February 25, 2026 -Walls and Watchtowers

Psalms 56:1-13

Mark 12:1-44

Leviticus 21:1-24

Leviticus 22:1-33

Bible in a Year Through Song - Day 56 of 365

Mark 12:1 NIV

[1] Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.

This reminded me of the verses we studied last night.

Proverbs 25:28

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

The walls of a city are set in place as protection. It is a boundary line for safety. In order to have self-control we must have boundaries that we don't cross. By not crossing those, we stay within the safety that God has outlined for us. The man in the parable put a wall up around his vineyard to protect it. He dug the pit for the winepress to make the best use of its produce. He put up a watchtower so that an eye could be kept on any opposition that might come. That is what we are to do with the life that God has given us. We are given a life to live and gifts to share but even the best things that we have can become sinful if we don't have boundaries. He provides for us all that we need to be productive with the gifts He has given us but we must operate within the limits that He has set. We also need to keep a watchful eye on those who would try to draw us out of the city. The farmers that he rented to do not operate in those limits. They see these things as their own not the masters. When we see all the blessings and gifts and talents that God has given us to use for His Kingdom as our own and decide that we are going to do with them as we please, we drop our eyes and step outside the wall. When we are outside the walls we are even more susceptible to attack because we don't see it coming. Once we start down a path of disobedience it gets easier and easier to give in to the lies. Just as the tenants started off with beating the first servant and sending him away with nothing to all kinds of other abuse and killing of more of them. It progresses to the place that they are comfortable with killing the master's son. When we step outside the boundaries that God has set for us because we think we know best, or we think that it's our bodies our possessions our skill or knowledge, then it's like our city walls are destroyed and there is nothing to protect us from the enemies lies. Self-|Control is a gift through the power of the Spirit but we must operate under those limits to best use all that He gives us for the purpose He intends for it.

Mark 12:30 NIV

[30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

This needs to be the first brick in the wall that we can come the cornerstone. The same stone that the builders rejected in today's parable. Thank you Jesus.