On vacation during the latter part of the week . . . back in the “homeland” for a wedding . . . sleeping in a bit later . . . taking it a bit easier . . . so as I finished my reading plan this morning I went back to some past thoughts and found this one from 2009. Came across the following . . . thought it might be worthy recycling . . .

I always try and keep a few days ahead of my reading plan. So, as I note that my readings today are actually “scheduled” for July 4 it hits me as a bit ironic . . . and causes me to wonder if the reading planners didn’t set this up on purpose . . .

In just a few days it’ll be that day of the year where, here in the USA, the bombs will once again be bursting in air . . . and all around there will be rockets casting forth their red glare . . . and, what seems like a gazillion dollars will go up on smoke. You gotta love the bit of craziness that grips this land on July 4, Independence Day. There is something about the human spirit and independence that connects . . . you see it the first time you kick up the training wheels on the little kid’s bike (assuming they don’t then crash and burn) . . . you felt it big time when you got your license and could start driving yourself around. But be honest, with independence comes a whole new set of anxieties . . . I remember moving out of the house into my first apartment and wondering if I’d know how to the pay the bills. However, you gotta admit, in general most people love to strive for, and maintain, their independence.

So, on the verge of “the fourth” and a great celebration of independence, it’s a little ironic that Psalm 127 would be one of the scheduled readings . . . it’s focus is anything but independence . . . in fact, it celebrates “dependence day.”

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stay awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep. (Ps. 127:1-2 ESV)

Not too difficult to pick up what Solomon’s layin’ down . . . not hard to catch what he’s throwing . . . only takes a few minutes of meditation to receive what he’s sending. Build a house? Great! Guard a city? Noble task . . . knock yourself out. Get up early . . . go to bed late . . . work hard to put food on the table . . . just do it! But do it apart from the Lord and, in the end, it’s vanity . . . empty . . . of no lasting value. Do it apart from the Lord, and that bread which should taste so good is eaten with sorrow and anxiety and worry about making sure there’s more of it around for tomorrow. Such is independence . . . my work, my house . . . my city, I’ll protect it . . . my 24 hours in a day, I’ll labor through most of it and worry through the rest . . . my food, I’ll choke on it.

It’s not that we shouldn’t build the house or guard the city or work hard at whatever task our hand finds to do . . . but to do it apart from a dependence on LORD? . . . well, that’s just dumb . . . not to mention, just plain wearisome. But to those whose “Master Contractor” is the Lord . . . to those who keep a watchful eye with the knowledge that God is never “off duty” . . . to those who work but trust that the Lord gives the increase . . . there is rest . . . “for so He gives His beloved sleep.”

God gives a rest to those who depend upon Him. The writer to the Hebrews says it too . . .

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest . . .   (Heb. 4:9-11b ESV)

I have depended on Him for my salvation . . . I have depended on Him for the building of my house . . . I have depended on Him to guard that which I’ve committed to Him . . . I have depended on Him for my daily bread. And in that, by His grace and through His abiding presence, I have rested in the rest of the redeemed because He is dependable . . . He is faithful . . . He is trustworthy.

Isn’t that worth letting off a few fireworks over . . . praise God for dependence day!