Psalm 129
There are some really key words in Scripture and “yet” is one of them.
Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth…
• great affliction
• for a long period of time
Some of y’all know exactly how that feels.
YET…
…they have not prevailed against me (v 2).
The enemy does not win. Every time we take another step, his hold weakens. Every time we set our gaze on things above, his power lessens.
The enemy is real, but the Lord is righteous (v 4).
In this life, you will have trials…
Take up your cross and follow me…
Life is hard and Jesus knew it would be so. There is no shame in struggle. Discouragement doesn’t disqualify us.
The way is narrow. The cross is heavy. Sometimes the path is all uphill. But that is where pilgrimage leads us. And we walk on because pilgrimage is not a love of travel but a commitment to a destination. We know where we are bound so giving up is out of the question. Stopping short of the goal isn’t a possibility.
Can I share a few promises for my fellow pilgrims who may be feeling a little weary of the journey?
👉 To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7).
👉 The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11).
👉 And I will give him the morning star (Rev 2:28).
👉 I will never blot his name out of the book of life (Rev 3:5).
Walk on, Pilgrim. The journey isn’t over until we see Jesus.
Psalm 128
Those who fear the Lord AND walk in his ways…
• are blessed – experience true joy (v 1)
• are able to work and enjoy the fruit of their labor (v 2)
• enjoy ultimate blessing and security (v 2)
• have wives like fruitful vines – bring joy, abundance, and life to the home (v 3)
• have children like olive shoots – full of energy and promise (v 3)
• are currently blessed (v 1) and promised future blessing (v4)
Psalm 127
Anything done, apart from the Lord, is done in vain. It is pointless and a waste of time and energy. Only things done for the Lord have any lasting impact or value.
Our work (v 1) has no value apart from the Lord.
Our tendency to worry and fret and try to fix things ourselves (v 2) serves no purpose. We must lay our burdens at His feet.
Our family – parenting, marriages, etc – (v 3-5) must be grounded in the Lord and his Word.
May it all be for your glory, Lord.
Psalm 126
This psalm is a beautiful little prayer. I strongly believe in praying Scripture and this one serves as a great outline. It’s broken into two sections.
• when the Lord restored
• we were like
• our mouth was filled
• they said among the nations
• the Lord has done
• the Lord has done
• restore our fortunes
• shall reap with joy
• shall come home with joy
When times seem particularly dark – we sometimes need to remind ourselves of how God has moved on our behalf in the past. And, don’t you know, he can do it again!!
