“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. ” Psalm 84:1-12
During this season of Lent, is there a better place to rest, than where the last line of this wonderful Psalm encourages?! Trusting in the Lord is a place of quiet rest. The Lenten season leads us toward the city of Jerusalem and ultimately the trial and crucifixion of this man called Jesus. Like King David in the 51st Psalm, we find our sin-nature magnified. But if we only read part of the Psalm, or follow Jesus part of way, we will find ourselves in a place of despair. Sin is part and parcel of who we are and what we do. To trust in ourselves is going to lead us to a hopeless condition. To trust in something or someone that is tied to this temporal world is also hopeless.
King David had everything that one could possibly want or need. He was the King of a mighty nation. He had tremendous wealth in terms of gold. The people of the nation loved him and supported him. In Psalm 51 we see that his inner peace was destroyed by his outward actions of adultery and murder. What a blessing that he had a faithful servant to share with him the word and ministry of reconciliation that the Apostle Paul wrote of in 2 Corinthians Ch. 5. Nathan the prophet was able to share the message of God’s forgiveness, the Gospel! How that turned his heart from despair to joy. Such is the work of our God when He draws close. David’s relationship with the Lord was restored.
Many attribute Psalm 84 to David. It was a Psalm that set to music and sung in public. What a change occurs when we find our relationship with the “living God” restored. That is what our God is about, restoration. What David had tried to keep in secret, was brought to the light, and written, and sung, as a testimony to all generations. Mourning is turned to joy, and the place to find strength exalted to all that would give an ear to hear. In the court of the Lord is where we need find ourselves. Psalm 84 tells us that it is an amiable place. It is where God shows His mercy, by not giving us what we deserve, but instead reveals His grace and pardon. David trusted God and so can you.
Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5: 19-21 : “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. “. Same God, same forgiveness in Jesus Christ, same love that existed “before the foundation of the world” was made. (John 17:24)
Don’t just go part way as you view the events of Lent and especially of your own life. The events of Lent are a long and difficult journey toward a cross. Luke 9:51 reads: “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”. Knowing full well what awaited him and his disciples he did not hesitate. He did not go part way because He has loved you with an everlasting love. He completed the course for us! Hebrews 12: 2 encourages us, that we should be: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Don’t go part way as you journey in this life. You can join David in knowing the joy of the Lord. You can join the countless multitude that have been able to rejoice in knowing God’s forgiveness and grace. Jesus established His Kingdom on this earth so you can hear the Good News of Jesus Christ proclaimed. Sins forgiven and washed away in the name above every name, and in His blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross. Looking to the completeness of His work, as He rose again victorious and as Hebrews 12 tells us, is “set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”.
Our God doesn’t work in maybe’s or in partial efforts. The work of God, revealed through His Holy Spirit, the complete work of His Son Jesus Christ, brings joy to our hearts just as it did to David. It brings peace and assurance that is from outside of ourselves, from heaven above! It is God who instills faith in the Word spoken on earth. As David had Nathan, so we also have fellow believers to encourage us to believe unto peace and freedom. May every believer rejoice and pray for revival. ” How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. “
Pastor Stan
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