Please Let Me Stay in God’s House! – Psalm 27:1-6

Thanksgiving service for church re-opening after Covid lock down.

There are several examples in the Word of God of godly individuals who aimed at “one thing” and were blessed as a result. May God help us to resolve the same “one thing(s)” in our own lives for His glory.

• One Passion – Closeness to God (David) (Psalm 27:1-5)
• One Priority – Communion with God (Mary) (Luke 10:38-42)
• One Pursuit – Conformity to God (Paul) (Philippians 3:10-14)

In this Psalm, David’s heart’s passion for God is unveiled. Central to David’s pursuit of God was God’s house. It presents a powerful challenge to us concerning how much we love God and the things of God.

Look at…

David’s Confidence (Vs. 1-3)

David had…

Faith in the Person of God (Vs. 1)

1. God was his Illumination – He pierces through the darkness of evil and distress. Praise God we have the light of the living Word (Christ) and the light of the written Word (the Bible).
2. God was his Salvation – He rescues and protects. As a believer, I have not cause for doubt or fear concerning my salvation when I remember Who my Saviour is!
3. God was his Fortification – He empowers and enables in the battle. The word ‘strength’ means a fortified place, stronghold.
4. God was His Protection – David’s questions (e.g. “whom shall I fear?”) are questions of triumph and victory and resemble the triumphant tone of Pauls questions in Romans 8:31-39. E.g. Vs. 31 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Faith from Past Victories (Vs. 2)

David had faced formidable foes as God’s anointed over the nation but had found God to be more than enough to face those enemies.

1. The Viciousness of David’s Enemies (Vs. 2a)
   1. “the wicked” = the reason behind why they were David’s ‘enemies’ and ‘foes’. They were evil and therefore opposed to God and godliness.
   2. John 15:19 “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
   3. “came upon me to eat up my flesh” = graphic picture of hostile enemies seeking his destruction. Like wild beasts that would tear apart their prey, David’s enemies pursued him to destroy him.
2. The Victory over David’s Enemies (Vs. 2b)
   1. “they stumbled and fell” = God foiled the enemy’s attempts against His servant. A frequent theme in Psalms is that God is our defence! For example:
      1. Psalm 7:10 “My defence is of God…”
      2. Psalm 59:9 “…God is my defence.”
      3. Psalm 59:16 “for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
      4. Psalm 59:17 “God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”
      5. Psalm 62:2 “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.”
      6. See Psalm 18:1-19
   2. Note: Past victories provide footholds for faith that God will be faithful in the future. Example: David had assurance he could defeat Goliath as he had proved God with the lion and the bear (1. Samuel 17:34-37).

Faith for Prospective Victories (Vs. 3)

1. “Though an host should encamp against me” = ‘host’ refers to a “mass of persons” (Strongs); an army or multitude of enemies.
2. “my heart shall not fear” = why? Because David had proved God’s faithfulness. David had no need to fear the ‘host’ of enemies because he served “the LORD of hosts” (This title of God appears 245 times in the Bible!) Psalm 46:7 “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
3. Illustration: The Syrian host and Elisha (2. Kings 6:14-17)
4. Illustration: When Judah was invaded by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, king Hezekiah said, “…Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles…” (2 Chr. 32:7-8)
5. The way to know the Lord is on your side is to get on His side! 2 Chr. 15:2 “…The LORD is with you, while ye be with him…” Exodus 32:26 “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? Let him come unto me…”

Look at…

David’s Concentration (Vs. 4)

David’s focus was upon…

The Pursuit of God’s Presence – “one thing have I desired” (Vs. 4a)

1. “one thing” = a single-minded quest
2. ‘desired’ = means David requested or asked this of God.
3. “seek after” = means David put his desire into practice!
4. Tozer: “The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps up in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the kingdom of God. It is, however, not an end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead.” (The Pursuit of God Pg. 18)
5. Psalm 64:8 “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Tozer: “We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit…The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. All the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.”
6. Song 1:4 “Draw me, we will run after thee…”
7. Psalm 119:32 “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

The Place of God’s Presence – “the house of the LORD” (Vs. 4b)

1. God’s presence was manifested in the tabernacle, the Jewish place of worship. David’s longing is to be near the dwelling place of God – ‘house’ (Vs. 4); ‘temple’ (Vs. 4); ‘pavilion’ (Vs. 5); ‘tabernacle’ (Vs. 5)
2. We understand there are clear distinctions between the O.T. temple and N.T. church. The N.T. church is a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) so it is not primarily about a physical building. But it is described in Eph. 2:19-22 as the “household of God”, a “holy temple in the Lord” (See also 1 Cor. 3:17), and “an habitation of God through the Spirit”. In 1 Tim. 3:15 it is described as “the church (assembly) of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” God’s presence is experienced in the assembly life of the N.T. church in a similar way to the gathering of the Israelites for corporate worship under the Old dispensation.
3. Spurgeon: “Earth contains no sight so refreshing to us as the gathering of believers for worship. Those are sorry saints who see nothing amiable in the services of the Lord’s house.”
4. Why wouldn’t you have a passion for the house of God? Think about the spiritual joys and blessings of being in God’s House:
   1. It’s the place of Support – where we fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42), encourage one another and bear each other’s burdens (Gal. 6:2).
   2. It’s the place of Singing – where we teach and admonish one another in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). What a joy it is to hear the saints sing and fill the house of God with sacred worship.
   3. It’s the place of the Scriptures – where the Scriptures are memorized (Psalm 119:11), read publicly (1 Tim. 4:13) and preached (2 Tim. 4:2). Some sermons are short and sweet, others are long and drawn out (remember Paul who “continued his speech till midnight”! Acts 20:7) but what a joy to hear God’s Word proclaimed!
   4. It’s the place of Supplication – where public prayers are offered and the saints unite their hearts together in prayer (e.g. prayer meetings) (Acts 2:42; Matt. 21:13).
   5. It’s the place of Service – where we have the honour and privilege of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords and being a part of what God is doing right now through His local church! What a privilege to be involved in some form of service for the Lord (1 Thess. 1:9; Heb. 12:28; Col. 3:23).
   6. It’s the place of Soul-winning – where the Gospel is proclaimed and sinners come to faith in Christ.
   7. It’s the place of the Saviour – where we experience His presence and power in a special way (Matt. 18:20; Heb. 10:25). Remember, Thomas missed church on a Sunday evening and missed out on experiencing the risen Lord’s presence (John 20:19-24).
   8. Challenge: When you are forced to miss church (e.g. due to sickness), do you feel relieved or disappointed?

The Pleasure of His Presence – “to behold the beauty of the LORD” (Vs. 4c)

1. ‘behold’ = to gaze upon, contemplate with pleasure. A clinging, lingering gaze. David was preoccupied with God and His will
2. ‘beauty’ = splendour, agreeableness, grace, pleasantness. Contemplate the beauty of God’s Attributes and the beauty of His Activities. “Word is used in Psalm 90:17 in connection with the works of one’s hands being established. So, David’s desire would be to see the delightful things that God does for his people, primarily in answer to prayer” (Ross)
3. 2 Cor. 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
4. Challenge: Never underestimate the power of concentration. What captivates your heart and mind will have a profound influence upon your life. It will shape and mould you! Is it God and His Word or the things of this life? (E.g. T.V., Hollywood, Unwholesome literature)

The Praying in His Presence – “to enquire in his temple” (Vs. 4d)

1. ‘enquire’ = to seek the Lord’s will and mind for guidance and direction
2. This was the habit of David’s life – E.g. “Therefore, David enquired of the LORD…” (1. Sam. 23:2); “Then David enquired of the LORD yet again…” (1 Sam. 23:4); “And David enquired at the LORD…” (1 Sam. 30:8). Also 2. Samuel 2:1; 5:19, 23; 21:1)
3. The presence of God is both the place of contemplation and petition. We worship God, meditating on Who He is and we present to Him our requests. We seek His leading and direction in our lives.

Look at…

David’s Comfort (Vs. 5-6)

David anticipated…

The Protection of God (Vs. 5)

1. ‘for’ = reason behind David’s seeking after the presence of God
2. “in the time of trouble” = David knew that in the presence of God there was security and refuge from his enemies.
3. “hide me” = God would be His refuge.
4. “upon a rock” = could be reference to a rock fortress (common in Judea) out of reach of the swords, spears and arrows of the enemy.
5. Psalm 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

The Power of God (Vs. 6a)

1. “now shall mine head be lifted up” = language of conquest & victory.
2. David has assurance the Lord is going to fight for him!

The Praise of God (Vs. 6b)

1. “therefore will I offer…sacrifices of joy” = David’s response to the goodness of God was to offer the sacrifice of praise.
2. Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
3. “I will sing praises” = singing an important part of our praise

Conclusion

How important is God’s house to you? Where is church on the priority list in practical terms? How is your passion for God?

Sermon Audio Id: 74202023324822