"Grateful for the Blessings of God"

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 4:1-34; Psalm 72; Psalm 127

Scripture Focus

It is useless for you to work so hard
     from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
     for God gives rest to his loved ones.
                            (Psalms 127:2 NLT)

Observation

I joke about this passage from time to time—especially on those mornings when I want to sleep in—“for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

But like another Psalm of Ascent I highlighted recently, I think the basic attitude expressed by this psalm is one of grateful, trusting, humility. Solomon was—as we’ve seen repeatedly in the past few days—a remarkable “builder”…one of those kings whose reign was characterized by significant national expansion and momentous public (and private) building projects. But Solomon’s acknowledgement here is that ultimately—for however hard he worked or however much he tried—he couldn’t have accomplished any of the things he’d accomplished apart from God’s hand of blessing and direction.  I don't think Solomon has any intent here of diminishing the value of diligent labor, but simply acknowledges that—in any success—there are other factors…there is the divine factor of God's blessing…at work.

It’s like Solomon takes a look around his kingdom—and then around his table—at his life’s work and the life of his family…and simply has to say, “This is evidence not of my greatness, but of God’s greatness!”

It’s clear that Solomon lost sight of some of this late in his reign, but on whatever day he wrote this psalm, he got it right. In the journey that is my life, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17 NIV).