Psalm 127

Today's headline news: "Oil rises to US$122 on fresh supply fears" (The Straits Times, 7 May 08). The past weeks' sombre reports -- rising food and housing prices, sky-high inflation rate, staple food shortages, tight job market due to the impact of the United States going through a recession cycle, among others -- drive home a compendium of complaints from friends and colleagues. Just last week, one of my church friends was lamenting the unaffordability of raising a family, especially having children.

I read Psalm 127 with comfort and conviction that God's intention for us is that children are "a heritage from the Lord" and that they are "a reward from Him". As Christians, we should not think of raising children as a liability. We are guardians of our children and our duty is to raise godly children in accordance to His will and purposes. It is myopic to avoid such a God-given responsibility by choosing to remain childless after marriage. After all, when we have God's blessings, we will lack nothing. Parenting comes with many responsibilities and challenges along the way. We just need to have faith that God will strengthen us along the way in dealing with those unforeseen challenges ahead of us.

Let us lay claim to Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.". And in verse 3: "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.".

Thank God for the relevation and assurance at such times of uncertainty.

Psalm 125

Psalm 125 was alleged to be written during a time where the people of God were under the oppression of wicked leadership.

Taking reference to verses 1 and 2 ("Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures for ever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and for evermore."), I searched the Internet for the ancient map of Jerusalem and discovered that the City of David was built on Mount Zion. The whole ancient city was also surrounded by mountains, which acted as natural line of defence for the city. It conjures a sense of security (spiritual protection) for the people of God, that God's protection is like the surrounding mountains for Jerusalem, shielding us from our enemies. Those who trust in the Lord can also stand secured on the grounds of Mount Zion where it symbolises the spiritual stronghold of the Almighty God.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my protector. I can stand tall in bad times by putting my trust in You and knowing that You will do good to those who are righteous. Search my heart daily so that I will do what is righteous in Your eyes. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.