Untitled Sermon (17)

Introduction: Do you Yearn? My question is do you Dread?

The Korahites

In Numbers 16 - Korah revolts against Moses’ leadership

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 16

“Please listen, sons of Levi! 9 Is it too little for you that the God of Israel set you apart from the community of Israel ⌊to allow you to approach him⌋ to do the work of the tabernacle of Yahweh, to stand ⌊before⌋ the community to serve them? 10 ⌊He has allowed you to approach him⌋, you with all your brothers, the descendants of Levi, but yet you also seek the priesthood.

David and Solomon appointed the Sons of Korah to…Manage the Tabernacle, and then the temple. They were the Hospitality team, Gatekeepers (Greeters), And managers of all of the Temple elements (Custodians), and at the end of the passage, singers (Praise Team) if you will.

What a Change in their history from rebellion to writing this Psalm. They had learned were to place their delight.

Not in their roles, but in the presence of God, then their roles became a Blessing.

We are Blessed to Be in God’s Presence

Better is a day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere.

When we are a doorkeeper

vs. 10 - When we are in the Presence of God whatever our role is in his Kingdom is a Blessing.

We get to serve Him.

- A couple wakes up, and the man says to his wife, I don’t want to go to church today. The people are mean to me, I don’t know what I am doing there, and you know the singing is not that great.

- His wife says, “But your the Pastor.”

- I am sure we all have days and our people have days that we are not in a good mood, but at least you are not swallowed up by the earth. But it is not specifically the work we do is it. It is the presence of God our Savior that brings Blessing to what we do. - The Lord is there, and His desire is to Bless.

When We Go Through Valleys of Tears - vs. 6

It is not easy always to be on this journey. - Pictures the pilgramage of the People of Israel on their way to the Temple.

Commentators don’t know if the Valley of Baca was a real Valley - Could be translated Valley of Weeping - Or Tears.

God’s Blessing is he will give us strength for the Pilgrimage to be in his Presence.

Story of Faith, Hope, and Love in the Hospital.

We Become the Blessing

Because it is Home vs. 3-4

St. Augustine, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

The beauty of this passage when seen through Christ’s lense is…We are always home. “True Worshipers, Worship it Spirit and Truth.” “Whereever 2 or 3 are gathered I am there."

vs. 9 - Shield and anointed one are the same - The King. Our King is Jesus - When you have Jesus, we are at Home - God sees Jesus and gives regard.

Because it is Where the Lord Is. vs. 11 - 12

This is the ultimate goal of God’s redemption.

We are both at home now, but not in fullness. We are at home while still in pilgrimage.

We know the end of the Story - That drives us forward with Hope. -

Yes, no pain, no suffering, no death. Yes to all of the perks of the New Heaven and New Earth. But these are not the greatest Blessings.

Revelation 21:1–4 LEB

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea did not exist any longer. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with humanity, and he will take up residence with them, and they will be his people and God himself will be with them. And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any longer, and mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things have passed away.”