Psalm 84: Why Life With God is an Amazing Privilege

Introduction

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-us-golf-cart-on-highway_n_62eacc5de4b0c5501616a735

An amazing reminder that some people are on the wrong road.

Jesus: Broad is the way that leads to destruction. Narrow is the way that leads to life (Matt. 7:13-14).

If you are a follower of Jesus, you’re not on the wrong road. You’re on the road to life because you have found life with God.

Life with God is an amazing privilege. The God of all creation calls you son/daughter. The God of all creation walks with you in every season of life. The God of all creation is always present in your life and promises to never leave nor forsake you.

We often forget the amazing privilege it is to be God’s people.

Ancient Israel forgot that it was an amazing privilege to be God’s people. God rescued them from Egypt, gave them the Promised Land, and made Israel into the greatest nation on earth. Yet, the people forgot the privilege.

I don’t want you to forget the amazing privilege it is to know God.

This morning, I want to show you three reasons why life with God is an amazing privilege.

You get to be the temple.

Book 3 theme: “How could God abandon his king and his people?”

A dark time in Israel’s history: exile. Psalms in book 3 remind us of Israel’s exile in Babylon.

Ps. 78 - Israel forgot God’s goodness. Ps. 79 - the nations invade. The temple desecrated. Ps. 80 - Restore us! Ps. 83 - Deal with our enemies!

Ps. 84 - Remember the good ole’ days. Sons of Korah - singers, gatekeepers in the temple - made the showbread for the table of God’s presence in the temple.

Maybe this psalm written while in exile - and this son of Korah remembers what it was like to be at the temple.

“How lovely is your dwelling place...” It was… The Sons of Korah were there.

Thousands of craftsman worked on the temple - 90 ft long, thirty feet wide - 45 ft high. (1 Kings 5) Overlaid with 45,000 pounds of gold. Bronze pillars - bronze altar - gold lampstands, gold furnishing, bronze furnishings - (2 Chr. 3-4)

Temple was glorious, and the sons of Korah privileged to serve there. Sons of Korah there when Solomon dedicated the temple - saw fire descend from heaven - glory of God fill the temple - priests not even able to enter because God’s glory filled the temple (2 Chr. 5:13-14, 2 Chr. 7:1-3).

Ps. 84 - “I just want to be there.”

“I faint with longing...” Like Ps. 42- another psalm of sons of Korah - a man who is desperate to be in the presence of God.

He remembers the birds that made their nests outside in the courtyard of the temple - even the birds safe in God’s house.

vs. 4 - “What joy for those who can live in your house!” This is where the sons of Korah got to live every day.

Of the sons of Levi - Did not inherit land - but privilege of daily serving in the temple.

If written in exile - longing to be back in the glorious house of God.

Temple would be rebuilt - and destroyed again by Rome. Doesn’t stand.

Jesus is the temple - fulness of God dwells in Christ not a building - (John 1:14, John 2:21).

The OT temple POINTS to the ONE who is the fulness of God.

Even Solomon knew a building could not contain God. (1 Kings 8:27)

The ONE who is the fulness of God dwells in you. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19)

YOU get to be the temple.

You don’t just go to worship, you walk in worship.

You can’t compartmentalize your faith. Devotion to God consumes our lives.

You can’t stay where you were. OT rites to purify self - You are purified! You’re holy and you’re always on holy ground.

“Glad to be in the house of God” vs. “We are the house of God.”

What kind of dwelling place am I for the Spirit of God? Am I allowing God to make His home in me? Or resisting the work of the Spirit?

“Spirit of God, you’re welcomed in my heart” or, “Spirit of God, please stay away. I’ll come to you when I need something.”

You don’t just get to enjoy God’s glory, you get to declare God’s glory.

Have you forgotten your calling? Our calling?

Who needs to hear of God’s glory from you?

I get to be… Hudson “Focus on being a kid...” No matter what direction your life takes - you always get to be the temple

You get to embrace the journey.

Journey to Samford stadium - journey part of the fun… Journey to REAL Death Valley

The Psalmist thinks about the what took place at the temple: festivals. Not everyone lived in Jerusalem, and not everyone visited Jersualem every day.

Three pilgrimage festivals each year - From all over Israel people made the long, arduous journey by foot.

Heat, dessert terrain, days of walking.

vs. 5 - “Happy are those who hearts set on pilgrimage.” Relying on the Lord’s strength to make the journey.

Every pilgrim knew where they were going and every pilgrim knew the journey was going to be difficult.

Focused and exhausted - but as pilgrims approached the temple - the joy of knowing they were entering the presence of God.

Focus - that long journey. Time to reflect on their relationship with God. Time to think about the significance of going to the temple and offering sacrifices.

Exhaustion - day after day of walking through Judean hills. Arrived depleted. Relying on God’s strength to help them as they passed through the Valley of Baca - balsam tree- the sap oozes like tears - weeping - but in the valley of weeping God provides and makes it a valley of refreshing spring water.

Christian life - a life of focus - and a life of exhaustion.

Like the ancient Israelites - we’re on a journey. For us, not a journey to the temple. We are the temple. Instead, on a journey to our eternal home. A joy to be on the journey relying on God’s strength to help us make the journey.

Now/Not Yet - we are saved now - God’s Kingdom has come to this earth in Christ now. Not Yet - we’re awaiting the return of Christ where Christ calls us home to be with Him forever in His presence unhindered by sin - where he makes everything wrong right.

The journey is designed to deplete you.

Luke 9:23 - Along the way - the hard times reveal your heart - who/what are you really trusting? Where do you really place your hope?

Hebrews 12:1 - What sins slow you down? What is hindering the journey?

Sometimes it feels like God is killing you - He’s not killing you but he wants to put to death in you everything that stands in the way of His will. His goal is to make you like His Son.

This is why some of us never take up the journey or sit on the sidelines - we are hard to God’s work of sanctification.

Where has God brought you? How has God changed you? How does God want to change you? What sins need to go? What needs to be put on? (Fruit of the Spirit?)

God’s strength carries you through the journey.

The journey is designed to focus you.

Hebrews 12:1 - fix your eyes on Jesus! He gives you the DESIRE to live a life depleted for Him in response to what He has done for you.

How do I embrace the journey?

Let God be God.

Never forget where God is taking you. The journey is designed for your good even if it doesn’t feel so good sometimes.

You get to enjoy real joy.

Your anointed one? (vs. 9) The psalmist: “We need a deliverer.” Psalm 2 - Installed on Zion. Hope that God would deliver His people through a future Messiah that would bring them out of exile and to a restored temple.

Jesus is the ONE who is bringing us out of exile and into a restored temple (Revelation 21). There is a better day coming for all who trust in Christ!

Psalmist who KNOWS God will redeem His people by bringing about a future Messiah: “Better a day in your courts...” Or, “Your presence is good because your presence is life. Send your King to bring me back into your presence.”

Asaph looks around and says, “Life isn’t fair.” But, not this son of Korah. Away from Jersualem - “Just one day in your courts as a doorkeeper better than all the riches of the wicked. I’d rather live in a tent and guard the door than have mansion.” Why? Joy in knowing the God who was going to work on behalf of His people.

Psalmist - maybe away from Jersualem - filled with joy when he thinks about what God will accomplish.

Happy is the person who trusts in what God is going to do! (84:12)

God depleting you from your sinful lifestyle but not draining you of your joy. He’s giving you joy.

Be honest about what drains you.

The pursuit of stuff.

The pursuit of success.

Broken relationships.

Bickering/complaining.

Selfishness.

Jealousy.

Gossip.

Idolatry.

Be honest about what fills you.

Time with the Lord.

Learning the truths of God’s Word.

Worship with God’s people.

Sharing the Gospel/serving in ministry.

Living generously.

Extending grace/forgiveness.

Seeing relationships restored.

Most of us spend most of our time and resources on what drains rather than what fills. BUT… the beauty of life with God is you can choose to be filled with what brings real joy.

This morning a decision to repent of spending way too much time on pursuing what drains and asking God to help you pursue what fills. What will you fill your life with this week?

This psalm is a call to enjoy life with God - the only way to enjoy life with God is through a relationship with His Son, the Messiah. The ONE who has come to lead us out of exile by paying the price for our sins through His death and rising from the dead. Turn to him today and find the privilege of life with God.