United We Stand

"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Psalm 127:1

I love the unflinching, unapologetic objectivity of God's word.  The almighty God who created all things and stands eternal supreme over all simply says how it is.  People can reject it, scorn or deride it; they can oppose it and rail against what they claim is unfair or incorrect, yet it stands unmoved and in full force.  This verse from Psalm 127 shows how dependant God's people ought to be on Him to help us do things we see as our right and responsibility.  Having purchased land and obtaining permits to build, we view it as our legal right to do.  Because there are thieves and enemies who would do us harm we set a guard over our cities and households.  But unless the LORD does the work and is with us, all our efforts will be in vain.  We won't be capable of perceiving or averting impending disaster even if we remain sleepless and vigilant.

Before Jerusalem was taken by king David, it was a city of the Jebusites who boasted that it was impregnable.  They taunted David by saying he could not take the city, and even the blind and lame would prevent him and his men.  With God's help the city fell almost without a fight, for Joab and his men crawled up a water shaft or gutter and opened the gate from the inside.  Fast-forward to the days of Jeremiah and the children of Israel did not look to God to save them, for they looked to an arm of flesh--the army of Egypt--to deter the Babylonian army.  God addressed His people in Jeremiah 37:9-10: "Thus says the LORD: 'Do not deceive yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans will surely depart from us," for they will not depart. ¹⁰ For though you had defeated the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and there remained only wounded men among them, they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn the city with fire.'"

The Israelites looked to their allies for help and the temple of the LORD like one who takes comfort in a "good luck" charm, but God told them not to be deceived:  even if the whole army had been destroyed and all that remained were wounded men, they would rise up and destroy Jerusalem.  In time God's word came to pass, for the Babylonian army returned, laid siege to the city, starved out the people and made it a ruin.  Without God's help and protection, Jerusalem could not stand.  Sounding the alarm and monitoring enemy movements did nothing to prevent the destruction that came upon those who departed from God and trusted in themselves and their allies.  What was fleshed out concerning the Jebusites and Israelites is true regarding our need for God in our marriages, families, churches, cities and nations.  Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 10:12 is appropriate for God's people to consider:  "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

As I observe troubles in this world and polarisation of people in my homeland that is quite beyond comprehension, the words of Patrick Henry in his final public address echo to this day:  "Let us trust God and our better judgment to set us right hereafter.  united we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs."  What is to be done when people depart from God?  Draw closer to Him yourself:  seek His face, obey His voice, and as much as depends upon you live peaceably as you intercede in prayer on behalf of those who are spiritually blind rather than castigating them.  Unless the LORD builds the house we labour in vain who build, and no ideology, government, allies or humanist philosophy is capable of saving us from ourselves.  Union with God is paramount for God's people, and praise the LORD nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.