The blessings of the house of God

Sermon notes from Sunday 27 September 2015

Psalm 122

This particular Psalm is a worship Psalm.  A song of decrees, sung as the children of Israel made their way to Jerusalem to worship God.  Verse 6 “pray for the peace of Jerusalem”.  A tremendous invitation for each one of us, to take on the nation of Israel.  God will one day take up his dealings with Israel once more, it will be the main focal point.  The blessings of the house of God.  There is a pleasure here that David reveals in the opening sentence of verse 1 “I was glad when they said unto me.”  David had something to be glad about, something in his heart he was glad about.  What is uppermost in his mind?  As you read through Psalms he is bubbling over with emotions.  When we read the Psalms we can see David has times of sadness but he revealed these for everyone to know about them.  For us it would be normal to hide our feelings of sadness.  David revealed his feelings of sadness.  Great sorrow and heaviness on his heart.  Times of discouragement, times when people let him down.  There were times when he was angry, afraid, joyful.  See the character of David through the Psalms.  Here in this verse great gladness uppermost in his heart and mind.  What would have brought this gladness?  Had he gained more land, another kingdom? Was it his wealth that brought joy?  He was going into the house of the Lord – verse 1.  “I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord.”  He knew he was coming to a place that uplifted his heart and he sung praises to God.  Psalm 63 tells another tale, he couldn’t get to the house of God out in the wilderness of Judah.  Saul had threatened to kill him.  The only place he could run.  Whenever we think of wilderness think of something barren, a dry hot place, nothing planted there at all.  When he was there only one thought in his mind, the thought of the sanctuary when he was there some times.  Things hinder us getting to the house of God.  Maybe they are legitimate things.  Sometimes the devil will hinder you from getting to the house of God.  The devil will hinder you because he knows there is great blessing for you there.  Maybe you could stand in this house and tell me of great blessing from the Lord.  The devil will put in a hindrance, a barrier between you and the house of God.  Maybe miss other people legitimate reason why devil can keep you away.  In the days of Nehemiah when he was building the walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah took it in his heart to get before God of heaven.  He was the cup bearer before the king.  He had such power in the king’s palace.  Nehemiah began to pray one day, asked the Lord to look on Jerusalem and have compassion on it.  Nehemiah said we need to have a man who will go down and rebuild the city walls.  The Lord told him to go.  He did go in and rallied the troops and they rebuilt the walls.  There’s a blessing here for you today.  God has a blessing for you today in his house.  He wants to show you, perhaps wants to come to your heart and reveal the work of his Son when he came into the world.  He took the form of a servant there on the cross.  He died for all the world but more importantly died for you.  Thank God he has died for you and wants to save you.  What a blessing to be saved today.  He wants to come to your heart.  He wants to save you.  He has a work for you to do today just like he had for Nehemiah had all those years again.  Nehemiah went down to the city of Jerusalem, saw the gates and walls built up.  Nehemiah went back to Shushan.  Then one time he came back he saw something that disappointed him.  The Lord’s day being degraded.  He went down to the house of the Lord on the Lord’s day and he didn’t see a soul.  He said to the Levites, those who served the house of the Lord ‘why is the house of God forsaken?’  As you thought on the Lord’s day was there a joy, a pleasure, something that came to your heart?

The place he recalled.  “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”  Psalm 84 verse 2 if I have only one more day to live I would rather be in the house of the Lord.  Verse 10 talks about the doorkeeper.  Picture painted with that word, an old beggar lying at the gates of the Lord.  I would rather be that person.  That is what the Psalmist is saying.  I would rather be there than to be sitting in a banqueting house eating and feasting.  In Acts 3 we see a picture of a lame man.  He received something one day no mere human would do for him.  He had been lying at the gates.  “Silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I unto you.”  The power of God delivered that man that day.  He received tremendous blessing and miracle that day.  Is it any wonder that Psalmist could say he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God?  Thomas missed out on the presence of God.  The house of my God promises a blessing today because God is in this house.  Sometimes we make great mistakes.  We travel miles to hear a great preacher, wonderful testimony or singer but the Lord might not be there.  “Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst.”  In sincerity looking for me, for help.  That is what makes the difference.  God is here today.  He is speaking to one person.  He is asking you to open up your heart and surrender today.  In Exodus 25 Moses was given instructions for building the tabernacle.  One focus is on little box of great importance called the Ark of the Covenant.  It was given a special design, overlaid with gold, 2 cherubims on it facing each other.  “Here on the Mercy Seat I will meet with you.”  Mercy seat is a picture of the work Christ accomplished on the cross of Calvary.  God is saying to you I will meet with you at the foot of the cross.  The Psalmist knew he was in the place where God promised to meet with his people.  Yes you could meet with God in the living room, in your garden, yes God is with us everywhere but there is a special blessing of meeting with God in meeting with God’s people.  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.”

The people he rejoices in – verse 1 “when they said unto me let us.”  Looking at the people he could rejoice in.  A people who had kindred hearts and minds, wanted others to be there too.  People who were warmed, touched.  His very heart means a lot to people.  They put their arm on his shoulder and said “let us go into the house of the Lord.”  Always ask people to come into the house with you, what might have been if it hadn’t been for that group of people who invited you into the house of God.  Often think of Lydia in Acts 16.  It was the Sabbath day and there she was at her stall.  All week then came to the Lord’s day she came down to the riverside.  The Lord came and the Lord saved her.  Was there someone who said to her ‘one day would you like to come to our meeting?’  Or maybe when you went to the riverside as a stranger someone there that day said “you are the woman who sold the purple why don’t you sit with me.”  It is good to be welcoming and warm to others when others come to the house of God.  The Psalmist was glad of that.

The praise that he relishes – verse 4.  The Psalmist knew he was coming in to give thanks.  The tribes would come down for that very reason.  That is why should be in the house of God.  The old devil will try and dampen your spirit, cast you down.  “I was glad when they said.”  People who really got the victory over the devil.  When we strive to see what God has done for us there is a praise that the Psalmist relishes.  When God reached down to us and gave his love for us on Calvary’s cross does that not bring praise to our hearts?

The prayer that resounds.  The Psalm says “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”  “My house shall be called the house of prayer.”  “I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord.”