Psa_84:10. Delight in God’s House
PART I
"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."’97Psa_84:10.
The Psa. s of David seem to have been inspired, to aid the people of God in their devotional services. They are so spiritual in their nature, and so diversified in their character, as to suit all seasons, and all circumstances. Do we require being stimulated to private devotion, in the psalms it is written, "Evening, morning, and at noon, will I cry aloud, and God shall hear my voice." And he says, "Seven times a day will I praise thee." Are we languid as to the public exercises of religion? Where shall we go to get our souls inflamed, but to the hallowed and heavenly odes of David? He says in one psalm, "Lord, I have loved," &c. Where do his desires centre? Again, he says "One thing have I desired," &c. Of what does his soul boast and glory? "Walk about Zion," &c. Psa_48:12. When was his soul elevated, and his heart gladened? "I was glad when they said," &c. For what will he pray and unceasingly labor? "Peace be within thy walls," &c. Psa_122:7. All these feelings and desires seem to be collected and concentrated in the psalm where the text is found. His heart must have been absorbed in the day and courts of the Lord. Doubtless, the sabbath was before his eyes, when he exclaimed, "How amiable are thy," &c. Notice,
I. The Object of the Psa. ist’s Preference.
II. The Grounds on which it may be justified.
III. The Signs by which it will be evidenced.
I. The Object of the Psa. ist’s Preference.
"The house of my God." Heaven is God’s house. "In my Father’s house," &c. This is his eternal dwelling. A house not fitted up with earthly materials, &c. "For we know that if our earthly house," &c. 2Co_5:1. The term has been applied to places of various kinds, where God has been worshipped by his people. Hence, Jacob at Bethel, with nothing around him but the works of nature; above him the expanded canopy of heaven; beneath his head, a stone for his pillow; yet, here, he had a glorious manifestation of God, and exclaimed, "This is none other," &c. This is the title too, which was given to the tabernacle, a moveable tent erected according to God’s plan and directions. To this David alludes. Then, there was the temple erected by Solomon, in the three thousands year of the world, which stood about 416 years. After this, there was the second temple erected in the year of the world 3483; and which was destroyed forty years after the crucifixion of Christ. The term now belongs to the spiritual church of Christ. See 1Ti_3:15; Heb_10:21 Every Christian congregation which assembles to worship God, and keep his ordinances, may be truly called, the House of God. Let us then see the beauty and propriety of the appellation as applied to the church of Christ 1. God is the architect of this house.
He who has built all things is God. The same wisdom, power, and goodness, employed in creating the world, is employed in erecting the church. He selects and fits the materials. He models them according to his mind. He does all by the instrumentality of his word, and power of his Spirit.
2. God is the head of this house.
It is sometimes spoken of as a kingdom. The Lord is King in Zion’97as a household or family’97then he is the Father. "I will be a Father," &c. He rules over it’97his authority is supreme’97he superintends it in all things. Appoints all its ordinances, and officers.
3. He dwells in this house.
"The Lord hath chosen Zion," &c. "My heart, and mine eyes," &c.
(1) Here, he gives audience to his people. "I will meet thee," &c. "Draw near to God," &c.
(2) Here, he spreads his banqueting table. He brought me into his banqueting house, &c. Hence, God has said by Isa_25:6, "In this mountain," &c. Go, says God, the ruler and head of the feast, and say, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner," &c. Mat_22:4.
(3) Here, he both receives and reveals his glory. If we want to see the glory of science, we must go to the arcana of science. The glory of a monarch is exhibited in his palace. The glory of God in his temple. He has said, "I will glorify," &c. Here, he manifests himself’97here the riches of grace and mercy are displayed, which are not to be seen in the world. He is glorified in his saints. Here, he is feared, adored, magnified, &c. Here, are the monuments of his saving power; the trophies of his grace; the objects of his love, and sweetest delight. The other branches of the subject we defer.
Application
1. Have we a sacred and happy experience of the blessedness of God’s house? Can we say what David does? ver. 1. Do we feel as he did? ver. 2. Do we affirm, and have we tasted the truth of ver. 4? Then the text will bo expressive of the state of our hearts. "For a day," &c.
2. These feelings and desires can only be cherished by prayer and meditation Seek the holy influence of the Spirit "Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove," &c. Faith in Christ, and prayer, will secure these holy influences.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS