Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.… (For the opening or reopening of a church.) "Except the Lord build the house," etc. I. OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD FOR ALL REAL PROSPERITY. 1. Consider the material of the house we are building. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" "Ye also as living stones, are built up a spiritual house," etc. The spiritual temple dwarfs the most magnificent material cathedrals. 2. The Divine implements employed on the building. Spiritual men working with Divine truths - the gospel - to build up a spiritual edifice. But some conditions to be remembered. (1) That the qualifications for such work are God-given, "By the grace of God I am what I am." (2) Even then we are still dependent upon the cooperative blessing of God's Spirit. "So then neither is he that planteth anything [alone], neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase." The soul like an organ. The keys give no musical response to the touch of the most skilful player till the wind is passed to the pipes. II. HOW DEPENDENCE UPON GOD MAY BEST BE PROMOTED. 1. By the most strenuous spiritual effort on our part. This no paradox; for the more we aim to do for God, the more shall we feel the need of God to give us true success. 2. By constantly thinking of the greatness of his work, and the littleness of our faculties in relation to it. Men succeed in grand material enterprises and intellectual achievements - construct mighty bridges and steam-engines - and write magnificent books and poems; but to win men to Christ a good life is the most arduous work in life, demanding the highest inspirations of the mind. 3. We must realize the spirit of dependence by the constant help of prayer. To know the value of work we must put ourselves forth in constantly renewed endeavor; but our highest work can be sustained only by the help of the devoutest prayer. - S. Parallel Verses KJV: {A Song of degrees for Solomon.} 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. |
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