THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #224 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #205

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3910

THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #224

THE LIFE OF MOSES #205

MOSES AT MT.SINAI#104

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 63)

THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD IN THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES #17

WHAT IS THE BREAD OF SORROWS IN PSALM 127:2?

Psalm 127 is part of the Psalms of Ascent - sung by Jewish pilgrims walking towards and upwards to hilly Jerusalem. The words of these psalms were meant to encourage each other in their long and weary walk that may take days.

Psalm 127:2 reads:

1. New King James Version

"It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep."

2. New American Standard Bible

"It is futile to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of painful labor; This is how He gives to His beloved sleep."

Both versions speak about the futility of our daily activities when God is not involved.

When we seek to be independent of the Lord, we find it is vain to rise up early and retire late in order to eat the bread of painful labours - for the Lord, gives to His beloved - even in his sleep.

What a lovely truth to realise that the Lord is not only the Author of that beloved sleep that refreshes us daily...but, He gives gifts to His beloved children - even when they are sleeping. 

God in His grace provides us with sleep, with its rejuvenating, refreshing, revitalising and restorative qualities, which benefit our spirit, soul and body - but also, when His children are asleep, His gifts and graces continue to flow - from Him to us.

So we have to make the choice between the

Bread of Life or the bread of sorrows?

"Bread" is very much needed daily. But what kind of bread are we filling (stuffing) our life (our heart) with? What are we filling our time with?

All those in Christ need to pay attention to what they are watching, talking about, consuming, and feeding on, involving this world with its many sorrows.

Let us begin each day by strengthening our relationship with God. Spend time with your family and together seek God and HIS wisdom.

It is our choice to feed on Jesus, our Living Bread found in the Bible or the bread of sorrows found in the world.

Psalm 127:2 (AMP)

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.” 

Proverbs 12:25 (AMP)

“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.”

How futile, therefore, to stress about getting up early and striving to work late into the night, in order to supply what we need according to what WE do, when God has promised to supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory - and to bestow His grace on His beloved children, even when we are sleeping.

If we include God in our daily walk, we will enter into His rest that only He can provide in Christ.

But is Jesus really our daily bread - like the physical bread we consume daily in order to live? 

Let us pray:

Lord, I know that without You, I can do nothing, and yet I praise You that I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me. Keep me from the worries of the day, the fears of the night, and from trying to sort out my personal problems, without coming to You, and relying on Your sufficient strength and promised grace. May I never forget that it is YOU who provides for my daily needs, and I pray that from this day forward, I may do all for Your greater glory and praise. This I ask in Jesus' Name.