The Lord watches over us

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves.

The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song of Solomon

127 1-2 If God doesn’t build the house,
    the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
    the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
    and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
    giving rest to those he loves?

I often call to mind these verses when I think of the protection God has given to my physical home, our house on earth. It has happened again and again that the Lord has prevented us from getting into harm and giving us peace of mind while we were seriously mindless and clueless how vulnerable we were on those nights.

The Lord has been gracious towards my family and He has protected us on countless occasions from harm such as snakes and thefts. Although we had things stolen from our house and our windows were opened up, the loss we suffered was quite minimal. For that, we are really grateful. 

What happened ?

We have on a few occasions, due to carelessness and forgetfulness, left the gate wide open and the main door unlocked for most of the night. Sometimes it was a few hours until early morning, but once, it was the entire night! And on that particular night, the Bungalor next to our lane had been broken into and stolen antique goods worth quarter of million Ringgit !

And tonight 29 April 2015 early morning, it happened again when my son left with the car but for some silly reason, he chose not to bring the gate and door key expecting us to lock after him and open door for him. I was alone, dozing on and off before the laptop on the dining table while waiting for him to come back. 

To think of the great perils we were in. To be so vulnerable with a load of care. To be ignorant of the dangers at hands. Totally at the mercy of the passers-by to be merciful and with no evil intention that could befall them to enter and rob us ! 

At that moment, our lives and possessions were at great stake and perils and yet we did not know.

While we were careless, 

The Lord was careful to watch over us.

While we were mindless, 
The Lord was mindful to guard our door.

While we were forgetful, 
The Lord always remember 
to keep guard at the door steps.

While we were clueless of the danger, 
The Lord always give us peace to sleep.

While we were absent-minded, 
The Lord always remembers to protect. 

2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (NIV). God wants us to give Him everything we are not and His strength will be made perfect in us.