The Loveliest Place
Notes
Transcript
Opening Prayer:
Lord you have put eternity on our hearts…
“God has put eternity on the hearts of men.” Ecc. 3:11
A few months back we went to Washington D.C. to visit Vanessa’s brother and his family, as well as to attend a wedding of one of Vanessa’s childhood friends. While that was all nice there was one specific thing I was looking forward to and wanting to do the entire time we were there.
And what I imagine will be 0 surprise to any of you - was The Museum of the Bible - This was one thing that I was looking forward to - we went to a bunch of other museums and did some other stuff - but I didn’t care about any of that - I just wanted to go to the Museum of the Bible. This was the highlight of my trip. Everyone knew that this was the thing that Brian wanted to do - and whether or not they wanted to go with us or not they had to. I imagine Haddon was the same with our trip last year to Legoland California.
I don’t think anyone else cared as much as me. I could have spent all day there… probably all week there. I don’t really care to go back to DC - drivers were terrible - but I’d go back for that Museum.
There were several times where everyone else was doing activities that the kids would enjoy and I would sneak off to look at Greek manuscripts, or The Coverdale Bible, or the Geneva Bible or a Bible that was brought over on the Mayflower, Tyndale’s New Testament or the Gutenburg Bible. Absolutely fascinating stuff… especially if you’re a nerd… like me.
When I got back any people asked me how the trip was that was generally the first or only thing I talked about. For me the cost and the plane ride and everything else was worth it for that experience.
That’s exactly what this Psalm is… except the Dwelling Place of God is of much greater beauty and majesty than an amusement park.
However, this is a Pilgrimage Psalm where the Psalmist is on his way to the Temple, to the dwelling place of God. From the very beginning of the Psalm we see his joy. And the language in this text demonstrates the strong affections that the Psalmist has to be in the presence of God.
Before we get to the core of the Psalm. I want to address how we should think of this temple language ahead of time. When the Psalmist, the Sons of Korah, are writing this - they are levites who are gatekeepers at the tent of meeting- and songwriters.
We don’t have a temple building - there hasn’t been one since 70AD when jerusalem fell - and there likely will not be another temple - as that would require a cataclysmic civil war in Jerusalem alongside the destruction of the dome of the rock that stands in where the temple previously stood. Even if there is another temple - it’s not something Christians should support since it’s very existence would proclaim a false gospel. Salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone.
Hebrews 10:4 “4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
So instead we read this text with a different understanding. We understand that the psalmist was speaking of a physical building - but we understand that when we read dwelling place here for it to refers to something bigger.
The dwelling place of God. For believers the dwelling place of God is with them. The Holy Spirit inhabits those who have been saved by Jesus. Yet we also look forward to eternity where we will eternally dwell with God.
Temple
Temple
Let’s read those first two verses again:
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Dwelling place - the Psalmist is speaking of the temple…
And he refers to the temple with several different terms in this text… courts, altars, house,
Lovely - he isn’t just speaking of how pretty the temple is. Though we certainly do have a biblical precedent for understanding that the first temple - and the latter renovations of the 2nd temple - were likely among the greatest architectural designs of all time. He doesn’t say how lovely is the building. Or how wonderful are these walls. Or “Look, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
Because the Psalmist understands that the loveliness of the temple does not come from the brilliant architecture but rather from the one who dwells there. The loveliness of the dwelling place is because of the Lovely one who dwells there.
Closing out verse 1, he demonstrates who he is speaking to and describes God as Lord of Hosts, the same title that we saw back in Haggai. The God who is the ruler of heaven and earth and the commander of the army of angels. And this is a title that he uses several times throughout the Psalm. Yet significantly, opening and closing the Psalm with this title.
Then he continues to describe his affections for the dwelling place of God - that his soul longs for the courts of the Lord.
His heart and flesh cry out to the living God.
It’s not a one to one correlation - and we will get there - but do we have the same desire to be at church among the gathered saints? Do we desire to be in the primary place of worship where we gather on the Lord’s Day, to sing songs of praise to God, to hear the preached word of God, to fellowship with one another, and to pray for one another. While the individual church is not the temple - the Scriptures do tell us that the Lord indwells his people through the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that our bodies are temples - the universal church - is where God dwells - do we desire to be among the church?
For a second think back to 2020 - where for a couple weeks many churches did not meet. I can’t speak for each of you - but one of the absolute sweetest things was that first Sunday back. I recall at that time many people reflecting back to realize how much they missed the gathering together of the saints.
The birds…
One of the things that we as a family love about Globe is all of the birds. We load up the bird feeder, open the blinds for the back yard and just watch the birds eat the bird seed - and fight over the food, and then fly off… Cardinals, thrashers, quails, pigeons, road runners… But I’ve never thought - “man I want to switch place with one of those things.”
Well maybe if you wanted to fly. But I would be surprised to hear any of us to say “I wish I lived in a bird nest, rather than in my home with my comfy bed.”
Then again, that might be the kind of thing one of our elementary students might say… Haddon…
However, that is exactly what the Psalmist says here. He thinks of the birds and states that even the sparrow or mother swallow find a home in the temple.
Psalm 84:4“4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!”
He’s talking about birds. And rejoices that even the birds who make their nests outside of the temple and sing their songs are blessed. And this is yet another argument of greater to less, as birds were generally thought of as worthless - they are the provision for the sacrifice for the poorest of the poor, Jesus uses them this teaching to demonstrate that God cares for the birds and that he cares for his people. Jesus even saying that two birds are sold for a penny. But the Psalmist is demonstrating how lovely the dwelling place of God is by stating that even the most simple and worthless of creatures is blessed to make its nest near the temple. And if the birds are welcomed are able to make their homes in the temple - how much sweeter for the the poor and needy, the sparrows of society - who find themselves welcomed into the community of God because of Christ.
And what remarkable simplicity is there in that - it’s almost as if someone here were to say they were envious of all of the lizards because they get to spend all day at church.
And yet again it’s not - because this building isn’t the dwelling place of God. But the dwelling place of God now is God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in those who Christ has saved - be we still look forward to the eternity
A phrase that a professor of mine in college would repeat is “a garden is a tabernacle, is a temple, is a people.”
And this blessing that the Psalmist speaks is the end of the first section. Each section maintains a blessing and the first two end with Selah.
Blessed are those who dwell in your presence and sing your praises.
Travel
Travel
v5-8
When it comes to travel many time we are either excited about the journey or we cannot wait for the arrival. More people than not would rather be there than travel there. It likely depends upon the destination - or the method of travel. If you hate flying then you cannot wait for it to be over…
But the Sons of Korah delight in the journey. It almost sounds like one of those sappy sentimental moments in coming of ages movies where they talked about the journey is greater than the destination. But that’s not really his point here. He’s so overjoyed about about where he’s going because of what the destination is.
Whereas the first section ends with a blessing, the second section begins with a blessing. The blessing however demonstrates a shift in focus. This is a pilgrimage hymn - like the Psalms of Ascent in Ps. 120-134 - this was likely a Psalm that was sung on the way to Jerusalem. This might have been the first song on their temple pilgrimage playlist.
Blessed are those who place their strength in the Lord as they journey to Zion. Zion being a name that is used to refer to Jerusalem in some places, but also in God’s heavenly dwell in others.
Following the mention of Zion, we see the reference to the Valley of Baca. The Valley of Baca is only mentioned here in this Psalm. It could be a symbolic reference, as Baca means either Balsam trees, weeping, or tears. And the psalmist writes that they make it into a place of Springs. Symbolic or not, it Valley of Tears doesn’t sounds like a nice place. But those traveling to Zion - those who are heading toward the dwelling place of God make the tears from their weeping into springs of joy. (sounds a lot like Psalm 126).
Even in the midst of their hardship their strength comes from the Lord, and he restores them as they travel on their way to Zion.
I hope it is easy to see how Christians trusting in Jesus, and awaiting his return, and hoping for a glorious eternity are not all that different from the Israelites making their pilgrimage toward Jerusalem. The joy for the Christian to endure all hardships because of where they are headed.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
That Selah marks the end of the second stanza portion of this text. And it ends with a statement that we can take as a plea for the psalmist - but a reason to celebrate for the Christian. God hears our prayers.
Treasure
Treasure
The thing that the Psalmist wants most is to be near the Lord. To be in the presence of God is what he treasures more than anything else. So much so that it leads him to see worthless birds as an object of envy, and gruesome travel becomes almost leisurely. And he brings that to the forefront in this concluding segment starting in verse 9.
9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!
The Psalmist then speaks of God as their shield - their protector. Which serves as a great bridge between second and third sections. God has been their strength during their travel - and he protects them there as well.
VERSE 9
To spent only a day in the presence of God to him is better than a thousand anywhere else. Lest you do the math and think that’s only 3 years… his point is that it’s there’s no place as delightful as being in the very presence of God. 1000 is generally a symbolic number - thus he’s stating that there is nowhere else as splendid as being with the Lord.
And yet for some reason the picture that many people have of heaven is one that is really boring.
verse 10 -
Have any of you ever heard that idiom that “it’s better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven?” Generally, this is there excuse for living a terrible life
Maybe you have heard people say that to boast of their sinful life styles.
However, ironically, the origin is John Milton’s Paradise Lost. And that line is spoken by satan - and Milton understanding that Satan is a liar and has been from the beginning - writes Satan uttering a statement with no truth in it. Hell is not a place where satan, demons or the damned reign.
And I mention that because the Psalmist is saying the EXACT opposite here. In verse 10, the Psalmist is writing “I would rather stand at the door of the house of God, than live with the wicked.” As I mentioned a few minutes ago 2 Chr. 6 informs us that the Korahites were gate keepers in the second temple. So this reference is a appropriate.
The Psalmist would rather be a lowly servant - and yet still be in the presence of God, than be in comfort among evil.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
There’s a lot in verse 11 here so keep your eyes focused on that - but we’re also going to look to Rev 21 in a moment.
Here in verse 11, the psalmist returns to the language of shield, that he used back in verse 9. Now he also states that God is a sun. This appropriately should draw our thoughts to revelation where John tells us for the new Jerusalem:
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
This whole Psalm anticipates Revelation 21. Where we will dwell with God in eternity in the New Jerusalem. It will not be merely one day in the the courts of God but the remainder of eternity. and what a glorious eternity to look forward today.
Amazing Grace… “when we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun.”
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
But also in verse 11 the Lord is generous - he bestows favor and honor - or grace and glory.
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk blamelessly. What an incredible verse. And yet it is similar to Romans 8:32.
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The greatest gift of all is the gift of his son, and the redemption that we receive through the anointed one.
Though we have not been blameless. Remember the Words of Isaiah:
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And though we were not blameless we were given the greatest gift of all. And to Jesus who was blameless he has given the name above every other name.
There are immeasurable blessings to be found in Christ Jesus - every good thing can be found in Christ - and he alone satisfies completely.
Three Blessings
Three Blessings
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
And if we look at these blessings in reverse - the one who trusts in the Lord is the one who finds their strength in the Lord. And those are the ones who will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.
APPLICATION:
How do you think of eternity?
How do you think about going to church? God dwells among his people. God has put his spirit in those he has saved - The Church should be the loveliest place on this side of eternity. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the believers and he has made us into his dwelling place - then the church should be lovely. Each person who walks into our churches doors should feel loved and welcomed.
But they should also be shown that the greatest source of blessing comes from knowing God and knowing his son Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Draw our affections toward eternity. Draw our affections toward the gathering of your saints.
Benediction:
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”