Cultured Olive Branches – Children of the Conquest (Ps 127)

 - A Redeemed Culture #12

 

Introduction – Adam and Eve were told to multiply and fill the earth.  Therefore, central to the work of redeeming a culture is having babies - something despised by much of our postmodern world.  Central to the promise of the coming of the New Covenant was turning fathers to their children and children to their fathers (Mal 4:4-6) which would bring forth the transformation of a culture.  Jesus came not only to save individual souls, but to renew the promised blessings to us and to our children and to our children’s children (Psalm 103:17-18, Luke 1:50).

 

Psalm 127 – “Of Solomon” – This Psalm is either written for Solomon or by Solomon.  In either case, the house that the psalmist primarily has in mind is the temple, the house of the Lord.  And this becomes one of the Psalms of Ascents, sung as the people ascended up to worship Jehovah in Jerusalem.  The watchman is guarding that particular city (v2).  The topic does not change in vv 3-5, for children are the next generation of the people of God and represent His plan for the world in many ways.  They are the seed of the woman, through whom the Seed of the woman would come (Gen 3:15).  It is through the gift of a child that the promise to Abraham to be the family/nation of blessing is manifest, and a new people created (Gen 12:1-3).  Families are little nations, and in the New Covenant we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Homes are the places where the building blocks of the New Jerusalem are hewn.

 

Faithlessness (vv1-2) – It is vain to build the house without the Lord.  It is vain to protect the city without the Lord.  It is vain to work hard without the Lord.  It is vain to raise your children without the Lord.  They are a reward (v3).  And they are a heritage.  But they are only a reward or a heritage by faith.  Without faith, there is no promise, only lots of late nights.

He Gives His Beloved Sleep – This is the metaphor of the gift of faith.  God gives this to his beloved (and notice, He isn’t calling those beloved who have this, He is giving it to them – Eph 2:8-9).

Faith in Whom (Deut 30:6, Acts 2:38-39) – The promise of a reward and a heritage is the promise that God is building your household.  It is a promise that by the Holy Spirit, your hearts are turned to God in obedience and love.  This is not something we first decide to do; this is something God gives His beloved.

 

Faith With Works – Having faith doesn’t always change how much we work; it always radically changes why we work.  By faith, we remain as reverent about our domestic affairs as about our devotional concerns – in everything, including the building of this house/temple/nation.  To trust in some method of child-rearing without God is presumption.  But to trust in God and deny the means God gives those who have faith in Him is another form of presumption.  We believe in God and in God alone; but then we hear God calling us to train up our children in that faith and by that faith.

 

The Redemption of the Family and its Culture (Psalm 127:3-4 and Mal 4:4-6) – God’s plan for the salvation of the world includes the promise of multi-generational faithfulness (also Deut 7:9).  This is because it takes generations to establish a long standing culture.  Children are sweet fruit of the marriage covenant, not just for us, but for God (Mal 2:15).  At the same time, we are to see childrearing as a martial exercise – the very center of our cultural battle for a redeemed culture.

 

Children of the Conquest (v5) – We are not trying to find a way to make sure our children turn out “ok.”  The Lord desires godly offspring because He is creating a new humanity, redeeming a culture, securing the promised victory over the earth.  World evangelization is accomplished through the training up of faithful generations in the Lord.

 

The True Rest of Faith – Some of you would rather trust yourselves than the Lord.  This is the sin of pride and you are commanded to repent of believing such lies.  Some of you are struggling to find faith and you must cease looking inside yourself, for you will never find it there.  You must look away to the object of that faith – He is pleased to give His beloved sleep.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Plead the Word of the Lord – Pray for a lasting heritage.  Pray for sweet fruit from the womb.  Pray for sharpened arrows – a quiver full.  Pray for these things because God is pleased to give them to you.

Believe the Word of the Lord – You are commanded to believe the Word of God.  He has promised his beloved sleep.  He has promised your descendants to be in Christ as well.  In you all the nations shall be blessed (Gal 3:6-9).

Act Upon (Within) the Word of the Lord – Evangelical faith in the Lord Jesus Christ does not produce laziness, but confidence in God.  By faith, go walk in that hard work that He has prepared for you – but with an eye towards conquest.

 

Set your family around your table and bless them in the name of the Lord.  Look and see with eyes of faith a nation, a culture, a redeemed culture.  Thank those souls that are with you as you read Psalm 127 (and 128) that the promises of God are for you and for them.  Toast them.  Praise them.  Sing your praise to God about them.  These are the culture-redeemers, your fellow warriors, God has brought you.  They are the answers to our prayers for a redeemed culture, for the redemption of mankind.  You will need much faith – and He gives His beloved sleep. 

  

Dave Hatcher – June 19, 2005