PSALM 127:
The Enjoyment of Tranformation

Stopping Our Vain Labor and Allowing the Lord to Give Us Rest

Psalm 127 was written by Solomon. It begins, "Unless Jehovah builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless Jehovah keeps the city, the guard watches in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of toil" (v. 1-2a). There are three things we all like to do once we love the Lord and enjoy the church life. Firstly, we like to build. Secondly, we like to keep watch. Thirdly, we like to labor. These are the three "attractions" for us in the church life. It is significant that this psalm was written by Solomon, because he was the one who built the Lord's house. He says that unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. When we try to do many things to build up the Lord's house, it doesn't work. Furthermore, unless the Lord keeps the city, those who guard the city watch it in vain. Finally, it is vain for us to rise up early, to lie down late, and to eat the bread of toil. This means that it is vain for us to be so consumed with concern for the Lord's interests. When we are overly burdened for the church life then our bread becomes the bread of toil. This sounds very good, but actually it is in vain. It is of no use.

Solomon then says, "All the same, He gives to His beloved while they sleep" (v. 2b). Other translations say that the Lord "gives sleep." In other words, Solomon is saying, "Don't you know that you are His beloved? You don't need to labor so hard or be so consumed. Instead, you should just go to sleep. Don't work so hard. Don't do so much. The Lord wants you to rest."

This doesn't mean that we should be lazy. We will see in the next psalm that there is a time to rise up and work. But this psalm firstly tells us not to run around so much and work so hard. Especially when we are young and lacking maturity, we should learn to rest. This follows the realization in the previous psalm that we are good for nothing but death. We have seen our self and want to be delivered, and we have realized that the only way is to be sown as a seed into the ground to die. What is it do die? In this psalm it means to go to stop working so hard, and rest.

Sleep Results In Transformation

When we stop our striving and rest in the Lord's arrangement we begin to be transformed.

For us to go to sleep can mean one of two things. First, it can mean to stop our working. Second, it can mean to accept the Lord's environmental arrangement for us. We need to learn how to rest in the Lord. This is to pray, "Lord, I will stop myself. I will forget about all my plans and all my striving. I will forget about everything. Lord, I take Your disciplinary hand. I accept Your government and Your authority. I accept what You have arranged for me. I rest in Your hand." When we stop our striving and rest in the Lord's arrangement we begin to be transformed.

Sleep Issues in Fruitfulness

It is when we allow the Lord to give us sleep that we become fruitful. The next few verses of this psalm are very attractive: "Behold, children are a heritage of Jehovah, the fruit of the womb a reward" (v. 3). When we become restful, then we also become fruitful. When we accept the Lord's arrangement for us, and when we give up trying to do so much for the Lord, then we have children. This is against our concept. We often think that we need to work hard to be fruitful. We think that we need to equip ourselves, be trained, and do many things, but the Lord says, "No. It is when you sleep that you will have children. When you rest in My hand, you will see fruit."

The Process of Transformation Equips Us with Riches to Serve the Lord

The psalm continues, "Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of one's youth" (v. 4). This verse is too precious. On one hand, children are "the heritage of Jehovah." Yet on the other hand, they are the "children of one's youth." They are the Lord's children, but they come through us. These children are "like arrows in the hand of a mighty man." They are not merely numbers and statistics, but they are "like arrows."

Learn to take the Lord's hand and abide under His governmental dealing. As you are sleeping, "arrows" will come forth. You will become a "mighty man" with children.

We must remember that the only way for us to reach this stage of maturity is to go to sleep. "He gives to His beloved while they sleep." Brothers and sisters, learn not to struggle. Learn to be restful. Learn to take the Lord's hand and abide under His governmental dealing. As you are sleeping, "arrows" will come forth. You will become a "mighty man" with children. These children do not come from your work, they come from you. They come from your growth and maturity. As you were asleep, and in your submission to the Lord, transformation came. Out of transformation you became a mighty man with arrows.

Our Transformation is for the Church Life

This psalm concludes, "Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them. He will not be put to shame when he speaks with enemies in the gate" (v. 5). The psalm began with so many things done in vain, but it concludes with, "Blessed is the man." The word "blessed" in the Bible can also be translated "happy." At this point in the psalm, we are happy. We are joyful, because our quiver is full of arrows. What is the "quiver" here? The quiver is the church life. When there is no quiver, then there is no place for all the arrows. We may have so many arrows, but without the church life they will all disappear. All our transformation, all our equipping, and all our fruitfulness is for the church life.

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To purchase the book Journey of Life; the Psalms of Ascent and Song of Songs