Psalm 127 "In Vain"

Psalm for Today = 127:1b-2

“Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.” 

It is vain that you rise up early

   and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

   for he gives his beloved sleep.”

Comments:

I was utterly exhausted last night (after a long week consisting of early mornings and days of helping at an outreach basketball camp and late nights of reading and writing) as I contemplated writing this Psalms devotional. Since this verse was in my head as I had gone through my day…I decided to go to bed instead…letting the Lord watch over the city.  

This whole psalm has been a foundational scripture for a new church that was planted out of Beaverton a year ago called “Generations Foursquare.” and the whole church has been memorizing this psalm together. Beyond that, I think it is a powerful critique of our culture. Ironically, it is a psalm written by Solomon, the greatest builder of all time, who credits God as being the source of any success or security.

“Vain” is a word used in the Bible for something that is pointless, or a waste of time and effort. Here the psalmist acknowledges that if the Lord is not the one who builds/ guards the house/ city our labor and staying awake are in vain. Further in verse 2 we find that it is also in vain to allow our lives to be controlled by our own anxious activity to meet our own needs. Here are a couple of other passages regarding such anxiety/trust issues:

Worry can’t add anything to your life—it is in vain, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:27, 31-32:

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?...Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

Instead of anxiety we can have peace as Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7,

 “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

The people of Israel had two major elements in their religious life that was intended to break the vanity cycle and remind them that their trust was in the Lord. The first was the weekly Sabbath which was to provide rest for man and beast alike (Exodus 20:10). To take a day off from your constant labor to provide bread for your family is an act of profound trust that we might need to be reminded of. Secondly, they were to tithe (commit 10% of their income) back to the Lord as a token of their trust in him as their provider. To give back the tithe was with assets similar to what the Sabbath was with time. 

If we are not resting, we are vain (in the sense of pride) and not trusting the Lord. If we are not giving, we are vain in thinking what we have is actually ours alone. Both attitudes are ultimately in vain (a waste of time and resources).

What other god would say, “he gives his beloved sleep”? I rejoice to serve the Lord who is not a harsh taskmaster but cares for my needs more than I do! He establishes and guards my life, my family, my community in his abundant goodness. Praise the Lord!