Psalms 125 – 127

Verse 125:2 give people comfort going while in Jerusalem:

Just as the mountains around Jerusalem embrace her,
    the Eternal, too, wraps around those who belong to Him—
    for this moment and for every moment to come.

We notice through history Jerusalem has been protected most of the time. It is only when Israel really drifts away from God that the protection is lost. We see this often in our personal lives as well. When we drift things may seem ok, but eventually melt down when we ignore God’s order.

Take sex and how the 60’s changed how it was accepted in society. Faith in God or not, it is undeniable a two parent household is the best environment for raising children. Did you know today more children are born to single parent homes in the USA that two parent homes? Yea everything seems fine, but that and the women’s movement that pulls mothers away from their children has changed our society immensely. It seems ok, but as we grow we see we are worse off than ever before.

Verse 126:2 made me giggle a bit:

Our mouths were filled with laughter;
    our tongues were spilling over into song.
The word went out across the prairies and deserts,
    across the hills, over the oceans wide, from nation to nation:
“The Eternal has done remarkable things for them.”

Here the Psalmist is rejoicing their trip to worship and I just think of all the arguments than happened in our home trying to make church on time. That has been almost a cliché that everyone jokes about but no one really addresses. I read this Psalm and pray someday our families are so in tune with God that we rejoice, like this Psalm.

Verse 127:1 talks about how we need God in everything:

Unless the Eternal builds the house,
    those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing.
Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city,
    those who guard it have wasted their time.

Sure this was written by Solomon during his melancholy period but there is truth to be found. We see over and over again throughout history and our lives that if God is not in the mix things tend to be worthless. Our efforts are folly, since it is not for the ultimate glory of God. We need to keep God in everything, all the time, to remain in His blessing and purpose.