“God's Song”

Scripture:

C.I.: “The Song of a Godly Home”

So far in this series… - Today we will conclude this series by hearing, “The Song of a Godly Home.”
In the first lesson I spoke about how Psalms is wisdom literature (practical advice for daily living)…!

I. God's Five Rules for Families, (Psalm 127)

A. Rule #1: Build upon a Godly Foundation, (v. 1a)

1. “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”
a. Great job, material prosperity, good education, big 401k…? – On what are we building?
1) It is possible to have lots of THINGS – but not have a successful family?!
2) ( I Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20-21 ), “No one can lay…having been built upon the….”
3) “But Rick, this is talking about the church?” – True, but what is the church if not us?

b. Therefore, the Christian home needs to several important items…
1) Choice of partners: ( Pro. 31:10; Psa. 37:37 ), “Who can find a virtuous wife, for her
worth is above rubies.” – “Mark the blameless and observe the upright; for the future
of that man is peace.”
2) Choice of lifestyles (jobs, recreation, etc.): ( Col. 3:17 ), “Whatever you do in word…”
3) The ones who build their lives/homes on God – are not building in vain, Matt. 7:24 .

B. Rule #2: Place a Godly Watch around Your Home, (v. 1b )

1. “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.”
a. We need to put a “spiritual ADT” system in place for our family! – This means several things
1) We need to begin by monitoring our own example (“don't drink/smoke/etc., yet we
do…?) – ( II Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20 ), “Test yourselves … - I have been crucified….”
2) Watch who/what we allow into our homes – ( Psa. 101:3 ), “I will set no worthless…”
3) We need to place a godly filter around our hearts – nothing but He can get through!!!

C. Rule #3: Trust God to Provide for Your Needs, (v. 2)

1. “It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors, for He gives
even in his sleep.”
a. This doesn't mean to be idle, ( II Thess. 3:10 ), “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.”
1) Rather, we place our faith in God to provide – and act in accordance with His will –
that He might be able to bless us!
2) ( Matt. 6:26, 33 ), “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow… - Seek first God's..”

D. Rule #4: Recognize Children as the God's Gift to You, (v. 3)

1. “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.”
a. Children are God's blessing – yet as with the above, we need God's help in rearing them!
1) God has given to us the tools we need in order to help them grow…
2) ( Deut. 6:6-7 ), “These words which I am commanding you today shall be….”
3) ( Eph. 6:4 ), “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up….”

b. As any “gift of the Lord” – children have great value! – What will we sacrifice for them?!
1) ( Matt. 13:44 ), “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a
man found & hid; & from joy over it he goes & sells all he has and buys that field.”
2) Our children are also a treasure from God. - What are we willing to sacrifice for them

E. Rule #5: Train Your Children to Faithfully Go Beyond You, (vs. 4-5a)

1. “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children in one's youth. – How blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.”
a. Too often we consider our job done – when we merely “educate” our children in God's word!
1) ( Eph. 6:4 ), “…bring them up in the instruction of the Lord.”
2) But knowledge without application is worse than useless, ( Jms. 4:17 ).

b. ( Pro. 22:6 ), “ TRAIN up a child in the way that he should GO , even when he is old….”
1) Notice, children are like arrows (arrows, not swords, are used to attack at a distance).
2) Our faith has brought our family this far in the kingdom – but will our children
become pioneers or settlers??! (I.E., the children of pioneers usually become settlers)
3) Do we train our kids to advance the kingdom by: inviting non-Xns to church, or to
our LIFE group, or do they see us spending time in evangelistic studies?
4) Do they hear us praying for our missionaries, or sending money to help them?
5) Song #395, v. 3, “O Jesus if I die upon a foreign field some day, t'would be no….”
6) All of us want our kids to have better… - lets give them better examples & training!!!

F. The Result: A Godly Heritage of Which They Can be Proud, (v. 5b)

1. “They shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”
a. It has become popular today to; denigrate the church, the Bible, and our family.
1) Yet when the above 5 items are practiced (review): our children will not do so!!
2) For they will have a family (both spiritual & physical) – of which they can be proud!

b. The apostles give all of us - an example (as God's children) to follow….
1) To love God's word, leaders, people - ( Rom. 1:16; I Thess. 5:12-13; I Tim. 4:12 )…
2) “I am not ashamed…” – “We request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who
diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord, and give you
instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” –
“…in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, prove yourself and example….”

INVITATION: Review & John 3:3, 5; Gal. 3:26-27