“In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food – yes, He gives sleep to the one He loves.” – Psalm 127:2
Let’s go back one verse. Psalm 127:1 raises two sets of questions. First, “what is the Lord building?” and consequently, what should I build? Second, “what is the Lord protecting/not protecting?” and consequently, what should I protect/not protect. Both sets of questions are necessary and necessarily involve our actions, either to build or protect.
That action provides a poignant contrast up against Psalm 127:2. “In vain you…work hard.” Sometimes the bigger issue is not what you do but rather what you don’t do, not your action but your inaction. Why would inaction or not working follow on the heels of building and protecting? This psalm is pointing to another set of questions that are equally necessary!
Think about it this way…all through our childhood we try to escape limits only to find that adulthood is full of them! What’s more, as we age, we discover those limits to our body, freedom, and relationships we once escaped in adolescence are appearing all over again. What are we to do with these limits whenever we encounter them?
“He gives sleep to the one He loves.” It is the Lord’s gift, not His curse that you would get tired and need rest. It is the Lord’s gift, not His curse that He would limit your time and energy. It is the Lord’s gift, not His curse that He would limit your influence and responsibility. Limits are a gift from the Lord because they remind us that we are not God and we need not act as if we are. Ceasing from acting, resting is worship because it receives the gift of limits from a gracious Creator.
So what questions are raised by Psalm 127:2? What limits of time, energy, ability, influence, etc. do I need to recognize as a gift from the Lord and cease from activity? What limits of resources and opportunities does our church need to receive as a gift from the Lord?
He gives rest. Will I receive it?
Think These Things 