The Joy of Sanctuary

Introduction

Good Morning! You know doing a word study is interesting. Studying a single word in Scripture can take you on an awesome and interesting ride. Take for example the word Hope.

Hope is a powerful thing.

G. K. Chesterton said, “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.”

Emily Dickinson, in one of her poem said, “Hope is a thing with feathers, That perches in the soul.”

O. S. Marden said, “There is no medicine like hope …”

Pliny the Elder wrote, “Hope is the dream of a waking man.”

Here is how the dictionary describes hope. “to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely.” Hope, from the world’s viewpoint is just what that definition describes. The world sees hope as a wish or a desire. Hope, for the world, is a longing for something that may or may not take place.

The Bible teaches us a vastly different definition of hope. Listen to the words of Jeremiah, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him,” that’s found in Jeremiah 17:7. The world says that hope is merely a fond wish or desire. But, the words used for hope in the Bible tell a different story. They teach us that hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!”

In our passage this morning, we will see the undertones of hope expressed through King David’s words. I’d like to invite you to turn in your Bibles with me to the 27th Chapter of Psalms. We’ll start off in verse 4 and go through verse 6.

Psalm 27:4–6 NIV

4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. 5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Pastoral Prayer

One of the things that is enjoyable in this first book of Psalms is the personal touch in each Psalm. It’s great to see some of the names of the Bible, and in our case this morning, David, go through life. It’s encouraging to see them under a normal light. It’s great to see their heart, and to see their desires wants. We see this very thing happening with David. David is desiring just “one thing” from the Lord. He expresses that right here int he middle of verse 4. Although David does say one thing,” this one thing is actually mentioned in three parts. The first is “that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to faze on the beauty of the Lord, and thirdly to seek Him in His temple.

Now, David is not intending on pulling up his camper for an unknown amount of time. In 1st Chronicles Chapters 13 and 15, David went to great lengths to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. David did this because He wanted access to God. This begins the root of his one thing. Believers have the same access to God. That access is through Jesus Christ. For David, he had a commitment to stay near to the Lord. David wants to spend his time in the house of the Lord. He desires to be in that place where the Lord dwells and where the Lord’s presence is real.

As a side note, this is a parallel theme David talks about over in Psalm 84 and in verses 1 through 4. David wants what the little birds have as the build their nests around the tabernacle. You see, the little birds can be near to God all the time while he cannot. His desire is to be where God is - to be in that place where God is worshiped and honored. That is his heartbeat! This is the one thing that was in the aim of his life. This house, this temple of the Lord displays God’s beauty.

The house is reference to a sanctuary. The sanctuary is not a physical building or anything he can touch. The sanctuary is God Himself!! God is the focus of David’s attention. I’d like to point our in our passage this morning, one of the names of God is mentioned 4-times, 3-times right here in verse 4. The word here in our English Bibles can be translated - Yahweh. One of the attributes of Yahweh concerning God is that God is personal (Exodus 3:7-10), and his promises never fail.

Part of the personal nature of God is David tells us that the Lord will hide him in His pavilion. This pavilion is the tent that is mentioned here in verse 5. During this time, a kings tent would have been setup in the middle of the army’s camp. The kings tent would have been surrounded by all the soldiers. This means, the kings tent would have been the safest place near the battlefield. When the battle would have been going on, those who would have been allowed to enter were protected by the soldiers nearby. In this case, it is God that does the protecting and hiding.

The word hides means to treasure away, conceal, keep out of sight. This would be the way a lion would hide its pray. the lion would hide the pray out of sight, concealed from other predators. This would allow the lion to return uninterpreted. In a similar sense, Joshua Son of Nun sent two spies into Jericho. And while the two spies were there, they found sanctuary in Rehab's house. Rahab has risked here life, but the spies were kept safe in their time of trouble.

Hymn number 496 in our FBC Kirtland hymnals was written by a person named Fanny Crosby, who was inspired by David’s words here in verse 5. The choirs of the hymn talks about how “he hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land, and provides cover by his hand.

The rock that is mentioned is talking about God! God is the rock who is always David’s final refuge. It’s an amazing place to be. It’s a place that gives a quiet-peace in the very presence of God! For David, being in this place of sanctuary, he knew his pursuers would not follow. The rock is strong, inaccessible, impenetrable. There is no way the big bad wold would ever blow this house down. It’s a place where believers can be with God. Have you ever been to that place? That place where God meet with you and only you!! That place where all else falls away and you are left with Him!

Stephen was in that place at the moments of his death:

Acts 7:55–56 NIV

55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Paul was in that place during many times of his ministry. When we’re in that place, we can be energized, we can find protection, rest. We can experience the tender love of God. And the best part! We are in the presence of the One who made it all possible. Folks, we are right there with Jesus! Jesus knows what you’re going through. He knows what you are feeling, thinking. That’s because Jesus is God! And, that means he knows you. He knows what’s on your heart.

Verse 6 is David’s response! Please bring up the next slide (Re-read verse 6):

Psalm 27:6 NIV

6 Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.

WOW - then my head will be exalted. The word exalted meant to be lifted up, lifted high. God is the one doing the lifting! God is the one acting like a crane with unlimited lifting power. There is noting too heavy for God to lift. However, it does require us to have unshakable faith in God. One man that had unshakable faith in God was King Asa. You can read about him in 2nd Chronicles Chapters 14 and following.

There’s a saying - don’t show up with a knife to a gun fight. You see King Asa was going into a battle where he was out numbered almost 2-to-1, where numbers usually determined the outcome. The apposing army most likely would have seen this battle as a win given they had more warriors. What they didn’t know was King Asa showed up to the gun fight with a bazooka! The bazooka is God. King Asa knew the outcome of the battle would require God to intervene. King Asa made the choice to turn this situation over to God. If you’re taking notes this morning, over in 2 Chronicles 14:11, you can read his prayer to God. Before King Asa met with the opposing army, he met with God! And as the Bible reads in the ESV - “O Lord, there is none like you to help.” The opposing Army was not able to overcome King Asa. God provided the way to victory.

With the Lord’s help, David knew he would be lifted. He would be exalted. Knowing this, David’s response is seen here in the 2nd half of verse 6. David “will sacrifice with shouts of joy, I will sing and make music to the Lord.” This certainly gives flavor to the mood. And because of his feeling he says: I will sing and make music to the Lord. I believe the King James really captures the essence of of David’s thought. The King James translates: “I will sing, yea, I will sing.” You know when I read this and now that I see it again - I get goose bumps. What could better convey the feeling of deliverance! Two things happen here. 1st is grace and 2nd is mercy. God’s mercy allow us to escape. It allow us to be delivered. By his mercy, we have “escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler” (as the Bible says in Psalm 124:7).

The music we make to the Lord is not prescriptive, meaning something we are told to do or perform out of duty. NO!! The music we make to the Lord is self-generated. David chooses to make music because of the things the Lord has done for him. The Lord has lifted him up, hidden him away, provided shelter - a place of sanctuary in his time of need. What an amazing tribute to the One true living God! A personal God who desires to be part of your life. We see David reflecting on this, and for King Asa, we see how hope was turned into reality. God brings us through every storm. When we exit the storm, we can exalt His lovely Name as it says in Hebrews 13:15:

Hebrews 13:15 NIV

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Conclusion

As we stay committed to being near to the Lord, we share in the comfort and promises He provides. God has a sanctuary for you. His sanctuary is a sheltered place, a secret place, a secure place and special place for you.

Are you fighting some battle today? Some of you are! But! In the middle of this storm you are facing - do you have hope and unshakable faith? Is your faith so settled that you believe everything that is going on to be OK?

If you need hope and faith strengthened, I want you to know you have that right now. You can have this by reaffirming your confidence and commitment to the Lord. Do you need to talk to God about what you are facing? You are invited to come up. I’d be happy to pray right along with you.

Closing Prayer