Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stay awake in vain.”
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, “Who were all those men with you there?” Paton knew no men were present–but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
Here, in Psalm 127, Solomon David’s son shows that he has in fast learned some things from his father. His father, who for almost 20 years was on the run from King Saul after being anointed by Samuel had learned to let God build and to let God protect.
What about you? Are you trying to make something happen in your own strength? Are you doing what seems right to you while neglecting the time it takes to sit before God and His Word and find out what He requires of you? Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that SEEMS RIGHT to a man but the way is the way of destruction.” Are you trying to guard something with your own understanding? Have you forgotten that it was God who built and it is God who guards? Have you forgotten that God has big men with drawn swords surrounding you in the spiritual realm? So much of what our adversary the devil does is manipulate us to harm ourselves. Will you run to God today? Will you go before Him and as the psalmist says will you pour out your heart before Him? As Psalm 1 declares will you meditate on His Word and not the counsels of the wicked day and night? Go to Him today! He is waiting for you.
By His Spirit,
Pastor Bill