< PreviousDAY 1 REVIEW: What does this Psalm teach us about God? What does this Psalm teach us about people? DAY 2 REFLECT: How has God been faithful to you recently? What truths have you been introduced to or reminded of this week? DAY 3 REFOCUS: How is God lifting your head with hope this week? What does God have set before you that might be challenging? DAY 4 RESPOND: How are you being prompted to respond to God this week? How are you being prompted to respond to others this week? DAY 5 REAFFIRM: What area of your life do you need to commit to growth? What truths do you need to remind yourself of this week? This week in Psalm 126Notes: Prayer God, YOU ARE: THANK YOU FOR: FORGIVE ME FOR: HELP ME WITH: AmenPsalm 127 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves. 3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children 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 opponents in court.A CLOSER LOOK: This is the first and only Psalm of Ascents written by Solomon, David’s son. You’ll notice similarities between Psalm 127 and the book of Ecclesiastes, also authored by Solomon, in how he discusses work apart from God (127:1). Psalms 127 and 128 are considered wisdom poems, with the understanding that wisdom went hand in hand with vitality and prosperity (Psalm 111:10). People needed to build houses for shelter, and watchmen needed to guard the city for the work to be done safely, but the sentiment here is that those working ought to do so in faith, trusting in God to make the work beneficial (127:1). Similarly, farmers need to perform their work in faith, trusting that God will provide a harvest. Practicing rest demonstrates the trust they have in God, that they can go to sleep knowing their work will be honored (127:2). The overall theme of this psalm is that God blesses the faithful domestic work of his people. Building and providing homes, tending crops for food, and raising children to love the Lord (127:3). A large family was indication that God’s blessing was upon the husband and wife and would have been considered a symbol of status (127:5). “Children born in one’s youth” (127:4) seems to be referring to grown adult children standing by their father when someone brings a dispute against the family in court, presenting strength and confidence in God’s blessing on them against their enemies (127:5). CONTEXT: Ecclesiastes, 1 Chronicles 26-29, Genesis 33:5, Mark 4:26-29DAY 1 REVIEW: What does this Psalm teach us about God? What does this Psalm teach us about people? DAY 2 REFLECT: How has God been faithful to you recently? What truths have you been introduced to or reminded of this week? DAY 3 REFOCUS: How is God lifting your head with hope this week? What does God have set before you that might be challenging? DAY 4 RESPOND: How are you being prompted to respond to God this week? How are you being prompted to respond to others this week? DAY 5 REAFFIRM: What area of your life do you need to commit to growth? What truths do you need to remind yourself of this week? This week in Psalm 127Notes: Prayer God, YOU ARE: THANK YOU FOR: FORGIVE ME FOR: HELP ME WITH: AmenPsalm 128 1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the LORD. 5 May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 May you live to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.A CLOSER LOOK: Psalm 128 builds on the themes of Psalm 127, further describing what blessedness from the Lord looks like. Here, there is a promise of blessing attached to a condition. If you fear God, or live a life of reverence and obedience to him, God will offer blessings (128:1). Those blessings include a fruitful harvest and provision (128:2) and a healthy family (128:3). The psalmist uses the image of olive shoots to describe the family’s children, indicating they would be full of life and energy. It was customary for whole families to journey together to Jerusalem for the festivals, so it is no surprise that the focus here is on the domestic blessings God offers. Throughout the book of Proverbs (and other wisdom literature in the bible) the idea of fearing God is connected to wisdom. The New Testament expands on this idea in the book of James, that wisdom is not simply acquiring knowledge, but is proven and displayed in how we live our lives and practice the fruit of the Spirit. Finally, God’s blessing is not primarily financial, rather is found in a life full of the things that matter; provision for our needs and a life full of the people you love (128:6). CONTEXT: Proverbs 9:10, James 3:13-18, Galatians 5:22-26, Job 42:16-17, Proverbs 17:6This week in Psalm 128 DAY 1 REVIEW: What does this Psalm teach us about God? What does this Psalm teach us about people? DAY 2 REFLECT: How has God been faithful to you recently? What truths have you been introduced to or reminded of this week? DAY 3 REFOCUS: How is God lifting your head with hope this week? What does God have set before you that might be challenging? DAY 4 RESPOND: How are you being prompted to respond to God this week? How are you being prompted to respond to others this week? DAY 5 REAFFIRM: What area of your life do you need to commit to growth? What truths do you need to remind yourself of this week?Notes: Prayer God, YOU ARE: THANK YOU FOR: FORGIVE ME FOR: HELP ME WITH: AmenNext >