March 16
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PSALM 127
Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
– Psalm 127:1-5
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PSALM 127 THE VANITY OF ANXIOUS TOIL & THE VALUE OF REST
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All the things man does to labor only matters if God approves
We can plan to build and do things, but it may not pull through
We can work hours and hours to ensure we have what we want
But unless the Lord is glorified by our works, it is all vanity that we do
God created a day of rest so that man can honor its worth
To devoid oneself of this “rest” is to lead to a life of chaos.
To work without pause is like beating up your own bodies
It is vanity to toil anxiously without the benefit of rest
It is in the stillness of sleep that our minds and bodies get refreshed
Without such rest, we will all be constantly anxious and depressed
Remember that God created in six days and rested one day
He also wants us to honor the value of resting in his grace.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think that a majority of people are sleep and rest deprived today?