JULY 24
HE GIVES SLEEP TO HIS LOVED ONES
Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones. (WEB)
Psalm 127 begins with the well-known verse that states the builders work in vain unless the Lord builds the house. Unless the Lord watches over a city, the guards are wasting their time. (My paraphrase :) The first verse of this psalm highlights the futility of human effort. Unless the Lord is doing the building and watching, our efforts are pointless.
In verse 2, King Solomon speaks of the futility of relying on our own strength—getting up early, staying up late, and eating the bread of our labor. I don't think he's saying that hard work is wrong, but rather that work driven by independence and self-sufficiency wastes time.
I chose today's Scripture verse, the last part of verse 2: For he gives sleep to his loved ones. This is a wonderful promise for anyone who has ever struggled with sleep! Our Father promises us rest simply because He loves us—not because we earn it or deserve it, but out of love.
My prayer today is that we all experience the rest that only God can provide, both during our waking hours and in our sleep. May we understand that our Father's heart is for us to enter into a Sabbath rest, as promised in Hebrews 4:9-11. A rest where we stop our own works and embrace God's own rest.
May we all recognize the vanity of our own efforts and striving, and surrender to the peace of God that He promises (Romans 8:6). May we all say 'yes' to Jesus' invitation to take His yoke upon us.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (WEB)
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his loved ones. (WEB)
Psalm 127 begins with the well-known verse that states the builders work in vain unless the Lord builds the house. Unless the Lord watches over a city, the guards are wasting their time. (My paraphrase :) The first verse of this psalm highlights the futility of human effort. Unless the Lord is doing the building and watching, our efforts are pointless.
In verse 2, King Solomon speaks of the futility of relying on our own strength—getting up early, staying up late, and eating the bread of our labor. I don't think he's saying that hard work is wrong, but rather that work driven by independence and self-sufficiency wastes time.
I chose today's Scripture verse, the last part of verse 2: For he gives sleep to his loved ones. This is a wonderful promise for anyone who has ever struggled with sleep! Our Father promises us rest simply because He loves us—not because we earn it or deserve it, but out of love.
My prayer today is that we all experience the rest that only God can provide, both during our waking hours and in our sleep. May we understand that our Father's heart is for us to enter into a Sabbath rest, as promised in Hebrews 4:9-11. A rest where we stop our own works and embrace God's own rest.
May we all recognize the vanity of our own efforts and striving, and surrender to the peace of God that He promises (Romans 8:6). May we all say 'yes' to Jesus' invitation to take His yoke upon us.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (WEB)