SF212 - HOME IS WHERE THE HURT IS (Psalm 127)
SERMON PREPARATION
4 May 1987
Psalm 127
HOME IS WHERE THE HURT IS.
Verse 1:
Word Study
"Except" S# 518,3808
`IM (S#518)= A PRIM. PARTICLE; USED WIDELY AS A
DEMONSTRUTIVE,"LO!"; INTERROGATIVE;
"WHETHER!"; OR CONDITIONAL, "IF",
"ALTHOUGH"; ALSO" OH THAT!"
(TWOT#111)=
BASIC MEANING IS "IF". ALSO
USED IN OATH MAKING (2 KINGS
9:26; JOB 1:11); USED TO OFFER
ALTERNATIVES (EX. 19:13); OR
"WHEN" OR "SINCE" OR AND
INTERROGATIVE PARTICLE.
"BUILD" S#1129; TWOT#255
"BANAH"=
(S) A PRIMARY ROOT; TO BUILD (LIT. AND
FIG.): BUILD; OBTAIN CHILDREN; MAKE;
REPAIR; SET-UP; SURELY.
QAL IMPERFECT- FUTURE ACTIVE TENSE
(TWOT) CAN REFER TO A CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT OR TO THE INCREASE IN
OFFSPRING.
THE SCRIPTURES PORTRAY GOD AS THE
MASTER BUILDER; HE IS SEEN AS THE
BUILDER OF THE GOOD AND AS OPPOSING
EVIL. HE IS SOVEREIGN THEREFORE IT IS
FOOLISH TO BUILD WITH OUT HIS BLESSING.
"VAIN" S#7723; TWOT#2338a
"SHAV"=
(S) FROM "SHOV" IN THE SENSE OF
"DESOLATING" EVIL, LIT. (RUIN), FIG.
IDOLATRY, "USELESS; ALSO ADV. IN VAIN;
-FALSE,LIE, LYING, VAIN VANITY.
(TWOT) "EMPTINESS, VANITY, FALSEHOOD"
IT DESIGNATES ANY THING THAT IS
UNSUBSTANTIAL, UNREAL, WORTHLESS, EITHER
MATERIALLY OR MORALLY.
"KEEP" S#8104 TWOT#2414
"SHAMAR"=
QAL IMPERFECT
(TWOT) KEEP, GAURD, OBSERVE, GIVE
HEED.
THE BASIC IDEA OF THE ROOT IS "TO
EXERCISE GREAT CARE OVER."
USES:
1. EXPRESSES THE ATTENTION TO BE PAID
TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE LAW.
2. TO TAKE OR TO GAURD. THIS INVOLV
ES KEEPING OR TENDING TO SUCH AS A
GARDEN, A FLOCK, OR A HOUSE; AGAINST
INTRUDERS.
3. TO SPEAK OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE.
4. TO REFER TO A MAN'S ATTITUDE OF PAY
ING ATTENTION TO, OR REVERENCE FOR, GOD
OR OTHERS.
5. THE IDEA OF PRESERVING, STORING
UP.
"WAKETH" S#8245 TWOT#2451
"SHAQAD"= QAL PERFECT (COMPLETED ACTION)
(TWOT) "WATCH, WAKE"
IN IT'S COGNATES IT OVERLAPS WITH
"SHAMAR." IT IS ALSO USED AS THE NAME
FOR THE HEBREW ALMOND TREE. IT
EMPASISES AN ALERTNESS TO WATCH AND BE
PREPARED TO ACT.
CREATIVE THINKING
THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS VERSE POINTS TO THE DESIGN AND
CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHRISTIAN HOME. THE LORD IS LISTED AS BEING
THE ARCHITEC (?) AND BUILDER OF THE HOME. GEN. 2:24 GIVES TO US
GOD'S BLUEPRINT FOR THE CHRISTIAN HOME, JESUS INTERPRETS THIS IN
MT.19:5,6. THE IDEA OF BUILDING INVOLVES SLOW CONSTRUCTION A
HOME IS NOT BUILT OVER NIGHT IT TAKES TIME AND PATIENCE. IT IS
GOD'S WORK (PROV 3:33;24:3). THIS TAKES PLACE AS WE ALLOW GOD
TO LOVE OTHERS THROUGH US.
THE SECOND SECTION OF THIS VERSE DEALS WITH THE
PROTECTION OF THE HOUSE. IT IS SAID TO BE VAIN (IDOLATRY) TO
ASSUME THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR HOMES FROM THE ON SLAUGHT OF THE
ENEMY. GOD IS THE ONLY SURE REFUGE (PROV 18:10). IT DOES US
NO GOOD TO BE MORALLY ON OUR TOES IF WE ARE NOT ULTIMATELY
TRUSTING GOD TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES. HOW CAN WE DOES THIS?
1. WE CAN COMMIT OURSELVES COMPLETELY TO GOD. 2. WE MUST
COMMUNE DAILY WITH GOD (1THES 5:17). 3. WE MUST COMMUNICATE
GOD'S TRUTH TO OUR CHILDREN;THIS COMES THROUGH PERSONAL STUDY
AND FAMILY DEVOTIONS (DEUT. 6:4-9). THIS TAKES TIME. "THE
AVERAGE FATHER SPENDS LESS THAN A MINUTE PER DAY INTERACTING
WITH HIS CHILDREN IN WAYS OTHER THAN DISCIPLINING OR DIRECTING
THEM."(PULPIT HELPS MAY 1987)
COMMENTARIES
SPURGEON TREASURY OF DAVID :
WE ARE ADMONISHED TO DO ALL WE CAN. CROMWELL
"TRUST IN GOD AND KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY."
"BEN", SON; "BATH", DAUGHTER; AND "BEITH" HOUSE
ALL COME FROM THE SAME ROOT "BANAH" TO BUILD.
VERSE 2
WORD STUDY
"EAT..." S#398 TWOT#85
"`AK
AL"= (TWOT) EAT, CONSUME, DEVOUR, BURN UP,
FEED.
"SORROWS" S#6089 TWOT#1666A, 1667A
"`ESEB" (TWOT) SORROW, LABOR FROM `ASAB
= GREIVE, DISPLEASE, VEX, WREST.
THE ROOT RELATES TO PHYSICAL PAIN AS
WELL AS TO EMOTIONAL SORROW.
"`ESEB"
(TWOT) IDOL; FROM `ASAB II = MAKE,
WORSHIP.
MAY BE BETTER TRANSLATED VESSEL
SOMETHING FASHIONED.
CREATIVE THINKING
AGAIN IT BORDERS ON IDOLATRY TO THINK THAT BY OUR
BUSINESSES, OUR OWN INGENUITY THAT WE CAN PROVIDE ALL THAT OUR
FAMILY NEEDS. WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE MATERIAL
POSSESSIONS BUT OUR BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS ROB OUR
CHILDREN AND MATES OF THE ONE ASSET THAT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED
"TIME". USA TODAY REPORTED IN IT'S MAY 7, A987 ISSUE THAT
NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THE MOTHERS IN THE US ARE WORKING OUTSIDE
THE HOME. HOW CAN WE COPE WITH THE "GET AHEAD/OVERACHEIVER"
ATTITUDE OF OUR GENERATION?
1. WE MUST RECONIZE GOD AS THE OWNER OF ALL OUR
POSSESSIONS (PSA. 24:1).
2. WE RECONIZE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN EACH DAY AS A GIFT TO
BE ENJOYED AND USED TO HIS GLORY (PSA. 118:24).
3. WE MUST REST COMPLETELY ON GOD FOR OUR PROVISIONS
(PSA. 37:7; MT.6:11,25ff).
COMMENTARIES
SPURGEON TREASURY OF DAVID
:
"HARD EARNED IS THEIR FOOOD, SCANTILY RATIONED,
AND SCARCELY EVER SWEETENED, BU TPERPETUALLY
SMEARED WITH SORROW; AND ALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE
NO FAITH IN GOD, AND FIND NO JOY EXCEPT IN
HOARDING UP THE GOLDWHICH IS THEIR ONLY TRUST."
"NOTE HOW JESUS SLEPT AMID THE HURLY-BURLY OF A
STORM AT SEA. HE KNEW THAT HE WAS IN HIS
FATHER'S HANDS, AND THEREFORE BE WAS SO QUIET IN
SPIRIT THAT THE BILLOWS ROCKED HIM TO SLEEP.
BY CARING AND FRETTING,
BY AGONY AND FEAR,
THERE IS OF GOD NO GETTING,
BUT PRAYER HE WILL HEAR.
J.P. LANGE
THE LAST PHRASE MAY BE TRANSLATED HE WILL GIVE
HIS BELOVED THOSE THINGS WHICH UNBELIEVERS
LABOUR FOR.
VERSE 3
WORD STUDY
"HERITAGE" S#5159 TWOT#1342A
"NAHALA"
(TWOT) INHERITANCE, HERITAGE,
POSSESSION.
FROM "NAHAL" INHERIT POSSESS.
THE VERB "NAHAL" BASICALLY SIGNIFIES
GIVING OR RECEIVING PROPERTY WHICH IS
PART OF A PERMANENT POSSESSION AND AS A
RESULT OF SUCCESSION.
THE NOUN "NAHALA" BASICALLY CONNOTES
THAT WHICH IS OR MAY BE PASSED ON AS AN
INHERITANCE (E.G. GEN. 31:14), THAT
WHICH IS ONE'S BY VIRTUE OF ANCIENT
RIGHT AND THAT WHICH IS ONE'S
PERMANENTLY.
USED IN RELATION TO THE INHERITANCE GOD
GIVES THE GODLY, THE SOCIAL AND LEGAL
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LAND.
JEHOVAH'S POSSESSION, AND GOD AS THE
INHERITANCE/HERITAGE OF THE GODLY.
THIS TERM IS USED TO REFER TO CANNAN THE
PROMISED LAND OF THE ISRAELITES
(GEN.12:7; EX. 32:13)
"REWARD" S#7939 TWOT#2264.1B
"SAKAR" (TWOT) HIRE, WAGES.
BASIC IDEA - ENGAGING THE SERVICES OF A
PERSON IN RETURN FOR PAY.
USED IN REFERENCE TO HIRING AN ARMY (2
SAM. 10:6), HIRING SKILLED WORKERS
(2CHR. 24:12), COUNSELLORS FOR ADVICE
(EZR 4:5), ETC....
CREATIVE THINKING
THE PURPOSE OF THE FAMILY IS TO PRODUCE CHILDREN
(GEN.1:28). THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE UNABLE TO
HAVE CHILDREN ARE DISOBEDIENT BUT IT IS TO SAY THAT IN GOD'S
PERFECT PLAN THE PURPOSE OF THE FAMILY WAS TO PRODUCE CHILDREN.
THIS IS THE SOURCE OF TRUE JOY. "HERITAGE" REFERS TO AN
INHERITANCE. ALL OF US WOULD BE OVERJOYED IF SOME FORGOTTEN
UNCLE LEFT US A LARGE INHERITANCE AT HIS DEATH. GOD'S
INHERTANCE TO THE CHRISTIAN HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE CHILDREN.
CHILDREN ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE A BURDEN AND IF THEY YOU HAVE
MADE THEM TO BE. CHILDREN ARE GOD'S REWARD FOR THE INTIMATE
LOVE SHARED BETWEEN AHUSBAND AND WIFE.
COMMENTARIES
SPURGEON: TREASURY OF DAVID:
CHILDREN ARE ANOTHER MODE OF BUILDING UP A
HOUSE.
GOD GIVES CHILDREN NOT AS A PENALTY NOR AS A
BURDEN, BU AS A FAVOUR.
VERSE 4
WORD STUDY
"MIGHTY" S#1368 TWOT#310B
"GIBBOR" (TWOT) MIGHTY MAN
PRIMARLY APPEARS AS A VERB MEANING TO
PREVAIL, BE MIGHTY, HAVE STRENGTH, BE
GREAT.
THE ROOT IS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH
WARFARE AND HAS TO DO WILTH THE STRENGTH
AND VITALITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL WARRIOR.
WAS USED TO DESCRIBE DAVID'S ELITE GROUP
OF SOLIDERS.
CREATIVE THINKING
ARROWS ARE MADE TO BE USED AS WEAPONS AGAINST THE ENEMY.
BUT ARROWS REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE AND PREPARATION. THEY BE
STRAIGHT IN ORDER TO BE DEPENDABLE. THEY MUST BE SHARP IN ORDER
TO BE EFFECTIVE. THEY MUST BE AIMED PROPERLY IN ORDER TO BE
ACCURATE. THE MIGHTY HERE IS THE GREAT WARROR, WHO IS KNOPWN
FOR HIS SKILL AND BRAVERY ALONG WITH HIS DEDICATION AND
STRENGHT.
THE QUESTION IS: ARE YOU THIS KIND OF PARENT? ARE YOU
PREPARING YOUR CHILDREN TO BE FAITHFUL ARROWS TO BE HURRLED AT
THE ENEMY?
COMMENTARIES:
SPURGEON: TREASURY OF DAVID:
ARROWS CAN GO WHERE THE WARRIOR CANNOT.
"WELL DOTH DAVID CALL CHILDREN 'ARROWS'; FOR IF
THEY BE WELL BRED, THEY SHOOT AT THEIR PARENTS'
ENEMIES; AND IF THEY BE EVIL BRED, THEY SHOOT AT
THEIR PARENTS." HENRY SMITH
VERSE 5
WORD STUDY
"ASHAMED" S#954 TWOT#222
"BOSH" (
TWOT) BE ASHAMED, PUT TO SHAME,
DISCONCERTED, DISAPPOUNTED.
PRIMARY MEANING IS "TO FALL INTO
DISGRACE, NORMALLY THROUGH FAILURE,
EITHER OF SELF OR OF AN OBJECT OF
TRUST."
IT REFERS TO MORE THAN "INNER SHAME" IT
STRESSES THE SENSE OF PUBLIC DISGRACE, A
PHYSICAL STATE.
USES:
TO EXPRESS CESSATION OR LONG
DELAYS
EXPRESS A SENSE OF CONFUSION,
EMBARRASSMENT, AND DISMAY WHEN
MATTERS TURN OUT CONTRATY TO
ONE'S EXPECTATIONS.
MOST COMMON IT CARES THE THOUGHT
FURTHER EXPRESSING THE DISGRACE
WHICH IS THE RESULT OF DEFEAT AT
THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY.
EXPRESSES THE SHAME THAT IS A
PRODUCT OF IMPRUDENT OR IMMORAL
ACTION.
EXPRESSES A FEELING OF GUILT
FROM HAVING DONE SOOMETHING
WRONG.
CREATIVE THINKING
THE MAN WHO HAS MANY STRAIGHT ARROW CHILDREN THAT CAN BE
HURRLED AT THE ENEMY WILL NEVER BE PUBLICALLY HUMILATED AND
NEITHER WILL HIS CHILDREN OR GOD. THIS IS A PICTURE OF A CHILD
WHO IS READY TO MEET THE WORLD AND ALL OF IT'S EVILS HEAD ON AND
WIN.
COMMENTARIES:
SPURGEON: TREASURY OF DAVID:
THE SIZE OF THE QUIVER MAY VARY.
"MANY CHILDREN MAKE MANY PRAYERS, AND MANY
PRAYERS BRING MUCH BLESSING. GERMAN PROVERB
"THESE ARE THEY THAT MAKE RICH MEN POOR.- nAY
THESE ARE THEY THAT MAKE A POOR MAN RICH; FOR
THERE IS NOT ONE OF THESE WHOM WE WOULD PART
WITH FOR ALL YOUR WEALTH."
Home is Where the Hurt Is.
Text Psalm 127
Introduction:
1A. The Need for a Plan 127:1a
1B. The blueprint for the home. (Gen. 2:24; Mt. 19:5,6)
1c. The exclusive nature of marriage (Mt.19:5)
"Leave...Cleave..."
2c. The endearing union in marriage
"One Flesh"
3c. The enduring commitment of marriage.
"let no man put asunder."
2B. The building of the Home. (Prov. 3:33; 24:3)
1c. God is the builder.
Psa 127:1
2c. Wisdom and understanding are his tools.
Prov. 24:3
3c. Believers are His subjects.
Prov. 33:3
2A. The Need for a Protector 127:1b
God is our only refuge. (Prov. 18:10)
How can we trust him to protect us?
1B. We must commit ourselves to Him. (Prov.
3:5,6)
2B. We must commune with Him daily. (1Thes.
5:17)
3B. We must communicate God's truth to our
children. (Deut. 6:4-9)
3A. The Need for a Provider. 127:2
We are uable to provide what our family needs most when
we burn the candle at both ends. We must give ourselves
to our families first and to our work second. In order
to do this we must:
1B.
Reconize God as the owner of all our
possessions. (Psa. 24:1)
2B.
Reconize that each day is a gift from God
to be enjoyed amd used to His glory. (Psa.
118:24)
3B.
Rest upon His promise to provide. (Psa.
37:7; Mt. 6:11,25)
4A. The Need for a Purpose. (127:3-5)
1B. Enjoy your children. (127:3)
1c. Your children are your inhertance from God.
Rich uncle illustration.
2c. Your children are God's reward to you for
love relationship with your spouse.
2B. Equip your children. (127:4)
1c.
Children are like arrows;
They must be straight to be dependable.
They must be sharp to be effective.
They must be aimed to be accurate.
2c. Par
ents are to be like a mighty man;
They must be strong in the faith.
They must be dedicated to the task.
They must be skillful in the Word.
They must be brave in the face of the
enemy.
3B. Envolve your children in life. (127:5)
1c. The more the merrier.
2c. The mandate to meet the enemy head on.