WELCOMESunday 10th August

PSALM 127‘Unless the Lord Builds the

House’

Psalm 124(2):1-8 (p. 418) 1 Now Israèl may say, and that truly, If that the LORD had not our cause maintained;

2 If that the LORD had not our right sustained,

When cruel men against us furiously

Rose up in wrath, to make of us their prey; 1/4

Psalm 124(2):1-8 (p. 418) 3 Then certainly they had devoured us

all, And swallowed quick, for ought that

we could deem; Such was their rage, as we might well

esteem.4 And as fierce floods before them all

things drown, So had they brought our soul to death

quite down. 2/4

Psalm 124(2):1-8 (p. 418) 5 The raging streams, with their proud

swelling waves, Had then our soul o’erwhelmèd in the

deep.6 But blessed be GOD, who doth us

safely keep, And hath not giv’n us for a living prey Unto their teeth, and bloody cruelty.

3/4

Psalm 124(2):1-8 (p. 418) 7 Ev’n as a bird out of the fowler’s snare Escapes away, so is our soul set free: Broke are their nets, and thus escapèd

we.8 Therefore our help is in the LORD’s

great name, Who heav’n and earth by his great

pow’r did frame. 4/4

PRAYER&

SCRIPTUREREADING

PSALM 127 - ‘Unless the Lord Builds the House’

2 Samuel 7:1-16&

Psalm 127

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)God's Promise to David 1 After the king was settled in his palace

and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,     2 he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.

    3 Nathan replied to the king, Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310) 4 That night the word of the LORD came

to Nathan, saying:  5 Go and tell my servant David, 'This is

what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)    7 Wherever I have moved with all

the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'

    8 Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)    9 I have been with you wherever you have

gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.

    10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people shall not oppress them any more, as they did at the beginning

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)    11 and have done ever since the time I

appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.‘ The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:

    12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)    13 He is the one who will build a house

for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

    14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.

2 Samuel 7 (Pew Bible p. 310)    15 But my love will never be taken

away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

    16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.'

Psalm 127 (Pew Bible p. 624)   A song of ascents. Of Solomon.1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the

city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.    

Psalm 127 (Pew Bible p. 624)2 In vain you rise early and stay up

late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.      3 Sons are a heritage from the

LORD, children a reward from him.

Psalm 127 (Pew Bible p. 624)    4 Like arrows in the hands of a

warrior are sons born in one's youth.     5 Blessed is the man whose quiver

is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their

enemies in the gate.

Psalm 34:15-22* (p. 41) 15 The LORD’s eyes are upon the just;

he listens to their plea.16 The wicked he rejects, and blots

from earth their memory. 1/4

Psalm 34:15-22* (p. 41) 17 The righteous cry; the LORD

responds and frees them when distressed.

18 The LORD draws near the broken heart

and rescues the depressed. 2/4

Psalm 34:15-22* (p. 41) 19 From all the troubles of the just

the LORD will set him free.

20 The LORD protects his every bone;

and broken none will be. 3/4

Psalm 34:15-22* (p. 41) 21 The wicked are condemned to death,

all those who hate the just.22 God saves his own; they’re not condemned,

for in the LORD they trust. 4/4

SERMON

PSALM 127 – ‘Unless the Lord Builds the House’

The Truth we all need Olympians, artists, politicians, temple-builders, and Christian leaders – all must beware HUBRIS.

Psalm 127:1 leaves no room for arrogance. A truth we all need.

1 – Everyone Needs a “From Above” view of life.

Don’t get stuck on a quest for security, family, home or job.

Verse 1 – Get something lasting in your life.

Beware: even King Solomon had a “from below” view of life.

2 – Every Family & Church is Built-up by the Lord Alone

Solomon’s home life was a disaster: what he says in the Psalm is not how he lived his life.

On our own… we labour in vain. But Christ is still building his Church and Kingdom. Listen to Hebrews 3:3…

Hebrews 3:3-63 Jesus has been found worthy of greater

honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

EricAlexander

Minister-EmeritusSt Georges-Tron Parish, Glasgow

Psalm 127:1-5* (p. 171) 1 Unless the LORD builds up the house,

its builders toil in vain; Unless he keeps the city safe, they vainly watch maintain.

1/5

Psalm 127:1-5* (p. 171) 2 In vain you rise before the dawn

and late hours vainly keep That you may toil for food to eat—

he gives his loved ones sleep. 2/5

Psalm 127:1-5* (p. 171) 3 Sons are a precious heritage, a blessing from the LORD; The children that are born to us

are truly his reward. 3/5

Psalm 127:1-5* (p. 171) 4 Like arrows in a warrior’s hand

are children of one’s youth.5 The man whose quiver’s full

of them is blessed by God in truth.

4/5

Psalm 127:1-5* (p. 171) Such men will not be put to

shame— that will not be their fate— When they contend against their foes

who face them in the gate.5/5