,179 Third, God nurtures. 179 00:09:44,179 –> 00:09:47,039 So when you nurture, you reflect His character. 180 00:09:47,039 –> 00:09:50,080 Verse three, sons are a heritage from the Lord, 181 00:09:50,080 –> 00:09:52,280 children are a word from Him. 182 00:09:53,460 –> 00:09:55,520 Now of course there is a great mystery, 183 00:09:55,520 –> 00:09:57,380 isn’t there, in the gift of children. 184 00:09:58,520 –> 00:10:02,059 Why do some people have children and others not? 185 00:10:03,359 –> 00:10:07,080 Why is it that some children seem relatively easy to raise 186 00:10:07,080 –> 00:10:08,640 while others just seem to move 187 00:10:08,640 –> 00:10:11,280 from one particular difficulty to another? 188 00:10:12,500 –> 00:10:14,719 Why is it that out of all of the children 189 00:10:14,719 –> 00:10:16,159 who could possibly be born 190 00:10:16,159 –> 00:10:19,780 from two parents coming together over a period of time, 191 00:10:19,780 –> 00:10:22,200 that the particular children born 192 00:10:22,200 –> 00:10:24,359 to particular parents came to be 193 00:10:24,359 –> 00:10:26,419 with all their unique characteristics 194 00:10:26,419 –> 00:10:28,400 drawn from the father and from the mother 195 00:10:28,400 –> 00:10:30,239 and then with some special abilities 196 00:10:30,239 –> 00:10:32,179 that you can’t trace to either parent 197 00:10:32,179 –> 00:10:34,299 and some special problems 198 00:10:34,299 –> 00:10:36,299 that you could not predict either? 199 00:10:36,299 –> 00:10:37,599 There’s a mystery in this. 200 00:10:39,099 –> 00:10:40,460 But the psalmist’s telling us 201 00:10:40,460 –> 00:10:43,119 that the hand of God is in this, too. 202 00:10:44,580 –> 00:10:47,700 If children are a trust and a heritage from God, 203 00:10:47,700 –> 00:10:51,280 then there is great dignity in the work of raising them. 204 00:10:52,460 –> 00:10:54,619 So here is a word of encouragement 205 00:10:54,619 –> 00:10:56,880 for every one of us who in some way 206 00:10:56,880 –> 00:11:00,219 is involved in the work of nurturing. 207 00:11:00,219 –> 00:11:04,859 For mothers, for fathers, 208 00:11:04,900 –> 00:11:07,719 for teachers, for trainers, for coaches, 209 00:11:07,719 –> 00:11:10,159 for mentors, for everyone 210 00:11:11,580 –> 00:11:16,239 who contributes to the growth and development of a child, 211 00:11:16,239 –> 00:11:21,239 whatever her or his special needs or abilities, 212 00:11:22,340 –> 00:11:24,799 God nurtures. 213 00:11:25,760 –> 00:11:30,760 And when you nurture, you reflect his character. 214 00:11:32,640 –> 00:11:34,320 Now I want to approach these psalms 215 00:11:34,320 –> 00:11:36,799 through two very simple questions. 216 00:11:36,799 –> 00:11:40,219 The first is where does success come from 217 00:11:40,219 –> 00:11:44,080 and the second, what does success look like? 218 00:11:44,080 –> 00:11:47,659 First, then, where does success come from? 219 00:11:47,659 –> 00:11:51,559 What is it that makes a person successful in life? 220 00:11:51,559 –> 00:11:52,919 Is it talent? 221 00:11:54,299 –> 00:11:55,739 Is it opportunity? 222 00:11:57,039 –> 00:11:59,479 Is it sheer hard work? 223 00:12:00,580 –> 00:12:02,539 Is it simply a matter of luck? 224 00:12:03,500 –> 00:12:06,599 Is it some sort of combination of all of the above? 225 00:12:07,640 –> 00:12:12,119 What makes a person successful, where does it come from? 226 00:12:13,140 –> 00:12:17,039 I was browsing through Barnes and Noble 227 00:12:17,039 –> 00:12:19,119 earlier this week, one evening, 228 00:12:19,119 –> 00:12:23,479 and just looking through the vast array of books 229 00:12:23,479 –> 00:12:26,080 that are dedicated to this subject. 230 00:12:26,080 –> 00:12:28,619 What is the secret of success? 231 00:12:30,200 –> 00:12:32,380 I tell you, the sheer number of titles 232 00:12:32,440 –> 00:12:34,099 makes it very obvious, at least to me, 233 00:12:34,099 –> 00:12:36,719 that there’s no one easy answer to this question. 234 00:12:40,679 –> 00:12:45,020 But Psalm 127 wants to tell us something very significant, 235 00:12:45,020 –> 00:12:46,380 and it is simply this, 236 00:12:47,340 –> 00:12:51,440 that success in any area of life 237 00:12:51,440 –> 00:12:54,179 is a gift from the hand of God. 238 00:12:56,340 –> 00:12:58,159 I have to tell you I looked at at least 239 00:12:58,159 –> 00:13:00,020 half a dozen books in Barnes and Noble 240 00:13:00,020 –> 00:13:01,940 all on the subject of the secret of success, 241 00:13:02,500 –> 00:13:04,500 this week, and as I browsed through them 242 00:13:04,500 –> 00:13:07,700 I could not find any trace of this theme at all. 243 00:13:09,179 –> 00:13:11,000 But it’s here in Psalm 127. 244 00:13:13,020 –> 00:13:14,599 Notice that it’s put in two ways, 245 00:13:14,599 –> 00:13:19,219 first, without the Lord, you cannot succeed. 246 00:13:19,219 –> 00:13:20,460 That’s verse one. 247 00:13:20,460 –> 00:13:22,260 Unless the Lord builds the house, 248 00:13:22,260 –> 00:13:24,979 its builders labor in vain. 249 00:13:26,219 –> 00:13:28,900 It’s not just effort in other words. 250 00:13:28,900 –> 00:13:31,539 It is God who gives success to the builders. 251 00:13:31,580 –> 00:13:34,039 It is God who gives success to the defenders, 252 00:13:34,039 –> 00:13:36,940 and it is God who gives success to the nurturers. 253 00:13:36,940 –> 00:13:40,039 All success is a gift from his hand, 254 00:13:40,039 –> 00:13:43,159 without him none of us can succeed. 255 00:13:46,179 –> 00:13:51,179 And as I learn that, I will grow in humility. 256 00:13:52,859 –> 00:13:53,700 I need that. 257 00:13:55,979 –> 00:13:59,219 To look up into the face of God, as you can right now, 258 00:13:59,219 –> 00:14:00,580 and say by faith, Lord, 259 00:14:00,580 –> 00:14:04,340 whatever success you have placed into my hands, 260 00:14:04,340 –> 00:14:05,380 it’s a gift from you. 261 00:14:07,580 –> 00:14:08,400 Humility. 262 00:14:10,219 –> 00:14:12,020 Without the Lord you cannot succeed. 263 00:14:13,520 –> 00:14:17,340 Then verse two flips it around and gives us the same truth, 264 00:14:17,340 –> 00:14:19,520 but this way, in a positive form. 265 00:14:19,520 –> 00:14:22,799 With the Lord you will not fail. 266 00:14:23,900 –> 00:14:25,059 Look at verse two. 267 00:14:25,059 –> 00:14:28,140 In vain you rise up early and stay up late, 268 00:14:28,140 –> 00:14:29,460 toiling for food to eat, 269 00:14:30,099 –> 00:14:32,419 for he grants sleep, 270 00:14:32,419 –> 00:14:34,479 to those he loves. 271 00:14:35,500 –> 00:14:39,080 Now this is not the favorite verse of Insomniacs. 272 00:14:39,979 –> 00:14:42,900 He grants sleep to those he loves. 273 00:14:42,900 –> 00:14:45,059 And certainly on a number of occasions, 274 00:14:45,059 –> 00:14:47,460 I’ve found as many other pastors I’m sure have found 275 00:14:47,460 –> 00:14:49,099 that people have questions about this, 276 00:14:49,099 –> 00:14:51,140 you know if he grants sleep to those he loves, 277 00:14:51,140 –> 00:14:52,739 does that mean he doesn’t love me 278 00:14:52,739 –> 00:14:55,900 because I find it very difficult to sleep 279 00:14:55,900 –> 00:14:57,419 at night? 280 00:14:57,419 –> 00:15:00,140 Well notice that the NIV gives us a footnote 281 00:15:00,140 –> 00:15:03,179 showing an alternative reading or translation 282 00:15:03,179 –> 00:15:05,820 that I think fits right into the context here 283 00:15:05,820 –> 00:15:09,460 and will help us to understand what these words mean. 284 00:15:09,460 –> 00:15:12,159 If you look at the footnote, if you have the NIV, 285 00:15:12,159 –> 00:15:13,320 it puts it this way, 286 00:15:13,320 –> 00:15:15,539 in vain you rise up early and stay up late 287 00:15:15,539 –> 00:15:17,380 toiling for food to eat, 288 00:15:17,380 –> 00:15:19,780 for while they sleep, 289 00:15:19,780 –> 00:15:23,760 God provides for those he loves. 290 00:15:23,760 –> 00:15:25,539 Now let’s think this through together. 291 00:15:25,539 –> 00:15:30,219 Verse two is talking about toiling for food to eat. 292 00:15:31,200 –> 00:15:33,880 So we’re in the world of the farmer here. 293 00:15:34,760 –> 00:15:37,039 Now there’s plenty of work for the farmer to do 294 00:15:37,039 –> 00:15:39,479 in the fields during the day, 295 00:15:39,479 –> 00:15:41,799 but there isn’t much that the farmer can do 296 00:15:41,799 –> 00:15:43,659 in the fields at night. 297 00:15:44,760 –> 00:15:47,719 Certainly in ancient times without electric light 298 00:15:47,719 –> 00:15:49,340 and without any machinery, 299 00:15:49,340 –> 00:15:50,900 there was nothing that you could do 300 00:15:50,900 –> 00:15:53,880 in the fields during the hours of darkness. 301 00:15:53,880 –> 00:15:56,099 So you might as well go to sleep 302 00:15:56,099 –> 00:16:00,440 and wait until God causes the sun to rise in the morning. 303 00:16:01,359 –> 00:16:02,880 Now the wonderful thing, of course, 304 00:16:02,880 –> 00:16:07,880 is that while the farmer is sleeping, 305 00:16:08,099 –> 00:16:11,580 God is making his crops grow. 306 00:16:11,580 –> 00:16:14,219 And that’s the point of this verse. 307 00:16:14,219 –> 00:16:17,419 There is no need for you to stay up all night 308 00:16:17,419 –> 00:16:19,500 worrying about the fields. 309 00:16:19,500 –> 00:16:20,900 Go to sleep. 310 00:16:20,900 –> 00:16:22,419 And while you are sleeping, 311 00:16:22,460 –> 00:16:25,599 God will make your crops grow. 312 00:16:25,599 –> 00:16:27,940 Remember, Jesus told a parable about this. 313 00:16:27,940 –> 00:16:30,419 One of the shortest parables in the New Testament, 314 00:16:30,419 –> 00:16:33,619 you’ll find it in Mark 4, in verse 26. 315 00:16:33,619 –> 00:16:37,179 Jesus said a man scatters seed on the ground 316 00:16:37,179 –> 00:16:40,340 and it grows whether he sleeps or whether he gets up. 317 00:16:40,340 –> 00:16:42,500 That’s it, that’s the end of the parable. 318 00:16:42,500 –> 00:16:43,619 It doesn’t make any difference 319 00:16:43,619 –> 00:16:45,219 whether you’re up or down at night. 320 00:16:45,219 –> 00:16:47,239 It is God who makes the seed grow. 321 00:16:47,239 –> 00:16:48,359 And once you’ve planted it, 322 00:16:48,359 –> 00:16:49,880 its growth is in the hand of God. 323 00:16:49,880 –> 00:16:51,460 It’s not in your hand at all. 324 00:16:52,460 –> 00:16:55,280 Paul makes the same point talking about ministry. 325 00:16:55,280 –> 00:16:56,119 This is how it is. 326 00:16:56,119 –> 00:17:00,900 He says, I planted, a pollis watered, 327 00:17:00,900 –> 00:17:05,339 but it is God who makes things grow. 328 00:17:05,339 –> 00:17:09,119 Now that is the point of Psalm 127, verse two. 329 00:17:09,119 –> 00:17:12,859 In vain you rise up early and stay up late, 330 00:17:12,859 –> 00:17:15,180 toiling for food to eat, 331 00:17:15,180 –> 00:17:20,180 for while they sleep God provides for those he loves. 332 00:17:22,579 –> 00:17:23,900 So verse one is telling us 333 00:17:23,900 –> 00:17:26,739 that without the Lord you cannot succeed. 334 00:17:26,739 –> 00:17:28,260 Verse two is telling us 335 00:17:28,260 –> 00:17:31,380 that with the Lord you will not fail. 336 00:17:31,380 –> 00:17:34,020 If the first teaches me humility, 337 00:17:34,020 –> 00:17:37,280 the second will teach me gratitude. 338 00:17:38,780 –> 00:17:39,819 Think about this. 339 00:17:41,500 –> 00:17:46,500 You do not have to work or to worry all night, 340 00:17:47,780 –> 00:17:51,300 because God is working even when you can’t. 341 00:17:52,520 –> 00:17:55,880 God makes things grow even when you’re asleep. 342 00:17:57,020 –> 00:17:59,660 So when it comes to your business or your ministry 343 00:17:59,660 –> 00:18:01,540 or the issues of your family 344 00:18:01,540 –> 00:18:03,699 that are causing you great concern, 345 00:18:03,699 –> 00:18:06,979 then do what you have to do during the day, 346 00:18:07,939 –> 00:18:12,719 but then place the outcome of it all into His hand. 347 00:18:12,719 –> 00:18:16,020 God will be working even while you’re sleeping, 348 00:18:16,020 –> 00:18:20,239 so staying up to worry about it doesn’t achieve a thing. 349 00:18:20,300 –> 00:18:25,300 Do your work, but then release it into the hands of God. 350 00:18:27,500 –> 00:18:31,180 Get some rest, give yourself a break, 351 00:18:31,180 –> 00:18:36,180 don’t sweat it because without Him you cannot succeed 352 00:18:36,380 –> 00:18:39,640 and with Him you will not fail. 353 00:18:40,979 –> 00:18:44,979 Psalm 127, verses one and two. 354 00:18:44,979 –> 00:18:46,520 Where does success come from? 355 00:18:46,540 –> 00:18:49,719 It comes from the hand of God. 356 00:18:51,180 –> 00:18:53,660 When I see that and learn it deeply in my life, 357 00:18:53,660 –> 00:18:58,000 I will grow in humility and I’ll grow in gratitude. 358 00:18:59,479 –> 00:19:02,979 Now, here’s the second thing that comes out of these Psalms. 359 00:19:02,979 –> 00:19:05,959 Not only where success comes from, 360 00:19:05,959 –> 00:19:08,699 but what success looks like. 361 00:19:08,699 –> 00:19:10,099 Now, here’s a huge question. 362 00:19:11,180 –> 00:19:14,859 How do you measure success? 363 00:19:17,439 –> 00:19:20,739 We have a board game at home called careers, 364 00:19:20,739 –> 00:19:23,160 which we played on a number of occasions 365 00:19:23,160 –> 00:19:24,819 more in the past than recently. 366 00:19:24,819 –> 00:19:27,520 You know the board game careers? 367 00:19:27,520 –> 00:19:29,260 It’s a fun game. 368 00:19:29,260 –> 00:19:31,119 At the beginning, you’ve got to set 369 00:19:31,119 –> 00:19:34,180 your winning formula for life. 370 00:19:34,180 –> 00:19:39,180 And it’s in three categories, fame, fortune, and happiness. 371 00:19:39,219 –> 00:19:42,400 And the various cards in this board game, 372 00:19:42,400 –> 00:19:45,640 the fame ones have gold stars. 373 00:19:45,640 –> 00:19:48,560 The fortune ones, of course, have the big dollar signs. 374 00:19:48,560 –> 00:19:52,160 And the happiness ones have little red hearts. 375 00:19:52,160 –> 00:19:54,920 And, so, you set your formula at the beginning of the game 376 00:19:54,920 –> 00:19:56,719 that you’re going to shoot for so much fame, 377 00:19:56,719 –> 00:19:59,119 so much fortune, and so much happiness. 378 00:19:59,119 –> 00:20:01,880 And then you roll the dice and off you go around the board 379 00:20:01,880 –> 00:20:04,439 hoping to land on squares that will give you 380 00:20:04,439 –> 00:20:06,859 the opportunity to pursue these various things 381 00:20:06,859 –> 00:20:09,719 or draw cards that will give you that opportunity. 382 00:20:09,719 –> 00:20:12,459 And so for example, if you land on a square 383 00:20:12,459 –> 00:20:14,239 in which you perform a heroic deed, 384 00:20:14,319 –> 00:20:15,739 your name gets in the papers, 385 00:20:15,739 –> 00:20:19,540 that’s worth 10 stars of fame that goes on your card. 386 00:20:19,540 –> 00:20:21,900 If you get a holiday in Hawaii, 387 00:20:21,900 –> 00:20:24,780 then that’s worth five hearts worth of happiness, 388 00:20:24,780 –> 00:20:26,819 and so forth and so on. 389 00:20:27,739 –> 00:20:29,739 Now, it’s a great game, 390 00:20:29,739 –> 00:20:32,180 and it is based entirely on the assumption 391 00:20:32,180 –> 00:20:35,540 that the way in which a person should measure success 392 00:20:35,540 –> 00:20:40,540 is in fame, fortune, and happiness, 393 00:20:41,040 –> 00:20:43,180 that I make my mark in the world, 394 00:20:43,979 –> 00:20:46,339 that I amass a certain number of dollars 395 00:20:46,339 –> 00:20:49,260 and the security, financially, that that brings, 396 00:20:50,180 –> 00:20:53,459 and that I am able to enjoy experiences 397 00:20:53,459 –> 00:20:55,880 that bring to me great pleasure, 398 00:20:55,880 –> 00:20:57,380 fame, fortune, and happiness. 399 00:20:59,660 –> 00:21:00,900 Now, here’s the question. 400 00:21:02,540 –> 00:21:05,699 How do you measure success? 401 00:21:08,260 –> 00:21:10,219 Now, it is a huge question 402 00:21:10,260 –> 00:21:14,160 because the measures you use for success 403 00:21:14,160 –> 00:21:16,339 will be the primary drivers of your life. 404 00:21:18,420 –> 00:21:22,300 They will be the things that you primarily pursue 405 00:21:22,300 –> 00:21:23,819 and give yourself to. 406 00:21:26,180 –> 00:21:29,800 So what’s your measure of success? 407 00:21:34,060 –> 00:21:35,739 Now, I found that the 408 00:21:35,739 –> 00:21:39,060 God-teaching of these two Psalms 409 00:21:39,060 –> 00:21:42,979 is deeply searching, profoundly challenging 410 00:21:44,239 –> 00:21:45,619 and wonderfully encouraging. 411 00:21:47,500 –> 00:21:50,540 I want you to see here that God in these two Psalms 412 00:21:50,540 –> 00:21:54,660 gives three dimensions of success. 413 00:21:56,339 –> 00:21:59,040 And I wonder if you were asked to write them down 414 00:21:59,040 –> 00:22:00,319 before reading this Psalm, 415 00:22:00,319 –> 00:22:02,140 if you would write them down at all? 416 00:22:02,979 –> 00:22:07,979 Number one, that your wife should flourish. 417 00:22:10,420 –> 00:22:14,439 Number two, that your children should live with honor. 418 00:22:15,880 –> 00:22:20,260 Number three, that God’s kingdom should prosper. 419 00:22:22,119 –> 00:22:23,579 Let’s look at them together. 420 00:22:24,640 –> 00:22:26,640 I fear they wouldn’t have been the things 421 00:22:26,640 –> 00:22:28,640 I would have written down in that order, 422 00:22:29,680 –> 00:22:31,680 and therefore, I need my mind and my heart 423 00:22:31,680 –> 00:22:36,680 to be taught and directed and guided by the word of God. 424 00:22:38,280 –> 00:22:39,219 Look at it with me. 425 00:22:40,160 –> 00:22:42,199 Psalm 128 verse three. 426 00:22:43,060 –> 00:22:44,619 That your wife should flourish. 427 00:22:47,160 –> 00:22:49,319 Your wife will be, verse three, 428 00:22:49,319 –> 00:22:54,239 like a fruitful vine in your house. 429 00:22:54,239 –> 00:22:56,319 Now, the scriptures are obviously speaking here 430 00:22:56,319 –> 00:22:57,640 to those who are married, 431 00:22:57,640 –> 00:23:00,400 so let me take a moment to do the same. 432 00:23:01,060 –> 00:23:04,219 Really, if you were in a business seminar 433 00:23:04,219 –> 00:23:08,819 and you were asked to list the three distinguishing marks 434 00:23:08,819 –> 00:23:09,959 of a successful life, 435 00:23:09,959 –> 00:23:12,760 I wonder if this would really be on your list. 436 00:23:14,819 –> 00:23:17,699 It seems to me that at least in Psalm 128, 437 00:23:17,699 –> 00:23:19,979 it is top of God’s list. 438 00:23:21,459 –> 00:23:24,160 It is the first evidence that a man has learned, 439 00:23:24,160 –> 00:23:28,199 verse one, to fear the Lord and to walk in His ways. 440 00:23:28,199 –> 00:23:30,199 This is the blessing that comes from it. 441 00:23:32,579 –> 00:23:34,859 About seven years ago, 442 00:23:34,859 –> 00:23:37,359 I planted a bush at the bottom of our yard. 443 00:23:37,359 –> 00:23:39,199 There’s a kind of electrical installment 444 00:23:39,199 –> 00:23:40,380 just beyond the property. 445 00:23:40,380 –> 00:23:42,699 We wanted to cover that up, so I planted this bush. 446 00:23:42,699 –> 00:23:44,920 It’s in the shade of some larger trees. 447 00:23:44,920 –> 00:23:46,640 I planted it seven years ago, 448 00:23:46,640 –> 00:23:49,359 and in seven years, because of its position, 449 00:23:49,359 –> 00:23:52,280 that bush has hardly grown. 450 00:23:52,280 –> 00:23:54,160 Just a few inches in seven years. 451 00:23:55,040 –> 00:23:57,199 On the same day, 452 00:23:57,199 –> 00:23:59,699 I planted another bush of the same size 453 00:24:00,699 –> 00:24:03,119 at the opposite end of our yard, 454 00:24:04,260 –> 00:24:06,819 and I am never done cutting it back. 455 00:24:09,060 –> 00:24:11,140 Now, here’s the picture. 456 00:24:13,119 –> 00:24:16,219 Your wife has been planted beside you. 457 00:24:17,859 –> 00:24:21,280 Her roots go down into the same soil as yours do, 458 00:24:22,260 –> 00:24:27,099 her flourishing is your success, 459 00:24:28,079 –> 00:24:29,319 that’s the teaching here. 460 00:24:33,219 –> 00:24:35,319 Picture of a fruitful vine, 461 00:24:36,660 –> 00:24:38,640 made me think of a vine that you can see. 462 00:24:38,640 –> 00:24:40,380 If you ever get the chance to go to London, 463 00:24:40,380 –> 00:24:42,819 visit Hampton Court, 464 00:24:42,819 –> 00:24:45,500 beautiful mansion house with absolutely 465 00:24:45,500 –> 00:24:46,900 magnificent gardens, 466 00:24:46,900 –> 00:24:48,839 and one of the features there is 467 00:24:48,839 –> 00:24:51,699 what they simply refer to as the vine. 468 00:24:51,699 –> 00:24:54,500 The vine in Hampton Court was planted 469 00:24:54,500 –> 00:24:57,859 in the year 1769. 470 00:24:59,040 –> 00:25:02,280 Its stem, a single stem is now, 471 00:25:02,280 –> 00:25:05,699 measures over six foot wide, 472 00:25:05,699 –> 00:25:06,599 six feet wide. 473 00:25:07,479 –> 00:25:11,739 It still bears a remarkable crop of grapes every year. 474 00:25:12,780 –> 00:25:16,439 This vine, planted in 1769 is housed 475 00:25:16,439 –> 00:25:18,180 in a massive greenhouse. 476 00:25:18,300 –> 00:25:22,020 You walk in and you see this massive six foot wide stem 477 00:25:22,020 –> 00:25:24,699 and then all that flows from it 478 00:25:24,699 –> 00:25:28,859 and grows from it supported throughout this greenhouse. 479 00:25:28,859 –> 00:25:32,199 One plant, it is absolutely remarkable. 480 00:25:34,239 –> 00:25:36,739 My memory of last time I was there in Hampton Court 481 00:25:36,739 –> 00:25:39,640 is very distinctly of coming out from the greenhouse 482 00:25:39,640 –> 00:25:44,180 and then to the side there is this large area, 483 00:25:44,180 –> 00:25:46,459 probably the size of a basketball court 484 00:25:46,979 –> 00:25:50,219 and there is nothing growing in it at all. 485 00:25:51,400 –> 00:25:54,839 It is simply the most beautiful, fertile, 486 00:25:54,839 –> 00:25:58,640 finely crumbled, beautifully raked soil 487 00:25:58,640 –> 00:26:00,420 and it is clearly marked off, 488 00:26:00,420 –> 00:26:03,579 you cannot walk there or even get near it. 489 00:26:04,880 –> 00:26:07,800 I asked about it and of course was told 490 00:26:07,800 –> 00:26:10,119 that this was the area over 491 00:26:10,119 –> 00:26:13,479 the primary root systems of the vine, 492 00:26:14,319 –> 00:26:18,699 and there is a regular schedule in Hampton Court 493 00:26:18,699 –> 00:26:22,199 for fertilizing this patch of ground 494 00:26:23,420 –> 00:26:26,339 so that the vines will continue to flourish. 495 00:26:28,479 –> 00:26:31,300 That’s a beautiful picture, husbands. 496 00:26:33,160 –> 00:26:35,020 You know what success looks like? 497 00:26:37,599 –> 00:26:40,599 That your wife should be like a fruitful vine 498 00:26:40,599 –> 00:26:41,900 within your house. 499 00:26:44,199 –> 00:26:47,199 That what you pour onto her roots 500 00:26:47,199 –> 00:26:49,760 that are so tied together with yours 501 00:26:51,020 –> 00:26:54,040 should be so rich that she flourishes 502 00:26:56,380 –> 00:26:59,520 that being planted next to you 503 00:27:00,439 –> 00:27:02,319 has been for her growth 504 00:27:03,540 –> 00:27:05,119 and has been for her good. 505 00:27:07,280 –> 00:27:08,859 I find that deeply challenging. 506 00:27:09,819 –> 00:27:11,560 I find that profoundly helpful. 507 00:27:13,900 –> 00:27:15,859 Husbands, if you want to move 508 00:27:15,859 –> 00:27:18,839 from frustration to fulfillment, begin here. 509 00:27:20,459 –> 00:27:22,119 Let your wife flourish. 510 00:27:22,119 –> 00:27:24,459 You say how can I do that? 511 00:27:24,459 –> 00:27:29,119 Listen, without the Lord you cannot succeed. 512 00:27:29,119 –> 00:27:32,599 With the Lord, you will not fail. 513 00:27:35,060 –> 00:27:37,000 I notice the second thing, 514 00:27:37,000 –> 00:27:39,400 not only that your wife should flourish, 515 00:27:39,400 –> 00:27:42,520 but that your children should live with honor, 516 00:27:42,520 –> 00:27:45,880 Psalm 127 verses four and five, 517 00:27:45,880 –> 00:27:47,199 it’s been talking in verse three 518 00:27:47,199 –> 00:27:50,060 about sons being a heritage from the Lord. 519 00:27:51,000 –> 00:27:52,479 Then it says, verse five, 520 00:27:52,479 –> 00:27:55,400 they will not be put to shame 521 00:27:55,400 –> 00:27:59,619 when they contend with their enemies at the gate. 522 00:28:01,119 –> 00:28:04,739 Now, the vision here is of sons and daughters 523 00:28:04,739 –> 00:28:06,260 who have been raised in such a way 524 00:28:06,260 –> 00:28:08,119 that, when they’re sent out into the world, 525 00:28:08,119 –> 00:28:10,079 they live with honor. 526 00:28:10,079 –> 00:28:11,420 The city gate was, of course, 527 00:28:11,420 –> 00:28:14,000 the place where legal trials took place, 528 00:28:14,000 –> 00:28:16,640 and so the picture here is of sons and daughters 529 00:28:16,640 –> 00:28:18,560 who have lived lives of integrity 530 00:28:18,560 –> 00:28:20,800 so that, even when their enemies accuse them 531 00:28:20,800 –> 00:28:24,540 by the city gate, they will not be put to shame. 532 00:28:26,180 –> 00:28:28,540 I want you to notice that there are two beautiful 533 00:28:28,540 –> 00:28:31,400 and complementary pictures of what it means 534 00:28:31,400 –> 00:28:34,459 to raise a child in these psalms. 535 00:28:34,479 –> 00:28:36,079 And it is important that we keep 536 00:28:36,079 –> 00:28:38,880 these two pictures together. 537 00:28:38,880 –> 00:28:40,780 You will find, I think, that one picture 538 00:28:40,780 –> 00:28:44,000 more immediately appeals to mothers, 539 00:28:44,000 –> 00:28:47,520 and the other more immediately appeals to fathers, 540 00:28:47,520 –> 00:28:49,079 and of course I’ll leave it to you 541 00:28:49,079 –> 00:28:52,160 to sort out which is which. 542 00:28:52,160 –> 00:28:55,319 Notice the first, Psalm 28, verse 3. 543 00:28:56,619 –> 00:29:00,800 Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. 544 00:29:01,359 –> 00:29:02,939 Around your table. 545 00:29:04,500 –> 00:29:06,400 Now, I haven’t often gone to my boys 546 00:29:06,400 –> 00:29:08,060 and said I’m so glad that you are 547 00:29:08,060 –> 00:29:11,380 an olive shoot around my table. 548 00:29:11,380 –> 00:29:13,839 I don’t think that’s gonna get me very far. 549 00:29:13,839 –> 00:29:16,660 What on earth does this mean? 550 00:29:16,660 –> 00:29:19,500 Well, very simply, the picture of an olive shoot 551 00:29:19,500 –> 00:29:23,680 is the picture of a sapling of tender young growth 552 00:29:25,619 –> 00:29:27,719 that needs to be nurtured. 553 00:29:27,719 –> 00:29:29,040 That’s a beautiful picture, isn’t it, 554 00:29:29,079 –> 00:29:30,800 of the children in the home, 555 00:29:30,800 –> 00:29:34,739 of the tender shoots, the vulnerable saplings, 556 00:29:34,739 –> 00:29:38,199 the little buds that need to be nurtured? 557 00:29:39,640 –> 00:29:41,680 But notice that that is not the only picture 558 00:29:41,680 –> 00:29:45,800 because if you look at Psalm 127, verse three and four, 559 00:29:45,800 –> 00:29:47,579 you’ve got something quite different 560 00:29:47,579 –> 00:29:49,560 that needs to be alongside it. 561 00:29:49,560 –> 00:29:51,959 Sons are a heritage from the Lord. 562 00:29:51,959 –> 00:29:54,119 Children are a reward from him, 563 00:29:54,119 –> 00:29:58,800 like arrows in the hands of a warrior 564 00:29:58,800 –> 00:30:01,619 our sons born in one’s youth. 565 00:30:02,739 –> 00:30:05,979 So these little moist saplings 566 00:30:07,199 –> 00:30:09,500 have now become sharpened arrows. 567 00:30:10,880 –> 00:30:11,719 And the psalmist says, 568 00:30:11,719 –> 00:30:13,479 “‘Blessed is the man whose quiver,” 569 00:30:13,479 –> 00:30:15,380 that in which you carry the arrows, 570 00:30:15,380 –> 00:30:18,599 “‘Blessed as the man whose quiver is full of them.’” 571 00:30:19,579 –> 00:30:20,699 So here are two pictures 572 00:30:20,699 –> 00:30:23,239 that need to be kept alongside one another. 573 00:30:23,239 –> 00:30:28,000 Here is the mother, like a fruitful vine 574 00:30:28,020 –> 00:30:32,859 with the children being like olive shoots around the table. 575 00:30:34,000 –> 00:30:37,599 And here is the father, who is like a warrior, 576 00:30:37,599 –> 00:30:40,920 and his kids are like sharpened arrows, 577 00:30:40,920 –> 00:30:43,439 and they’re ready to be sent out into the world, 578 00:30:43,439 –> 00:30:44,880 because the point of arrows, of course, 579 00:30:44,880 –> 00:30:46,680 is that they don’t remain in the quiver. 580 00:30:46,680 –> 00:30:48,500 You don’t spend the rest of your life 581 00:30:48,500 –> 00:30:50,880 carrying the arrows on your back. 582 00:30:50,880 –> 00:30:52,380 The whole point of the arrows 583 00:30:52,380 –> 00:30:53,500 is that they are prepared 584 00:30:53,500 –> 00:30:56,959 in order to be fired out into the world 585 00:30:56,959 –> 00:30:58,520 to fulfill their purpose. 586 00:31:00,119 –> 00:31:02,199 So, here in Two Beautiful Pictures 587 00:31:02,199 –> 00:31:06,140 is the calling of parenthood, 588 00:31:07,619 –> 00:31:10,680 the nurture of tender growth 589 00:31:12,000 –> 00:31:15,900 with a view to the release of sharpened strength. 590 00:31:17,640 –> 00:31:20,040 The nurture of tender growth 591 00:31:21,719 –> 00:31:23,839 with a view to the release 592 00:31:24,959 –> 00:31:26,500 of sharpened strength. 593 00:31:27,719 –> 00:31:29,699 And you say, how can I do that? 594 00:31:32,079 –> 00:31:34,300 Without the Lord, you cannot succeed. 595 00:31:35,560 –> 00:31:39,439 With the Lord, you will not fail. 596 00:31:41,079 –> 00:31:42,400 By the way, I can’t resist this, 597 00:31:42,400 –> 00:31:45,040 Derek Kidnor has a wonderful comment here 598 00:31:45,040 –> 00:31:46,800 in his book on the Psalms. 599 00:31:46,800 –> 00:31:48,140 He says this. 600 00:31:48,140 –> 00:31:50,560 The greater their promise, 601 00:31:51,479 –> 00:31:54,699 the more likely it is that these sons 602 00:31:54,900 –> 00:31:59,780 will be a handful before they are aquiverful. 603 00:31:59,780 –> 00:32:00,619 I like that. 604 00:32:01,579 –> 00:32:04,979 The greater their promise, 605 00:32:04,979 –> 00:32:07,660 the more likely it is that these sons 606 00:32:07,660 –> 00:32:12,660 will be a handful before they are aquiverful. 607 00:32:12,699 –> 00:32:14,859 And maybe you’re saying, hey, wait a minute, 608 00:32:14,859 –> 00:32:17,239 if my son or my daughter’s supposed to be 609 00:32:17,239 –> 00:32:18,380 like a sharpened arrow, 610 00:32:18,380 –> 00:32:22,500 they’re like an arrow flying a long way off target. 611 00:32:23,420 –> 00:32:24,239 Well, here, 612 00:32:25,500 –> 00:32:27,660 this is another place where we need to remember 613 00:32:27,660 –> 00:32:29,579 what we just learned about the farmer. 614 00:32:30,699 –> 00:32:34,260 You do what God has given you to do 615 00:32:34,260 –> 00:32:36,859 and then you need to find rest 616 00:32:36,859 –> 00:32:39,500 knowing that God keeps doing His work 617 00:32:39,500 –> 00:32:42,199 even when you can’t continue doing yours. 618 00:32:44,400 –> 00:32:46,140 And there we need to find release. 619 00:32:47,780 –> 00:32:50,180 And there we need to find rest. 620 00:32:50,180 –> 00:32:51,579 What does success look like? 621 00:32:51,579 –> 00:32:53,859 That your wife should flourish, 622 00:32:53,859 –> 00:32:56,780 that your children should live with honor. 623 00:32:56,780 –> 00:33:00,780 Thirdly and finally, that God’s kingdom should prosper. 624 00:33:00,780 –> 00:33:03,040 Psalm 128 in verse 5, 625 00:33:03,040 –> 00:33:06,579 may the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life. 626 00:33:06,579 –> 00:33:08,939 May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem 627 00:33:08,939 –> 00:33:11,900 and may you live to see your children’s children 628 00:33:11,900 –> 00:33:14,300 peace be upon Israel. 629 00:33:15,500 –> 00:33:18,099 Now, of course Jerusalem was significant 630 00:33:18,099 –> 00:33:20,819 as we’ve seen each time in this series 631 00:33:20,819 –> 00:33:22,739 because it was the center of God’s work 632 00:33:22,739 –> 00:33:24,280 among His people in the world 633 00:33:24,280 –> 00:33:25,520 and so when the prayer is 634 00:33:25,520 –> 00:33:28,560 that you will see Jerusalem prosper, 635 00:33:28,560 –> 00:33:30,520 the prayer and the longing is that you will see 636 00:33:30,520 –> 00:33:33,300 God’s great and wonderful purpose advance 637 00:33:33,300 –> 00:33:35,219 in the world in your time. 638 00:33:36,380 –> 00:33:39,060 Some generations are privileged to see God at work 639 00:33:39,060 –> 00:33:41,280 in the world in wonderful ways. 640 00:33:42,640 –> 00:33:45,760 Other folks have the tough calling 641 00:33:45,760 –> 00:33:48,079 of holding the line of truth 642 00:33:48,079 –> 00:33:51,920 in the cold winds of bitter opposition. 643 00:33:52,880 –> 00:33:56,180 But every generation of God’s people longs to see 644 00:33:56,180 –> 00:33:59,060 His purpose advanced and His kingdom extended. 645 00:33:59,060 –> 00:34:01,020 That’s why Jesus taught us to pray 646 00:34:01,020 –> 00:34:02,660 thy kingdom come, 647 00:34:02,660 –> 00:34:06,579 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 648 00:34:06,579 –> 00:34:08,020 So here is a great prayer. 649 00:34:09,780 –> 00:34:13,260 Lord let us not pass through life in this generation 650 00:34:13,260 –> 00:34:16,100 with your work being left in just the same place 651 00:34:16,100 –> 00:34:17,560 as it was when we arrived. 652 00:34:19,080 –> 00:34:22,760 Let us be the means of bringing your truth 653 00:34:22,760 –> 00:34:25,560 to some who have never heard your gospel. 654 00:34:27,699 –> 00:34:30,219 Let us be the means of bringing your love 655 00:34:30,219 –> 00:34:32,199 to some who have never felt 656 00:34:32,199 –> 00:34:34,860 the compassionate touch of Jesus. 657 00:34:37,159 –> 00:34:38,939 Let us be part of bringing hope 658 00:34:38,939 –> 00:34:42,340 to people who have never seen the light of Jesus Christ. 659 00:34:43,919 –> 00:34:46,979 That would be great success. 660 00:34:48,899 –> 00:34:51,219 You say, how do I do that? 661 00:34:52,580 –> 00:34:55,199 There are a thousand ways, and none of them easy. 662 00:34:57,820 –> 00:35:02,459 Without the Lord you cannot succeed with the Lord. 663 00:35:03,800 –> 00:35:04,840 You will not fail. 664 00:35:07,520 –> 00:35:09,500 So here’s the biblical picture of success 665 00:35:09,500 –> 00:35:11,139 that your wife should flourish, 666 00:35:12,560 –> 00:35:14,659 that your children should live with honor, 667 00:35:15,620 –> 00:35:17,919 that God’s kingdom should prosper in our time. 668 00:35:19,060 –> 00:35:22,300 Of course, unlike careers, 669 00:35:23,840 –> 00:35:25,600 the great thing about these things 670 00:35:26,979 –> 00:35:29,199 is that they last forever. 671 00:35:30,320 –> 00:35:34,020 Fame, fortune, happiness will pass away. 672 00:35:35,979 –> 00:35:40,320 Your wife flourishing, your children living with honor 673 00:35:41,739 –> 00:35:46,280 and the extension of God’s kingdom last forever. 674 00:35:48,860 –> 00:35:50,919 Now here’s the final thing in conclusion. 675 00:35:50,919 –> 00:35:53,919 It’s always good it seems to me to ask the question, 676 00:35:53,919 –> 00:35:55,040 now where do we see this sort 677 00:35:55,040 –> 00:35:57,500 of thing worked out in practice? 678 00:35:57,500 –> 00:35:59,820 And here we come to what I think is the real kicker, 679 00:35:59,820 –> 00:36:02,219 especially in Psalm 127. 680 00:36:02,219 –> 00:36:04,080 Notice, as we said at the beginning, 681 00:36:04,080 –> 00:36:06,479 that this psalm was written by Solomon, 682 00:36:06,479 –> 00:36:08,399 the great king to whom early 683 00:36:08,399 –> 00:36:11,320 in life God had given so much wisdom. 684 00:36:11,320 –> 00:36:13,840 It is very clear that it is Solomon’s psalm. 685 00:36:13,840 –> 00:36:15,320 He was the great builder. 686 00:36:15,320 –> 00:36:16,719 He built the temple. 687 00:36:16,719 –> 00:36:19,800 The first book of Kings tells us so many other buildings 688 00:36:19,800 –> 00:36:22,679 that were put up on a massive scale during his lifetime, 689 00:36:22,679 –> 00:36:26,879 it was a construction almost spiraling out of control. 690 00:36:26,879 –> 00:36:29,360 And he says, unless the Lord builds the house, 691 00:36:29,360 –> 00:36:31,959 its builders labor in vain. 692 00:36:31,959 –> 00:36:34,219 Solomon made a great start to life. 693 00:36:35,100 –> 00:36:39,120 The teacher here speaks under the direct inspiration 694 00:36:39,120 –> 00:36:41,040 of the Holy Spirit of God. 695 00:36:41,040 –> 00:36:43,540 What an experience that must’ve been for him. 696 00:36:45,040 –> 00:36:45,959 The tragedy. 697 00:36:47,459 –> 00:36:50,139 Is that as the years went by, 698 00:36:50,139 –> 00:36:54,239 Solomon failed to put his own teaching into practice. 699 00:36:55,639 –> 00:36:56,479 Think about it. 700 00:36:57,479 –> 00:37:00,280 Your wife should flourish. 701 00:37:01,560 –> 00:37:03,840 You know that at the end of his life 702 00:37:03,840 –> 00:37:08,600 Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines? 703 00:37:08,600 –> 00:37:10,060 I mean, I don’t think his mind knew much 704 00:37:10,060 –> 00:37:12,620 about sustaining a relationship, do you? 705 00:37:13,959 –> 00:37:16,159 I mean, something’s strangely wrong 706 00:37:16,760 –> 00:37:17,860 in his view of women. 707 00:37:20,620 –> 00:37:23,080 That your children should bring honor? 708 00:37:23,080 –> 00:37:25,280 His son Rehoboam, who reigned after him, 709 00:37:25,280 –> 00:37:26,919 is only remembered for two things. 710 00:37:26,919 –> 00:37:29,699 First, his cruelty, second, his incompetence. 711 00:37:31,439 –> 00:37:33,340 That God’s kingdom should prosper 712 00:37:33,340 –> 00:37:34,719 at the end of Solomon’s reign. 713 00:37:34,719 –> 00:37:36,800 God’s kingdom was divided 714 00:37:36,800 –> 00:37:39,360 and plunged into 400 years of darkness. 715 00:37:42,439 –> 00:37:44,360 The tragedy of Solomon’s life 716 00:37:44,360 –> 00:37:45,860 is that he knew these things 717 00:37:45,939 –> 00:37:47,199 but he did not do them. 718 00:37:50,860 –> 00:37:51,919 And I wonder you know, 719 00:37:51,919 –> 00:37:53,239 if that was in Jesus’s mind 720 00:37:53,239 –> 00:37:55,080 when he told his wonderful story 721 00:37:55,080 –> 00:37:57,439 about the wise and foolish builders. 722 00:37:59,139 –> 00:38:01,360 Remember what Jesus said? 723 00:38:01,360 –> 00:38:02,899 The wise man who builds his house on the rock 724 00:38:02,899 –> 00:38:05,060 and the foolish man who builds his house on the sand. 725 00:38:05,060 –> 00:38:07,139 Jesus said specifically this. 726 00:38:07,139 –> 00:38:09,780 It’s the person who hears these words 727 00:38:09,780 –> 00:38:12,020 and puts them into practice 728 00:38:12,020 –> 00:38:15,199 will be like the wise man who builds on the rock. 729 00:38:15,199 –> 00:38:17,419 And the one who just hears these words on Sunday morning 730 00:38:17,419 –> 00:38:18,879 but goes home and doesn’t really change 731 00:38:18,879 –> 00:38:20,199 the priorities of life 732 00:38:20,199 –> 00:38:21,560 is gonna be like the foolish man 733 00:38:21,560 –> 00:38:23,020 who builds his house on the sand 734 00:38:23,020 –> 00:38:26,520 and when the storm comes great will be the collapse. 735 00:38:29,479 –> 00:38:33,340 So even though these Psalms are given through Solomon, 736 00:38:33,340 –> 00:38:35,939 at least the first one given through Solomon, 737 00:38:35,939 –> 00:38:39,800 we have to look for someone better than Solomon 738 00:38:39,800 –> 00:38:41,939 at putting them into practice. 739 00:38:42,939 –> 00:38:45,659 And so I have found it very helpful 740 00:38:45,659 –> 00:38:49,379 to think of these Psalms on the lips of Jesus. 741 00:38:51,300 –> 00:38:56,300 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine. 742 00:38:57,939 –> 00:39:00,340 The church is the bride of Christ, 743 00:39:00,340 –> 00:39:03,560 Christ loves her, nourishes her, 744 00:39:03,560 –> 00:39:06,899 walks with her through all her struggles 745 00:39:06,899 –> 00:39:08,820 and will bring her through them 746 00:39:08,820 –> 00:39:11,899 and beyond them into his own house 747 00:39:11,939 –> 00:39:14,939 where she will flourish forevermore. 748 00:39:16,939 –> 00:39:18,479 And that in the New Testament 749 00:39:18,479 –> 00:39:22,899 is the model of what a Christian marriage is to be. 750 00:39:25,239 –> 00:39:28,899 Your sons and daughters will not be put to shame. 751 00:39:28,899 –> 00:39:31,060 Oh, if you are a son or a daughter of God, 752 00:39:31,060 –> 00:39:33,260 you may experience shame in this life, 753 00:39:33,260 –> 00:39:36,020 but the Bible tells us those who trust in him 754 00:39:36,020 –> 00:39:38,459 will never be put to shame. 755 00:39:38,459 –> 00:39:40,719 The final outcome of your life 756 00:39:40,820 –> 00:39:42,219 as a son or a daughter of God, 757 00:39:42,219 –> 00:39:44,159 whatever your mistakes and your failures, 758 00:39:44,159 –> 00:39:47,620 will not be that your head is left hanging in shame, 759 00:39:47,620 –> 00:39:50,879 but rather, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 760 00:39:50,879 –> 00:39:53,439 it will be covered in his reflected glory. 761 00:39:55,500 –> 00:39:59,239 And in his hand God’s kingdom prospers. 762 00:39:59,239 –> 00:40:02,659 The work of Christ in you and in the world 763 00:40:02,659 –> 00:40:04,979 will not end in frustration, 764 00:40:06,760 –> 00:40:09,399 but in fulfillment, because what he begins 765 00:40:10,979 –> 00:40:13,020 he always completes, 766 00:40:13,020 –> 00:40:16,360 what he starts, he always finishes. 767 00:40:17,639 –> 00:40:19,520 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. 768 00:40:19,520 –> 00:40:21,939 The apostle Paul says, let nothing move you, 769 00:40:22,979 –> 00:40:26,120 but always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord 770 00:40:26,120 –> 00:40:31,120 knowing that in the Lord, your work is not in vain. 771 00:40:33,620 –> 00:40:35,120 Let’s pray together, shall we? 772 00:40:35,639 –> 00:40:36,459 Amen. 773 00:40:38,520 –> 00:40:41,239 Father, all of us know frustration in work 774 00:40:41,239 –> 00:40:43,800 and all of us know pain in the family, 775 00:40:46,120 –> 00:40:47,899 so thank you that in your grace 776 00:40:47,899 –> 00:40:49,540 and through the Lord Jesus Christ, 777 00:40:49,540 –> 00:40:51,239 you seek to enter into both 778 00:40:53,500 –> 00:40:57,540 and to move us in the direction away from frustration 779 00:40:59,040 –> 00:41:00,659 and into fulfillment, 780 00:41:02,379 –> 00:41:03,800 humbly and with gratitude, 781 00:41:03,840 –> 00:41:05,439 and we acknowledge that all success 782 00:41:05,439 –> 00:41:07,300 is a gift that comes from your hand. 783 00:41:09,439 –> 00:41:10,899 We thank you that today, 784 00:41:10,899 –> 00:41:13,159 your Word has helped us to sharpen 785 00:41:13,159 –> 00:41:16,280 and to refocus our understanding 786 00:41:16,280 –> 00:41:18,379 of what that success really looks like. 787 00:41:20,500 –> 00:41:21,500 So like the farmer, 788 00:41:21,500 –> 00:41:24,600 we want to do all that you have called us to do 789 00:41:24,600 –> 00:41:27,000 and then when we can do no more, 790 00:41:27,000 –> 00:41:30,239 to place it and release it into your hands. 791 00:41:30,239 –> 00:41:33,300 Teach us, therefore, to walk in the feet of the Lord 792 00:41:33,300 –> 00:41:34,520 and in the way of wisdom 793 00:41:35,600 –> 00:41:36,979 and so to know your blessing 794 00:41:38,139 –> 00:41:40,419 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 795 00:41:41,580 –> 00:41:42,419 Amen.