“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Ps 8:3-5

It is the desire for significance that causes mankind to do many weird and inexplicable things. Without significance man is reduced from a created being to a highly complex organism that has evolved somehow from other single-celled organisms, swimming in a pond of primordial sludge. Thus the theory of evolution reduces the miracle of creation to millions of fantastic coincidences that are each next to impossible on the probability scale. As an evolved rather than created being, mankind has no more significance than a mutated turnip in a rotting compost patch!

Those who accept by unbelieving-faith the theory of evolution are thrust upon a tremendous dilemma. How can one reconcile the innate desire for significance with the mind-numbing belief that the human race simply “happened” by accident? Accidents only have purpose when one accepts providence. And providential events only happen with a decree from the God behind the curtain of chance. Without God, man has no purpose or he must find purpose through his own ingenuity.

This is where the unbelieving world struggles with the basic theosophical issues of life. Since life does not come with purpose attached, it is up to each living agent to seek and obtain purpose through the living of life. This leaves every human being on a potential collision course with other human beings who likewise are seeking to find significance. The train wreck happens when two people settle upon the same purpose and seek to travel the same path at the same time to achieve that identical purpose.

The atheists and evolutionists are not the only folks who collide in their quest for significance. I suggest to you that some Christian believers are prone to the same sort of train wreck with other individuals who are traveling along the same track. How can believers who understand their unique status as created souls ever have conflict over achieving and or maintaining significance? It is because many believers see significance as something that must be earned by achievement and accomplishment. The competitive environment that this creates pits brother against brother and sister against sister. Significance must be earned by outdoing another and claiming the top position. Believers become climbers but not connectors. The focus is upon position instead of relationship. People climb over others in an attempt to achieve the next rung up the ladder of “success.”

But “success” does not adequately define what the believing climber is seeking. The real prize for the climber is more elusive than fame or fortune. The real goal of this frenetic activity is much deeper and mysterious than can be described by success. The real goal though often not understood even by the climber himself is the prize of significance! The sad truth is that this goal is never reached because the climber is seeking significance in the wrong way.

I want to show you how some have managed to conquer the climbing, competitive spirit. I want to show you from the Word of God something that will deliver you from the rat race and the emptiness that characterize the search for significance. I want to empower you to be the hamster that steps off the running wheel forever. That wheel has outlived and overcome many generations of runners and God wants to deliver you from the rat race it represents.

The Strength of Praise

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” Ps 8:2

Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 21:16 and the word “strength” was translated by the KJV as “praise.” I think many times believers fail to understand the strength and power of praise. There are some things about praise that bring strength into our lives.

Please notice that it is “out of the mouth” that God has ordained this strength to flow. It is not enough to sit there and imagine how wonderful the Lord is. You must let it flow from your mouth.

This strength flows from the mouths of believers to still the enemy and the avenger. Even babes and new believers have been ordained to praise God and put a halt to the works of the enemy.

God has “ordained” your praise just as He ordained the moon and stars.

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;” Ps 8:3

Just as God ordained and created the moon and stars, He also ordained that from your mouth should flow the strength of praise. He has also ordained the effect that your praise would have on the enemy.

Crowned with Glory and Honor

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Ps 8:4-5

And while we are considering and speaking of things that God has ordained, let us speak about the height of God’s creative acts - man. Notice that God is very mindful of man. God has His eyes upon you now. He knows every detail about you. He visits you or comes to you in a way that makes His presence known to you.

Man is made “a little lower than the angels,” in that angels are spirit beings without many of the limitations of a physical body. I am not quite sure how all this works, yet I believe it to be so. Here we are, as humans, a spirit being trapped in a carnal body and saddled with a soulish psyche.

Yet in spite of all this, God has crowned man with glory and honor. In fact you yourself have been crowned with glory and honor. This coronation was presided over and officiated by none other than the Almighty! Let me show you how this works.

You were stamped with the image of the Creator God when you were conceived in the womb of your mother.

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Ps 139:13-16

Stamped into every molecule of your being is the identity of the Creator. You were created to be an image bearer; you bear the image of God in every portion of your substance. God saw every trait you would possess before you were even conceived. He formed you and created you to be a totally unique and wonderfully fashioned individual. Totally unique in every way, and yet completely bearing His divine image. You are crowned with such glory and honor above every creature great and small.

Now, such a God as this fashioned you with unique gifts and talents that only He knows what they might be and where they can lead you. You have been gifted by the Creator with a set of qualities that are yours alone. No one else possesses this combination of genes, brains, guts, and gifts. In the last few days, I have heard Rudyard Kipling and Dr. Seuss quoted at graduation ceremonies more times than I care to. Let me tell you the truth about this achievement business. You were absolutely unique and totally significant when you were conceived. You were stamped with the divine image in every molecule of your naked little body. You have been gifted by God with all manner of talents, abilities, and potential before you drew your first breath. What greater significance do you need?

After all the gifts and potential the Lord has placed into you, will you try to gain significance by obtaining a new position on the totem pole? In a desire to satisfy a need for significance, will you play another round of king of the hill? Will knocking another off and seizing their position really help you? Significance has nothing to do other people; it is discovered as you become the person God created you to be. We discover significance when we develop our God-given gifts and become the person God meant us to be. I guarantee you that doing this will not displace someone else. Position is a byproduct of significance. Gaining position will never earn significance.

“A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”  Prov 18:16

Conclusion:

God’s love is not something that must be earned.  His love is unconditional.

Neither is significance something that must be earned.  You are conceived with significance.  We discover that significance as we discover the person God created us to be.

Non-believers struggle with the feeling that their life does not count.  They seek for meaning in various ways but even the most accomplished still struggle with an empty feeling. Achievement is never a path to significance.

Christians also must be reminded that significance is not earned through accomplishment and achievement.  Significance is about relationship.  We were created to relate to God and others.  We discover significance through those relationships and through developing the gifts God has given us.  This is not about outdoing another; it is about realizing our potential in Christ. Then and only then can we discover true significance. It may or may not taste like success but it will satisfy.

© 2009 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  Ps 133:3

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  Ps 133:1

We are coming to a close of the songs of degrees. We will have one more after Psalm 133. Before the mini-psalter of worship closes out, the subject of unity comes up. Unity is an important part of our worship. Our worship cannot ascend to the holy hill without unity with others of like faith.

Within the context of worship, Psalm 133 speaks of the blessing of unity. We have stated that unity is the single most powerful force that we as a collective group can bring to the work of God. And yet unity is something of our own doing. God creates the environment where unity can flourish, but we as a people must decide that we will let unity be the predominant tone between us. And unity concerns more than just our actions; unity has a spiritual dimension.

There is a special blessing that comes when brethren dwell together in unity. Quite often brethren dwell together. In fact, in Bible days the land was divided according to families. Your inheritance was in the same area as that of your brethren. And so to claim your inheritance meant to claim your place among your brethren. The same is true today. To claim your inheritance in Christ requires filling your place among the brethren.

But the blessing of unity mentioned in Psalms 133 goes beyond merely dwelling together … the blessing comes when brethren dwell together in unity. To claim your inheritance in God means to also claim your place among your brothers and sisters in Christ. Now there is a blessing that comes from choosing to dwell among your brethren. But the real blessing of unity goes beyond merely being in close proximity to your brothers and sisters. The phrase “dwelling together in unity” takes in more. It signifies the state of general concord and mutual understanding, or harmony.

Unity Requires That We Meet Together

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Ps 133:1

The blessing of unity comes when believers commit themselves to do more than merely meet at the same place to worship. There must also be a meeting of our goals, our thoughts, and our purpose. There must be a combining of these things into a common and agreed upon force.

Where is the point that we meet? Within the context of songs sung as the people of God ascended to the temple to worship, is this song about unity. This song is about unity in worship. If each believer follows the will of God for their own life, our paths will converge at the House of God. Because doing the will of God for my life means being a part of the Body of Christ and doing the work of God on earth. What is that work? - Reaching the Lost.

There are two things that every believer shares with every other believer. A call to be part of Christ’ body, the Church and a call to reach our world with the Gospel of God’s Kingdom. If I follow God’s Will for my life, each of these calls can only be fulfilled as I claim my own inheritance among my brethren in the family of God. That happens as we gather to worship. You cannot fulfill the will of God in your life without being a part of the Church of the Living God. Enough of the false division many make between their personal relationship with the Lord and their relationship with other believers. You cannot be in unity with Christ and yet in disunity with His body the Church!

How can we have unity, agreement, and harmony when we are all so vastly different from one another? The answer is that unity requires that we meet each other at a certain place. And that place is the House of God. This is also the only place that the two major calls God places on your life can be fulfilled! You cannot be a part of Christ’s body without being a part of the Church, which is flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. You cannot reach the world with the Gospel except as a part of the worldwide, universal Church of Jesus Christ.

I am only responsible for harmonizing my own spirit with the move of God. Unity does not require me to become a spiritual enforcer and lean on anyone who is a little off key or out of time. I should focus my effort on my own spirit.

Unity Anoints and Prepares Us For Service

“It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;” Ps 133:2

The anointing spoken of here was the initial consecration of the high priest. This anointing set Aaron aside and consecrated him to the work of the priesthood. The “it” of verse 2 is the unity spoken of in verse 1. The anointing of unity is what consecrates us for service.

The precious ointment that is compared to unity was made up of several ingredients. Myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus, cassia, and olive oil. This ointment was used to consecrate the priesthood, the tabernacle, as well as all the furniture used in the tabernacle in the wilderness. This ointment made up of ingredients of different textures and qualities was all blended together by olive oil. The oil of the Holy Ghost causes the various individual members of the Church to blend together into one unit. And the unity that results is what consecrates everything that we do for God.

The songs of ascending would be incomplete without the subject of unity. The psalmist says that unity in like the precious ointment that consecrates for service. I must get myself in tune with the Holy Ghost so that I can be in tune with my brothers and sisters.

Now, your responsibility toward unity begins and ends with yourself. You are not responsible to make sure that someone else is in tune with the Lord and in step with the rest of the Church. Your part is to make sure YOU are in tune. Quite frankly, there will always be those who like to come and listen to the tune, but are unwilling to contribute their part toward the making of the music. It is from the general direction of this bunch that sour notes have been heard.

As a local assembly approaches a time of spiritual fruitfulness, the enemy gears up to resist. The enemy will try to distract believers from the work before them. If the enemy cannot damage unity, he will attempt to distract God’s people from the work. We must just keep climbing up the hill as we worship God.

Unity Crowns Us With God’s Blessing and Makes Us Fertile

“As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  Ps 133:3

Again, a comparative word opens verse three. Unity is “as the dew…” The unity of brethren who worship and serve God together is compared to the dew of Hermon.

Mount Hermon was the northern most peak in the Promised Land. The psalmist sees Hermon as the “head” of Zion, in much the same way as Aaron represented the ceremonial head of Israel, as high priest. The dew or moisture that descended upon Hermon and throughout Zion was the source of fertility and blessing. Rain is not a constant thing in this region and thus the land relies heavily upon the early morning dew that it might be fertile and produce crops. Crops are planted in the rainy seasons (former and latter) but require the dew to be sustained till harvest.

I love the rainy season. I love to listen to the rain come down at night while I sleep. I love to sit at my desk and work while the sounds and smells of rain come in the opened window of my office. But nothing in this world lasts forever. The rain comes and goes.

We sing several songs and choruses about rain -

• Rain on me, Holy Spirit
• I Hear the Rain

It is all about the Holy Ghost raining down on us. And it happens! God still pours out His Spirit on those that obey Him! But every day is not a rainy day. What are you going to do on a clear, hot day, without a cloud in the sky?

On dry days, we need the dew of Hermon to descend upon the mountains of Zion. There are some days that the windows of heaven are opened and you can’t stay dry if your life depended on it! There are times that the Spirit is moving in such a way that it is almost impossible for anybody in the vicinity to not walk away blessed and renewed in the Holy Ghost. But every day is not a rainy day. On days when the sky is clear and the sun is hot, we need the dew of Hermon.

The dew of Hermon actually has the same source, but it precipitates a little differently. Rather than fall out of the sky, it descends upon the mountains and then rolls into the valleys and plains. That is the way that unity works. God works to create an environment where it can happen, and we must buy into it by investing ourselves. And that sweet unity descends from the mountains and rolls into the valleys and plains, blessing everyone that it touches. The dew of Hermon sustains crops on those days that rain does not fall from heaven. But it is a blessing from God nonetheless! It just precipitates a little bit differently.

Conclusion:

“…for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  Ps 133:3

Where does the Lord “command” His blessing to reside? In the place where unity is produced. Where will God cause the blessing of fertility to rest? Upon a people that produce the heavenly dew of unity. Where does the blessing of life evermore rest? On those that allow God to led them to unity with other believers.

Your responsibility in the unity of the Church concerns yourself only. If you are willing to become a part of what God is doing in your church and in your town you will do whatever is necessary to be a part. And if you aren’t, you will probably feel left out. But I believe there are some folks that are committed to producing that heavenly dew that will sustain us. God will command His blessing on those committed to having unity within the Church.

© 2009 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” Ps 132:3-5

We continue our series on the songs of ascension. Perhaps you will recall that these psalms are the fifteen psalms immediately following Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and every verse concerns the Word of God. And immediately following this song extolling the virtues of God’s Word is a mini-psalter that details what the Word of God points toward. That is a relationship with God through worship.

Worship is the medium of exchange in our relationship with God. Prayer; sacrifice; intercession; praise - all of these are part of the overall tapestry that makes up worship. In short, worship is the overall picture of how we relate to God and He to us.

The psalms of ascension were written and compiled to be sung as the people of God traveled up the steep hill of Jerusalem. They were sung from memory and most are 6 to 8 verses in length. Psalm 132 is the longest of these songs of ascending. The topic of this song is the preeminence of worship in the life of the godly. One must make a conscience decision to make worship a top priority in life. And then diligence must be exercised to establish the preeminence of worship in our lifestyle.

Making worship a priority demonstrates that our walk with God is a priority. We can have many things of importance in life, but there will be precious few true priorities. Our attitude toward the things and ways God communes with us is a visible demonstration of the priority or lack of priority we attach to our walk with God. This is not judging but rather merely stating the facts. One who withdraws from the body of Christ and does not make worship a priority is not really serving God and walking with Him in fellowship.

A Place for God

“Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” Ps 132:3-5

It is a godly attitude that wants to establish the house of worship. Because worship is the way we relate to God and He to us. It is true that we do not have to be in the house of worship in order to practice worship. But why would a believer want to relate to God without having a place of worship?

The example before us in this psalm is that of King David. David grew restless in his spirit when he observed the comparative luxury in which he lived. David looked at the palace he lived in, the royal clothes he wore, and all the trappings of his royal lifestyle. Then David cast his eyes to Shiloh and the tent that was the house of God. His relationship with God would not allow him to be at peace with this inequity. He felt that it spoke poorly of his priorities and his love of the Lord.

What was happening in the king’s heart was a reaction to the lack of preeminence that worship had in his own life and throughout the kingdom. Someone who is able to be at peace year after year giving God only their leftovers has some serious heart problems. Doesn’t your relationship with the Lord deserve a prominent position in your life? The priority you assign to worship will demonstrate how you feel.

Consider this -

• David had obtained his ultimate position in the natural realm.
• He was king over a united kingdom.
• Saul is out of the picture now.
• All twelve tribes have crowned David and all now recognize him as king of Israel.
• This was as high as David would go in the natural realm.
• This was the ultimate position for David, as king and dwelling in Zion at the center of God’s will.
• And yet he was still lacking something.

David’s spirit was restless and troubled. He paced the marble floors of his palace and thought of the dirt floors inside the tabernacle. He looked at the stone and cedar lined walls with intricate carvings and gold fixtures in his throne room and thought of the ram skins dyed red that covered the tent of the tabernacle. The house of worship did not reflect the importance he placed in his walk with God. Something must be done. He must find a place for the Lord that better bespeaks his love for God. There must be a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob!

Your lifestyle reflects your priorities. What position does the place of worship occupy in your life? Others will be influenced by your attitude.

The Fame of His Quest

“Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.” Ps 132:6-9

And now the pilgrims sing of the fame of David’s temple. This song begins as a plea to the Almighty to remember their beloved David (Psa. 132:1).  Is it a prayer for the dead? Not hardly. It is a prayer that God will remember the heart of the shepherd king. It is a prayer that God will remember the attitude of a godly king who wanted to give worship a preeminent position in his life and the life of his people.

The people sung this song as pilgrims climbing the temple mount in Jerusalem. At the end of their long journey to the house of God they would sing about the king who was not content until the house of God occupied a position of high honor. They would go into God’s tabernacle and worship at His footstool. They made a comment that was reminiscent of Moses in the wilderness.

“Arise, O Lord, into they rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.” (vs. 8 )

“And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.” Num 10:35-36

David inspired a nation with his love of worship. Not just in his days, but future generations sang of David’s quest for meaningful worship. David believed in exuberance in worship!

“Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.” Ps 132:9

Real worship emphasizes righteousness and produces shouts of joy! When David brought the Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle to Jerusalem, there was a celebration like none other. The entire nation observed their shepherd king worship and dance before the Lord with all his might. Preeminent worship is that which sets aside the royal garments and puts on a plain white linen garment of service. Preeminent worship is willing to lay aside all pride and become just another member of the congregation that needs to express love for the Almighty!

Worship That Establishes Your Position

But even having the house of God closer was not enough; David wanted to build a magnificent edifice to glorify Jehovah. He called the prophet Nathan and consulted with him.

“That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.” 2 Sam 7:2-3

There was a desire in David’s heart to elevate the position of worship even higher. It was this desire to establish God’s position in his life that caused God to establish some other things for David. I mentioned that David had risen as far as he could go in the natural realm. And yet a desire to elevate God to a higher position through worship caused God to lift David and establish him on higher ground also. It was this desire of David to build a temple to the glory of God that prompted the Lord to make some promises to David.

“For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.” Ps 132:10-11

God blesses those who invest in their walk with Him. The way we invest in our relationship with God is through worship. David worshiped his way from a young shepherd boy to become the shepherd king. David worshiped his way from being just another in a long line of kings, to being the father of the King of kings.

Conclusion:

Worship is the medium of exchange in our relationship with God. Your relationship with God is no stronger than the priority you give worship in your life. Making worship a priority demonstrates the importance we attach to our walk with the Lord.

This certainly does not go unnoticed by God. In fact, giving preeminence to worship allows God to establish and strengthen our position in His perfect will. Giving worship preeminence in our lives will allow us to leave behind a legacy of worship that inspires others.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”  Ps 131:2

Ascending in worship includes finding our place at the feet of the Savior. We will not achieve what we should in worship until we humble ourselves in the presence of God. Several years ago I preached a message from this text titled “Are You a Weaned Child or a Spoiled Brat?” You can be certain that a spoiled brat will not be able to relate to the Lord as a child of God should relate to the Father.

This does not mean that the Lord does not love children. Jesus loves the little children is one of the first songs our kids learn in Sunday school. And it is very true. They are loved in their innocence, and in their not so innocence as well. There are also childlike qualities that believers should seek to retain. Childlike faith, a lack of pretension, and humility are traits that come quite naturally for children, yet are much harder for adults to maintain.

But do you think that the Lord expects believers to remain as little children in every way? Of course not! Paul said:

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” 1 Cor 14:20

God expects our faith to remain childlike, our ability to forgive one another to be childlike, but in other ways He rightly expects believers to grow, mature, and gain understanding.

The qualities that are mentioned in this psalm of ascension are those of a child that has gained a certain degree of maturity. Psalm 131 is not celebrating immaturity; it is an expression of a higher type of sonship. As we draw near to God in worship, we should rejoice in our sonship, yet worship raises the level of maturity in God’s children. Let’s consider the qualities of maturity that are expressed by the psalmist.

Recognizing Things Beyond Me

“LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”  Ps 131:1

Ascending to worship is an  ascension in my relationship with God. This progressive act of surrender in worship brings with it a level of maturity. Entering into God’s presence makes us aware how many things are truly “beyond” us. Verse one speaks of “things too high” or “too wonderful” (NIV) for me.

The first quality of maturity mentioned is a heart that is not “haughty.” Ascending to God’s holy hill should help us realize how limited we are and how dependent we are upon the Lord. I read recently of a statement an honest doctor made about a child born with a rare birth defect. His statement was: “It is in God’s hands. We will have to wait and see what God will do.” How rare for a medical person to express such childlike faith in the Almighty. We often have a hard time admitting that most things truly are in God’s hands. We would rather fuss and stew over things that only God can control. Ascend the holy hill, sit in His presence, hear His wisdom, and let your heart learn humility.

It is a haughty heart that fails to recognize God’s preeminence in all things. And the possessor of a haughty heart begins to act in the place of God. The personal “I” behind lofty eyes begins to think that his point of view is the only one that matters. A heart that is not humble before God will act without shame before men. Lord, deliver us from haughty hearts and lofty eyes.

One example of a haughty heart is found in the life of King Uzziah of Judah.

“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” 2 Chron 26:16

When Uzziah became “strong” and failed to recognize the source of his strength, he transgressed against the Lord. Uzziah’s transgression was to try to participate in that which did not pertain to him. This is what a haughty heart leads to. It means, “lifted up” and one who is haughty tries to involve themselves in things they do not understand and do not pertain to them. Isn’t this just like an immature child? Always trying to do or participate in things that are not appropriate for them.

The next quality of maturity mentioned is the absence of “lofty” eyes. One writer says, “pride has its seat in the heart, and betrays itself especially in the eyes” (Hengstenberg quoted in Pulpit). Lofty eyes are always looking at that which is not proper for the godly to hold or participate in. Lofty eyes are the eyes of a small child that come to rest on the piano keys or the computer keyboard. All of those buttons need to be pressed, and the order in which they are pressed doesn’t really matter!

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single [properly adjusted], thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt 6:22-23

And then the statement is made about “not exercising myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.” There are some folks who never recognize that there are issues and matters that are above their ability to understand or appreciate. Before we can commit to not becoming involved in something beyond us, we must recognize that there indeed are things beyond us. Then we must learn to recognize when something is of this variety. If our heart is haughty and our eyes lofty, it is doubtful that we will understand when something is beyond our own wisdom and understanding.

These three faults - a heart that is haughty, eyes that are lofty, and assertion in matters beyond us, have their origin and development in pride.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov 16:18

Pride leads the way and allows these and many other faults to develop and grow in our life. Pride is the enemy of spiritual maturity.

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Ps 24:3-4

Accepting Things I Don’t Like

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”  Ps 131:2

In verse one we saw things that those who pursue spiritual maturity must not possess. Now we see things that will happen because of maturity. With the understanding that some things are beyond my ability to understand or to remedy, comes a relief of responsibility in those areas. As the good doctor said, “It is in God’s hands. We’ll have to wait and see what He will do.” This is not apathetic despair, but courageous acceptance and quite faith.

A wise saying is: “God, grant me the courage to change the things I can, the tranquility to accept the things I can’t change, and the wisdom to know the difference.” If we do know the difference, then all that remains is to ask God to provide either courage or tranquility. And by His grace we will either change it or accept it, as the case may be.

The ability to accept things that I do not like is a sign of maturity. You say, “Wait! Can’t I change any situation if I have faith?” If the matter in question is “too high” for you, why do you suppose you know better than God? I believe if we would spend as much time seeking to know and to accept the will of God as we do trying to influence the will of God we would be much more productive believers. Could it be that what we perceive as “faith” sounds more like the crying of an unweaned baby to God? I am afraid that our theory is more along the lines of: The crying baby is the one that gets the milk. Unfortunately we are often crying because we want the steak, when we don’t even have teeth to chew it!

And then there are those who are weaned but still behave as if they were not. Is there anything more disgusting to see than a child of eight or more years throw themselves on the ground and scream bloody murder when they don’t get their way? They might be weaned, but they sure don’t behave as if they are! They ask their parents to explain all the why’s and whatfor’s about every decision that is made. And then they want to argue with the answer! They don’t have the mental equipment to understand the answer and neither do they have the maturity to accept the fact that they can’t understand. Their heart is haughty, their eyes lofty, and they involve themselves in things beyond their ability to understand. In short, they are spoiled brats!

A child of God who has some degree of maturity is able to:

• Behave - He refuses to misbehave simply because things aren’t to his pleasing.
• Quite himself - He is able to bring his emotions and intellect under control.
• He refuses to lose composure or behave in a way unbecoming to a child of God due to situations or circumstances beyond his control.

And what is the underlying basis for this type of self-control? A mature child of God understands that just because the situation is beyond his/her control, does not mean it is beyond God’s control. God is in total control. I can behave and quite myself because those things beyond my understanding and control are not beyond His. I trust Him.

The Quality of Hope is Determined by the Character of God’s Child

“Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.”  Ps 131:3

The spiritual implications of this short psalm are enormous. Our very soul is to become as a weaned child before God. We must learn to accept God’s Will for our lives, as a weaned child trusts mother to know what is best. We must behave and quite our soul in the same way.

Our maturity level determines the quality of our hope in the Lord. Hope is that quality that enables us to stand by faith. A spoiled brat has little to look forward to except a life of hard lessons and muffed opportunities. But one whose soul is even as a weaned child can look to the Lord and His Promises with hope.

Conclusion:

There are characteristics that separate a weaned child from a spiritual suckling. Learning to accept God’s Will for our lives is at the top of the list. This begins with humility … humility that enables us to recognize that some things are “too high” for us to understand or appreciate.

Once we have learned what God’s Will is, we must behave and quite our soul to accept it. Many times this requires more faith than seeking to change God’s Will.

Our hope in God is based on a quiet and controlled kind of faith. It is this type of hope that is a virtue that endures forever.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Cor 13:13

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Ps 130:1-2

Our God is a God of hope, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. Our hope is not in what is flippantly referred to as “the almighty dollar.” Our hope is certainly not in a political party or in Washington, DC. Our hope is in Him.

Speaking of politics and the recent national election, I assume you have prayed and cast your ballot according to the way you felt the Lord directed you to vote. If the election went the way you wanted, the Lord bless you! If it did not, allow me to offer my sincere condolences to those who mourn in Zion.

Personally, I am likewise unhappy with the direction that we as a society are taking. It seems that every few years we have before us a vivid gauge of the deep divisions that exist in our world. And yet I must remind you that God is still on the throne. He establishes kingdoms, sets up and puts down rulers. And all these things are in His hands.

People have a tendency to live vicariously through their national leaders. This trait is as old as the hills. But as believers, we have only One True King, and that is Jesus Christ. Our salvation comes from Him - not from the founding fathers, the Constitution, the tax code, or the Social Security Administration. Regardless what direction the majority of our fellow citizens choose to go, our direction is already established. We will pursue righteousness and seek to please God.

I want to warn you of a trend that is in my opinion dangerous to the work of God. That is when the Church begins to view herself as a political force instead of a spiritual army. Certainly, we are to be salt and light to our generation. And yet, the deck is stacked and the clock is working against real moral change in our nation. We can’t even convince a majority of our fellow citizens of the wickedness of ripping apart a living child in its mother’s womb - though I will never cease to try and to cast my vote in favor of life. We will never be able, as they say to “legislate morality,” but rather our laws will continue to be a reflection of the moral values of our culture. Therefore, our goal is not to pass laws but to change hearts.

As a citizen, vote your conscience and be as much of a political animal as you want. But as a child of God, your role is to show the love of God to others and lead them to a relationship with Jesus that will change their hearts. And this we will do … until Jesus takes us home.

As we journey toward the home the Lord is preparing for us, there are some things we should remember along the way. One of the things that help us keep our perspective is to remember our own imperfections and the source of our hope.

Out of the Depths

“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Ps 130:1-2

The Lord Jesus is the One we go to in the depths of our despair. I find it encouraging remembering that no matter how disappointed I am with the things I encounter, He is still the same. He is the same today as He was yesterday. His truth is never tarnished and His light never dimmed.

I cry to the Lord out of my depths and He hears me! He is always willing to hear the cry of one of His children. He does not ask what party I am affiliated with or what district I am from. He doesn’t refer my mail to an aid that places a hash mark for or against the issue. He hears … me.

And speaking of depths, there are times that the hole I am in is of my own making.

“If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Ps 130:3

Aren’t you glad the Lord doesn’t keep a running tally of the times He forgives our lawless ways? In fact, many times the depths of despair we are caught in is a consequence of our own sin. What if God said, “I am sorry, I have already forgiven you 37 times. I can’t go for that 38^th time until next year. You have to stay in your hole!” There is forgiveness instead.

“But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” Ps 130:4

He is a God of forgiveness. If you have sinned, repent. He forgives. If you are in the depths of despair because of the direction our nation and world is determined to travel, repent. He is merciful. Every so often it strikes us how far we have to go to reach our world. Forgive us, oh God. And help us to reach those around us with your truth.

Wait for the Lord

“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” Ps 130:5-6

The only true source of help is the Lord and the truth of His Word. His Word is His bond. He has never failed to match His actions to His Word. He is not as men are; He is not a liar.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar…” Rom 3:4

It is easy to get caught up in the spirit of the age. The tendency is to place hope in anything other than God. The world is waiting for an earthly messiah, someone to place their hope in. The spirit of the enemy is moving in our world as men seek someone to place the crown of leadership upon. They want someone to answer their concerns, to promise equality, to right every injustice, and to give them limitless prosperity. They want someone who will give them a nice home, pay for their education, provide them with health care, guarantee them a good job, and make those evil rich people pay for it all. Every clear thinker can see that this philosophy does not encourage or build wealth, it only makes all equally poor and promotes class envy and covetousness.

We must stand against this spirit! God says that we must wait for Him and look to Him for justice and mercy. The earthly “messiah” who is to come will only enslave the planet and damn men’s souls. His spirit is already at work in our planet, preparing the world for his advent.

My hope is in Jesus Christ. I stand on the promise of His Word. I am waiting for Him to come for His Church. The world is looking for the dawning of a Utopian age, but I am waiting for the return of Jesus Christ! Anything other than this is a distraction!

“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Ps 130:7-8

Conclusion:

The world looks for an “anointed” leader. But the world’s political anointing is not from God. As believers, we have only One True King, and that is Jesus Christ. In Him we place our hope for He is the only redeemer.

We must avoid the pressure and the trend of viewing Christ’s church as a political force. We are a spiritual army, not a political party. Our task is to convert men and change hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we journey toward the heaven, we must keep our hearts fixed on the source of our hope.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” Ps 129:1-2

Preparing your heart for worship and to enter the presence of God requires reflection as well as anticipation. We reflect upon the hardships the Lord has brought us through. We anticipate a time of victory and triumph over the forces that oppress and seek to destroy us.

Psalm 129 is a song of ascending that does exactly that. The first four verses are reflective and the last four verses are anticipatory. While the protagonist of this psalm is Israel, it is certainly within the scope of this thought to look to the Church collectively and Christians individually. And so we look back upon our past experiences and see that the Lord has not allowed us to be overcome by our afflictions, and we look forward to the ultimate day of victory and vindication.

These are two things to keep in mind as we prepare for worship: God has never failed to hear our cry and prevent us from being overcome. The Lord will ultimately put down the forces of evil that we struggle with currently.

Affliction of Our Youth

“Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” Ps 129:1-2

If any nation has ever suffered affliction, it is the nation of Israel. Since her youth, since the earliest days of her nationhood, beginning in Exodus chapter 1, consider the long list of oppressors: Egypt, Moab, Mesopotamia, Canaan, Ammon, Philistia, Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, and Rome. You can add to this list the Ottomans, the Spaniards, the Catholics, the Germans, and the Russians. And yet for all her affliction they have not been eliminated.

Consider your own history. Anyone who has lived for the Lord for any length of time has faced affliction and tribulation. When we are light in a world of darkness, it is natural for us to experience affliction.

It was concerning the coming dark experiences of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion that Jesus spoke the following words:

“Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

The affliction of the disciples during these dark hours would be repeated over and over again. The world of darkness comes against the children of light. But just as the man Christ Jesus was not alone, neither have you been alone in your hour of affliction and tribulation. God is with you. Be of good cheer because Jesus overcame the world and so shall you!

Consider your past - affliction is the common experience of every Child of God.

“Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.” Ps 129:2

And why have they not prevailed? Because the Lord has been with you. Be of good cheer. The past should be an indication of the future!

The Enemy’s Purpose in Affliction

“The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.” Ps 129:3

This is a strong metaphor that is used only here.[1] It seems doubtful to me that it actually refers to using farming implements upon the afflicted. More likely it speaks of cruel treatment intended to forever alter the nature of the victim.

Farmers plow to break up the earth and prepare the soil to receive seed. Satan’s purpose in affliction is to break the spirit and prepare men to receive the root of bitterness. For this reason Satan makes long furrows or deep and long wounds upon the psyche, that he might poison man’s spirit. He would like to first wound and then infect the soul of man that he might reap a harvest of bitterness and thus damage many more souls with this wicked fruit.

Have you ever considered how much damage one bitter child of God might do to the work of God? We flatter ourselves to think that the enemy’s strategy stops with the destruction of our own potential for God’s work. No, he wants to poison our spirits and plant seeds of malcontent, distrust, bitterness, strife, and unbelief through us. The furrows of affliction become an entrance point for his bitter seeds to enter our life. He carefully cultivates his wicked crop by continued agitation and repeating the cycles of affliction. What does he hope to gain for this exercise in evil husbandry? A crop that will cross-pollinate into other believer’s lives. Satan wants to pollute God’s harvest by poisoning our fruit.

Our affliction will either be an opportunity for the enemy to plant his bitter seed, or an opportunity for the Lord to demonstrate deliverance. This will depend completely upon our ability to glorify God and maintain a sweet spirit in our affliction. Those who are successful will experience deliverance.

“The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.” Ps 129:4

Please notice that we are still in the retrospective section of this psalm. The sad truth is that many of the people of Israel who experienced verses one through three never came to verse four. Why is this so? Because they never learned to praise God in their tribulation. They allowed the bitter seed to germinate in their wounded heart. They never experience the joy of being set free by God because the cords that held them were in their own heart.

The only person the Lord cannot set free is one who refuses to leave his affliction. Unfortunately many Israelites never sung Psalm 129, because they remained in bondage and affliction.

The Future Reversal

“Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.” Ps 129:5

There is a day coming when all who hate Zion will be confounded and “turned back in shame” (NIV). Of course Zion represents to Christians the ultimate position of blessing with God. Those who resist the Kingdom of God will suffer defeat. There is a day coming when God’s People will not feel that they have to choose between the lesser of evils. That which is righteous and godly will truly be on the menu. All those who today scoff at godliness will be put to shame.

It is the desire of the godly to dwell in Zion, or the center of God’s perfect will. The goal of the godly is to live in God’s presence and fulfill His perfect will in their lives. Our world today is designed to hinder and to even prevent this. The desire to live in God’s presence and fulfill His will is scoffed at and even directly assaulted under our system. Consider that in the greatest and freest nation on earth we still have a system that is quickly turning against the Judeo-Christian ideal. Our society has fulfilled the warnings of the prophet:

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” Isa 5:20-23

Those who proclaim the truth of a holy God in our society are called “intolerant.” Before long they might be called “criminal.” In an attempt to justify the wicked, our society is quickly moving to take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. The other part of what goes with the description of Isaiah 5:20-23 is the curse of verse 24:

“Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” Isa 5:24

What will become of this culture of corruption in this future day?

“May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms.” Ps 129:6-7 NIV

In the Middle East many houses had flat roofs and gathered dust. Grass and weeds often covered these roofs in early spring. This grass quickly withered and became very coarse. There is a day coming when the tables will turn and the wicked will be out of place. They will have no roots to support their wicked ideas and lifestyle. They will wither before they grow up and go to seed. The wicked will be as sparse as grass on the roof at harvest time. There will not be enough to even cut down and bind into a sheaf.

Sin will be unable to reproduce itself:

“Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.” Ps 129:8

Fruitfulness is a blessing of God. But in God’s Kingdom there will be no more thorns and thistles, nor things which hurt and destroy. In God’s Kingdom, only that which He has blessed will grow. Sin and wickedness will wither on the vine without reproducing. It was customary in Israel to recognize a fruitful field and to address fruit bearing trees and vines in the fashion of verse eight. The blessing of God is upon the vine and the field when it produces a crop. Crop production is plant reproduction. The law of husbandry is that the return is much more that what is planted. This is God’s doing and Hebrew people have recognized this for centuries. It is God who causes plants to reproduce and this is the blessing of God upon the plant.

What God has blessed deserves the blessing of men. When God blesses a field with abundant crop, men should pronounce the blessing of the name of the Lord upon that field.

“The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.” Ps 129:8

We should recognize the blessing of the Lord upon something and pronounce our own blessing upon that thing in the name of the Lord! In the coming Kingdom, wickedness will not be blessed, but will be like the withered grass on the roof.

Conclusion:

When you prepare to worship remember:

• The hardships the Lord has brought us through.
• The time of victory and triumph of righteousness that is ahead.

Those who refuse to allow the enemy to plant seeds of bitterness are the ones who experience God’s deliverance. For them affliction is only temporary.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” Ps 128:1-2

The walk is illustrative of a progressive relationship. By using a metaphor of walking to represent our relationship with God, the psalm is emphasizing progression, direction, and destination. Every walk transverses territory. Every walk takes a direction and thus excludes other directions. Every walk takes us somewhere, or has a goal in mind. Our relationship with God is a walk from where we are to where He wants to take us. It involves progression, direction, and a destination.

This progressive relationship is by nature first inward and then outward. The nature of the journey is conceived in the heart, translated to the mind, and transferred to the feet. While it begins inwardly, progress is not made until this desire to travel is transferred to those old dogs! Conversely, directionless feet demonstrate an aimless heart. Those who allow their feet to decide where they are being taken are thus because they have no real direction in their heart.

This should never be the lot of God’s People! Our relationship with the Almighty provides us with progression, direction, and a destination. The nature of this journey is conceived in our heart when we come to know the Lord Jesus through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit.

Inward Reverence - Outward Conduct

“Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.” Ps 128:1

Of course we understand “fear” to mean godly reverence. We do not fear God in the way we fear calamitous events. We fear God in the sense that we hold Him in awe and acknowledge His rightful position in our life. In this sense, fear or godly reverence is an inward quality.

Then the outward expression of that reverence of God is expressed in the progressive relationship referred to by the metaphor of a walk. Again the purpose, direction, and destination of a walk must first be conceived in the heart. What we have expressed in verse one is an inward reverence of the Almighty that results in a progressive relationship demonstrated in our outward living. This is an inside-out dynamic.

Allow me to develop this thought a little more. The cycle is inward reverence producing outward conduct. The inverse of this process never adds up to the same product. Stated another way, an outside-in relationship will not produce inward reverence of the Almighty. Forced conformity to outward conduct will not result in godly reverence in the heart. This is such an extremely simple concept but indeed one that is largely overlooked by many seeking to enhance their personal reputation through a harsh approach to godly living.

Does this mean that a standard of conduct should never be enforced? Absolutely not! But never should the goal of said “enforcement” be to enhance the reputation of the enforcer or to develop godly fear in the believer! This is because in the first case, the fear of man and peer pressure becomes a snare unto itself. In the second case, the believer having a standard of conduct forced upon them without the reverence of God inside will only conform to earn approval from men and thus not draw closer to God. Outward conformity never produces inward reverence. Godly living must spring from an inward love and reverence for our awesome God!

But let’s return to the text of verse one. There is a blessing upon those who have an inward reverence of God. This godly fear causes them to conform their lifestyle to whose ways? In whose ways will those who have godly fear walk? They will walk in God’s ways.

God’s ways are far more universal than are His commandments, or His statutes, or His judgments. God’s commandments relate to His moral law. God’s statutes relate to His ceremonial law. God’s judgments relate to His civil law. God is concerned with how we live, how we worship, and how we treat others. And yet, God’s ways are a thread that runs throughout the moral, ceremonial, and civil law. God’s ways are analogous to God’s nature. God’s ways are what they are because God is what He is.

God’s ways are on display in everything that He communicates to man. And so a man who possesses an inward reverence of God will seek to behave in a way compatible with God in every aspect of his life! Again, this is an inside-out lifestyle that cannot be achieved through outside-in discipline.

As we prepare for worship, let us remember the following different areas of blessing that are conferred upon us as a result of our relationship with the Lord:

Areas of Blessing

“For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Ps 128:2-3

A) Fruit of His Labor

The aimless are seldom able to enjoy the fruit of their labor. That is because they seldom stay plugged in long enough to experience the full cycle of sowing and reaping. The aimless are always starting but never finishing.

Being able to enjoy the fruit of a faithful and fruitful life is one of the blessings of walking in God’s ways. In fact, to have the product of one’s labors devoured by strangers is seen over and over in the Bible as the curse of unfaithfulness.

Any system or philosophy that denies the application of God’s immutable law of sowing and reaping is immoral! The concept of property ownership is not a product of capitalism, but it is an intrinsic characteristic of God’s ways. Men have long sought to avoid this immutable concept that is simply an expression of God’s nature.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal 6:7

Galatians 6:7 is both a promise and a threat. As we prepare to worship God, let us remember how walking in God’s ways benefit us in so many ways.

“…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim 4:8

B) The Blessing of Married Life

“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house…” Ps 128:3

Of course, the genders in this psalm are in no way meant to be exclusive. The point is that the blessings of godliness extend to the most important relationships in life - spouse and children. In a marriage where both parties walk in God’s ways, there will be fruitfulness in the marriage. In this type of marriage, you partner will be like…

A fruitful vine growing right beside the home. There is no need to travel outside the home to see the fruit of a godly lifestyle. Just reach out the window and pick some grapes from the fruitful vine that surrounds the godly home.

Let me ask, you wouldn’t reach outside the window and pull down part of the wall of your house, would you? There are some who tear down their own house. They do this by tearing down their spouse. You cannot tear down your marriage partner without tearing down your own home.

C) Blessing of Children

“…thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Ps 128:3

I have learned one thing about olive plants from this verse - olive plants are always hungry! If my children around the table are like olive plants, then those olive plants are some more hungry dudes!

To the Hebrew, olive trees were a source of cheerfulness and strength. The blessings of children raised in the home of the godly are immense. They are a source of cheerfulness and strength.

Inside-Out Blessings

“The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.” Ps 128:5

When we have an inside-out relationship with God and His blessings flow to us from the inside out as well. Zion was regarded as God’s earthly dwelling place, where the temple was located and the presence of God dwelt in a special way. Jerusalem was the city of God and the capital of God’s kingdom. God’s blessings flow out of Zion and He enables us to see the prosperity of His Kingdom all our days.

The blessings of God originate from His presence and flow outward to every aspect of our lives. Those blessings allow His kingdom to expand both in our lives and through our lives. The blessings of God come through the indwelling of the Almighty in our spirit and those blessings flow outward.

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” Eph 3:16

Conclusion:

There are a thousand blessings that come our way when we fear God and walk in His ways. Fearing God is internal and expresses an inner reverence for the Lord. Walking in His ways is external and expresses a way of life that portrays God’s character.

God’s ways transcend His law. God’s ways are more an expression of His nature and His character. Walking in God’s ways is always a result of a relationship with God that transcends law.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Ps 127:1

The “Little Psalter” that is made up of the psalms of ascent is very organized. The psalms of ascent are the set of fifteen psalms from 120 to 134. This set of songs is divided into two groups by psalm 127, which is the middle psalm and is ascribed to Solomon. The group of ascent psalms on either side of psalm 127 is sprinkled with two psalms that are ascribed to David. This central psalm of ascent acknowledges the role of the Almighty in establishing and protecting the family. This is a worthy thing to contemplate as we prepare to enter God’s presence in worship.

God is the primary source of all our blessings. This psalm should be the credo of every head of house. Every mom and dad should have psalm 127 as their motto concerning family life. The message of Psalm 127 is particularly addressed to fathers of traditional families.

Builders and Protectors

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Ps 127:1

There are two functions mentioned in verse one - building and protecting. Any man who is not willing to perform both of these functions and to do so in a sacrificial way, is unworthy of the office of fatherhood. When it comes to establishing, providing, and protecting a family, good intentions are not sufficient.

I understand the point of this psalm is that God is ultimately the builder and protector, but fathers are responsible to do their part, and then to trust God. Notice the sacrificial tone of verse one. Unfortunately there are those who wish to establish a home and start a family while insisting that their own personal interests must come first. Still others are willing to work to provide and protect a family but only after they pursue their own goals and interests. Biblical manhood involves putting the needs of your wife and children before your own personal goals and dreams. Unless you are willing to accept the responsibilities of Biblical manhood, I have two words of advice for you - Don’t get married and don’t procreate!

This psalm takes for granted that those who build a house will labor to do so. It takes for granted that he who protects a city will watch over it. Both of these activities require sacrifice in other areas of life. If you are busy building, there are other things you will not be able to do. If you are busy watching, there are other activities that will have to be forsaken. I know these are simple concepts that are lost quickly by our have-your-cake-and-eat-it-also societal mentality, but they are nonetheless true!

My oldest son has been fascinated by motorized vehicles from an early age. I recall a certain family outing when he and his younger siblings were strapped into the back seat of our ten-year-old family sedan. When an impressive late model sports car zoomed around us, my son breathlessly asked, “Dad, why don’t you buy a car like that?” I informed him that mom and dad could have purchased a car like that, but we chose instead to have children.

The loathing of self-sacrifice and disdain for postponement of  gratification is evident all around us. For example, our economy is about to go bust because our politicians insisted that banks lend to people who were not credit worthy so that they could purchase homes they could not afford. It just wasn’t fair, they said, that people who were unwilling to work hard to achieve the American dream were being left behind. Also, our society teaches that people should be able to be involved in the activities of married life even if they are single. Yet when a child is conceived, sound reasoning declares that a couple has responsibility to the innocent life that has begun. It might not be a popular message, but Biblical manhood requires sacrificial love and manning-up to accept responsibility.

As a father is building and protecting, there is another who works with him; He is the Lord God Almighty. You need Him in your life. Do your duty to the best of your ability, but He is the only One who can offer true strength and safety. Men labor to build their house, but they still need the Lord, the true builder. Men watch to protect their city, but they still need the Lord, the true protector.

Why do men labor for that which they by themselves cannot provide? You need a personal relationship with God so that you can bring God into the things that are most important in your life. You may not bring God into your home and into your family if you do not first have God in your heart. Many labor very hard to provide for and to protect their family, while at the same time shutting out the true source of provision and protection. It is doubtful if the presence of God will be any stronger in your family than it is in your own personal walk. Husbands and fathers, you set the pace for your family. Know that except the Lord build the house and watch the city, you labor in vain to provide that which is beyond your ability to provide. Though it is your responsibility to build and protect your family, you must partner with the Almighty in your effort.

Trusting God

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Ps 127:2

For those fathers practicing Biblical manhood, these are words of encouragement. You are sacrificing for the family. You are providing for your family to the best of your ability. You are doing your best to protect your household from ungodly spirits and the things of the world. You are maintaining your walk with God and including Him in everything you do for your family.

So … go to bed and get a good night’s sleep! Live a godly life, do everything you can for your family including making those sacrifices, and then trust God. Worry should not be part of the picture. Place it in God’s hands, and have a good night’s sleep.

Do you want your children to grow up wondering if God is going to come through for them? Ask God to help you, do the best you can today, and trust your tomorrows to the Lord. It is pointless and in fact a negative thing to always worry about your situation. Do what you can and trust God to do what you can’t.

This psalm is for every father who ever sweated the mortgage payment, the grocery bill, and the insurance payment. Don’t be extravagant, live within your means, work hard, and trust God!

The Blessing of Children

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Ps 127:3

The strength of a family, a nation, and a society depends on the condition of its children. For a godly family, children are a heritage of the Lord. They are a blessing beyond measure. Godly children are a reward for the godly.

The home that a child is conceived in and grows up in has a tremendous impact on what kind of person that child becomes. This is a promise for every godly couple. By making a decision to live for the Lord and honor the things of God, you are giving your children an opportunity to be nurtured in a godly home. You are giving your children every advantage that you can. Today you are strong; tomorrow they will be a source of strength to you.

“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” Ps 127:4

An arrow represents potential. An arrow is crafted for the purpose of flight. It is crafted to fly through the air and strike a target. Let me ask you - what is the target are you aiming your children toward? What is the goal you have set before them?

Even the most skillful major league pitcher is greatly aided by the catcher “framing the target” or placing the mitt where the ball should strike. The life you live is framing a target for your children. Very often parent’s lives serve as an example children should seek to avoid. They must find a target from another. Don’t allow the life you live to become a goal your children seek to avoid. Be a positive example of how to live the Christian life.

The joy of parenthood is expressed here in this psalm:

“Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” Ps 127:5

Are you are fashioning those arrows to fly straight and true? Are you framing the target well? If your quiver is full of tall and straight arrows, you have every reason to rejoice.

This psalm was written by Solomon, King David’s son. David was a very godly man, a man after god’s own heart, a great leader and king, but a terrible father. He was a complete failure as a husband and father. He treated his children unequally, among other things. It is impossible to treat our children exactly the same, but we can be equal with them. David’s success as a king and as a worshiper of God could never erase his failure as a father. While David was building the kingdom, his family was falling apart. It is my firm belief that the greatest success you can have in life has to do with your walk with God and your family relationships. A failure in either of these areas will never be removed by success in any other area of life.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps 126:5-6

Psalm 126 is the final note in the musical scale of deliverance. The scale is not complete until the notes go full circle and return to the point of beginning. To stop short of that eighth note is to end the scale without resolve.

The cycle of chastening could not be complete without restoration. This song recalls the day when God restored Israel after seventy years of captivity in Babylon. Until the notes of this psalm were sung, the story of the Babylonian captivity was incomplete. We were left hanging in a suspenseful state. There was no feeling of harmony and completeness until the captivity of God’s people was ended and Israel once again planted in the land. This is the song the nation sung to commemorate the symmetry of God’s dealings with His people. It was sung on the occasion of the holy days, as the pilgrims ascended the holy mountain to the city of David and the place of the temple.

The goodness of God cannot be understood without the last note that returns to the beginning of the scale. So much about God’s purpose and how He deals with us will not be resolved from our perspective unless we stick with Him through the entire cycle. When Jeremiah was shown the destruction that was ahead for an unrepentant people, he wept until his head felt like a pool of water. That is because from the prophet’s perspective, he could not see the purpose of God. But that purpose was completed when God brought again the captivity of Israel. So much about the Lord will never be understood without seeing His restoration, His rebuilding, His harvest.

As you prepare to worship the Lord, His purpose in chastening is something to keep in mind. God is a god of restoration. So much about His nature and His dealings with us can only be understood by experiencing His regathering and His regeneration. If we bail out of our relationship with the Lord without experiencing the eighth note, much of our understanding of Him will not be resolved. In fact, the ancient songbook could not be complete without Psalm 126!

Awake in a Dream World

“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.” Ps 126:1

The song recalls the sheer ecstasy of being delivered from bondage. That day began like any other day. For the old man, Canaan was just a vague memory of a happy childhood that had blown away like a leaf in a cold February wind. For the young man, the Promised Land was a story the ancient ones shared in hushed and whimsical tones after all the children were sent off to bed. But this day was different! This day brought news of the king’s decree allowing whoever desired from among the Jews to return to that magical land. This was the day the Lord God plucked the string to complete the bittersweet notes of a minor scale. The cycle was complete. Restoration! Deliverance! Renewal!

The Jews were awake in a dream world. It was a day of hilarious singing and rejoicing.

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing…” Ps 126:2

Those of you who have experienced the Lord’s chastening, do you remember what it was like when the cycle was completed? It is almost surreal to experience restoration to God’s favor after a time of chastening. Only those who have experienced the complete cycle can know and fully appreciate the Lord’s mercy. Unfortunately many bail out of the process before ever returning to the beginning point. Many throw in the towel before experiencing restoration and renewal. And by so doing, they never begin to understand God’s purpose in chastening. There are many songs in this ancient songbook that are written in minor keys, the song of judgment and restoration is one of them. But what a sweet resolve it has!

Note the testimony of the restored:

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” Ps 126:2

The heathen around the People of God took notice due to the commotion the Jews caused with their praise and laughter. Do you have a song to sing? If God has done great things for you, your mouth should be filled with laughter and your tongue with singing! Our praise should cause the unbelievers around us to acknowledge the power of God at work in our lives.

However real praise of God is not for show only. It is the genuine expression of a thankful heart.

“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Ps 126:3

As the Southern Streams

“Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.” Ps 126:4

But not all the Jews took advantage of their freedom and returned to the land. Why? Why wouldn’t a people once enslaved but now officially freed not want to return to the land of their inheritance? Why do many insist upon remaining in sin?

I’m sure there are a variety of reasons. Some had grown accustomed to life in Babylon and had become quite comfortable. Some had made too many allegiances with the people of Babylon. Others had found ways to profit from their association with the nation that enslaved them. And perhaps most of these people for whatever reason had come to believe that returning to Jerusalem would be more of a hardship than a blessing.

And such is the curse of a backsliding people - many never return. And only those who do return truly understand God’s purpose in chastening and live to see the cycle completed in their lives.

The streams in the southern region of the Negev, or dry place, dried up most every summer. It was when the autumn rains swept the mountains that these streams would return. Just as the blessing of the good Lord fell in the form of rain to reconstitute the streams in the south, so the Spirit of the Almighty is able to restore a dry and thirsty soul.

The Law of Sowing and Reaping

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps 126:5-6

This song that began with a bittersweet note, ends the same way. The cycle of chastening and restoration is compared to the law of sowing and reaping. Perhaps you will recall that the first mention of seedtime and harvest in the Bible was during another bittersweet time at the end of a cycle. It was when Noah and family disembarked from the ark after the flood and God made a covenant of restoration with mankind.

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Gen 8:22

And so the cycle of sowing and reaping is forever linked to the cycle of constriction and deliverance. It was after the constriction of the ark that a new age could begin for man on the earth. It was after the constriction of captivity in Babylon that a new age free from idolatry could begin for Israel. God does things through the cycle of chastening and restoration that cannot be accomplished any other way. He delivers us from the past and allows us to start a new life with Him.

The cycle of sowing and reaping is bittersweet, because it brings about the death of the old. But only through the death of the old, can the new spring forth into life.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25

The New Birth is bittersweet because the cycle begins with the death of the old. One may not be born again until one dies out to self. The old must die that the new might spring into life.

Psalm 126 expresses this truth. The seed is absorbed into the soil and is transformed under cover of darkness. Hidden from view and in a “secret place,” the transformation takes place. God works under cover of darkness and in a “tight” place where man’s options are severely limited.

“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness , and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” Isa 45:3

Conclusion:

The effect of the final note in a musical scale may not be appreciated without the other notes in the progression. A minor scale has an even stronger sense of resolution than other scales when the final note sounds. Psalm 126 is the final note of a minor progression.

It is a song of praise to the God of restoration. But restoration cannot be fully appreciated without experiencing captivity. Captivity is that “tight place” where under the cover of darkness God does His best work.

Many of the vestiges of carnality may only be removed through such a process. It is bittersweet because many never return to hear the last note and see the final resolve of the process. For those who do, this experience becomes yet another reason to praise God. As we enter the house of God to have fellowship with the Creator, let us remember that we worship a God of restoration.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.

“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:1-2

Trust is a critical element of worship. This is not trust in the sense we often use to express saving faith. But the type of trust spoken of in psalm 125 deals with trusting God to protect and keep one from the enemy and his crooked ways.

Trust expressed in worship is the absolute conviction that good will ultimately triumph and God will reward His own. This type of trust glorifies God and exalts His position in our lives.

As you prepare to enter the presence of God in worship, you should reflect upon the protection that is yours as part of your relationship with Him. He is the only security that truly exists. There is no fortress that can withstand other than that fortress that surrounds God’s people.

Fortress Jehovah

“They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:1-2

The pilgrims rounded the winding road on their trek to the temple to keep the holy day. Suddenly as they traveled the last curve in the road, the mountain of God’s holiness dominated the vista before them. Mount Zion with the temple on top was majestic and one of the most beautiful sights any Hebrew could think of. They would sing of this place; the symbol of man living in harmony with God’s perfect will. They would dream of this place; the sincerest desire of every Jew was to keep the feasts in the city of God, the mountain of His holiness.

For the Jew, Jerusalem is the eternal city. And so it is, for God will cause the New Jerusalem to come down out of heaven to rest upon the new earth some day. It was from this mindset that the disciples associated the destruction of Jerusalem, as they knew it with the end of the world in Matthew chapter 24. They assumed that the destruction of Jerusalem, the return of Jesus for His Church, and the end of the world would all happen at the same time (Matt 24:3).

As these pilgrims began the final leg of their journey and climbed up the steep road to the top of Mount Zion they would sing these songs of ascending. And in psalm 125 they expressed the security of walking with God. It is a song of worship that tells of the certainty of the believer’s ultimate victory. As the pilgrims climbed the hill to the temple, they compared the security we have in the Lord with the eternal city of Jerusalem.

“They that trust in the Lord…” (vs. 1)

Is your confidence fixed in God? Is He the source of your hope? Does He find a prominent place in all of your dreams and aspirations? Are you firmly convinced of the ultimate victory that awaits the righteous?

If so, you have found an anchor that is by far more substantial than anything of permanence that this world can offer. Those who place their confidence in God and have complete confidence in both His ability and His desire to reward the righteous, are building upon the most solid foundation there is. You are like Mount Zion, the eternal city. You will not be removed, but the rock upon which you are rooted will cause you to abide forever.

An allegory is drawn between Jerusalem and the surrounding mountains in verse 2. The righteous is compared to Jerusalem and the mountains around are compared to the protection of God that surrounds the believer. Take a look around you, child of God. There are many mountains and many valleys in between. But each mountain and every valley speaks of the protection of God, the goodness of God, the mercies of God. From where you stand today in every direction there are ups and downs, mountains and valleys. But God has been with you every step of the way and He promises to continue to go with you. He protect you in the hard times and in the good times. All of that rough terrain around you is truly the presence of God that protects and keeps you.

“As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.” Ps 125:2

The pilgrims would look back at the road traveled and then forward to the city of God on top of the hill. And then this song about the security of the righteous would drift from their lips. God has been with you every step of the way. And He is the foundation upon which you stand. He will cause you to be established forever, if you continue to place your trust in Him. He is our fortress and His name our strong tower.

Limiting the Wicked

“For the rod [scepter] of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.” Ps 125:3

This song of worship now reminds the righteous of God’s gracious restraint upon the wicked. The psalm moves from the topic of God’s protection around the godly to His limitations upon the wicked. The word “rod” can be better translated as “scepter,” as does the NIV, NKJV, and NASB.

God does not suffer the wicked to practice oppressive rule over the righteous without strict limitations. God is always mindful of man’s temporal nature and the tendency of men to yield to the domination of the wicked and indeed to put forth their hands to practice wickedness also. For this reason the wicked are limited by God. Those who place their trust in God shall not be ashamed.

The phrase “the lot of the righteous” speaks of the territory given by God to His people. It is the “land allotted to the righteous” (NKJV).  God has given you authority over a certain realm. That is your lot; the portion of your inheritance. Further, the Lord will limit the influence of the wicked over your allotted territory. The reason why is He does not want you to become discouraged and put your hand unto iniquity. Instead, the Lord intends you to claim the territory He had given you and become all that you can be for Him. Will you rise up and claim your lot?

Do Good Unto the Good

“Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.” Ps 125:4

And here is a prayer offered to the God who always does right by His people. It is the essence of our hope that the Lord will reward according to our what is in our hearts. Is there any doubt that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6)? God will do good to those that be good.

Lest we feel that being good is beyond our reach and that it is a mark that few can ever reach, this quality is further defined.

“…them that are upright in their hearts.” Ps 125:4

The goodness that God seeks to reward is first a quality of the heart. Of course, what is in one’s heart will be reflected in actions and attitudes. This prevents uprightness of heart from being a purely academic quality.

At the heart of sin is sin in the heart.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:21-23

True cleansing must begin at the heart level or it is only outward reformation instead of inward transformation. It is with the whole heart that we must seek God.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13

The wicked are perverse and return to their crooked ways. This is because their heart never got straightened out. One cannot walk straight and live straight unless he gets his heart straight!

“As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.” Ps 125:5

Conclusion:

Trust expressed in worship is the absolute conviction that good will ultimately triumph and God will reward His own. This type of trust glorifies God and exalts His position in our lives.

As you prepare to enter the presence of God in worship, you should reflect upon the protection that is yours as a result of your relationship with Him. He is the only security that truly exists.

© 2008 Nevin Bass. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced for the purpose of resale without written permission.