[0:00] I'd like to extend that very warm welcome to everyone as we join together to worship God. We pray at our time together through Noah's blessing over us as his people.
[0:15] We'd like to begin our worship by singing from Psalm 84. Psalm 84, we sing to the beginning of that psalm and sing to the verse Mark 6.
[0:37] Words that are familiar to us, words that we consider in our sermon this evening. How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me.
[0:52] The tabernacle is of thy grace, how pleasant, Lord, with thee. My thirsty soul longs vainly, ye have beenced thy courts to see, my very heart and flesh tired, O living God, for thee.
[1:09] Behold, the sparrow findeth out, a house where unto rest. The swallow also for herself hath purchased it aneas. Even thy own altar, where she saved, her young ones forth may bring, O thou, almighty Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.
[1:28] Blessed are they in thy house that dwells, they ever a guilty place. Blessed is the man who spent their life, in whose heart are thy ways.
[1:39] Who passeth in thorough bakers' vale, they let him do dig-up wells. Also the rain that falls in day, the pools with water fills.
[1:50] We sing these words to God's place, how lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me. How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, to me.
[2:15] The job for God's help, so blight is, how blessed and glory is he.
[2:32] My thirsty soul holds vehemently, heaven's thy course to see.
[2:48] My deadly heart, grand's blessed, child, O living not for thee.
[3:05] Behold the sky, O find a cloud, a house willing to rest.
[3:21] That swallow also for herself, a purchased with God's land.
[3:37] In thine own altars where she said, I am once forthmaving.
[3:53] O thou almighty Lord of hosts, who art my God and King.
[4:09] Blessed are little by us, not well, the ever-gildy grace.
[4:26] Blessed is the man who strength thou art, in whose heart are thy ways.
[4:43] If I sing thy holy God's will, then to dig up wells.
[4:58] Also there reigns that fall as can, there put with water's pills.
[5:19] Let us join together, let us stand. Our Lord and our God, we give thanks to you for this meeting tonight.
[5:36] We give thanks that we can call upon your name, and that we have freedom to do so. We give thanks that we can reach from your word, and that we can call upon you in prayer.
[5:50] Lord, we pray that you will hear us from the depths of our hearts as we cry out to you. Lord, you know us in the depths of our hearts.
[6:04] You know us better than you know ourselves. And so let us draw near us without reverent fear, knowing our needs of you.
[6:15] Knowing our inability to uphold ourselves. Knowing our weaknesses enslight the sinfulness of this world.
[6:28] Lord, we must come before you. Lord, we must come before you. We must come before you. And call upon you as a loving, heavenly Father. As an everlasting Father.
[6:40] As a mighty God. As a wonderful Counselor. And as a Prince of Peace. And so, Lord, we must come before you. And so, Lord, open our eyes this evening as we come to your word.
[6:54] And Lord, God, here we pray that you may speak to us. And we may know that you have been here with us.
[7:04] And we may know the power of your Spirit being in this place. So, Lord, we pray that your Spirit would help us to understand your word.
[7:15] That your Spirit would guide us and show us paths to walk in. Lord, we pray that your Spirit would be with us here.
[7:28] That we pray that your Spirit would be at work in the hearts of those that do not seek you this time. Lord, we pray that your Father in heaven.
[7:42] That you would give each and every one of us here a concern for the souls of those who do not call upon revenue. A concern for those who have lost.
[7:55] A concern for those in their families who do not know what it is to trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer. Lord, we pray that your Lord will be with us.
[8:08] Lord, we pray for the homes in this coming. That will not enter this world. We pray that they may pick up their lives.
[8:21] We pray that you may do our work in their hearts, minds, bodies and souls. That would acknowledge their sinfulness.
[8:33] That would acknowledge their need of you. That they would come. And read about a Saviour that died on the cross for them.
[8:46] Read about a Saviour that has loved them. Even when they were the very ones to take his name in them. Even when they were the ones who had spat upon them, rejected them, reviled them.
[9:03] And try their very best to silence them in their own lives. Lord, we pray that they would know the voice of Jesus that says to forgive them.
[9:20] For they know not what they do. And Lord, we ask you this evening that we would be drawn to the cross.
[9:31] That we would see Christ crucified. That we would remember that Christ resurrected to this day.
[9:42] That Christ that death did not hold. That Christ that promises to go and prepare a place for all those who trust in him.
[9:56] That Christ and the disciples went out and told the world and turned the world upside down. Disciples that had their lives facing punishment.
[10:10] Facing death. But they would not reject the truth of Jesus Christ resurrected. They could not deny that in the sight of death.
[10:22] Because they knew that even though they would die, yet they would live. They would be held on to the promises of Christ to them.
[10:32] And so let us hold fast to your promises this evening. That you would be likewise for each and every one. Lord, we know that we are only here as a dwelling place.
[10:48] And we have grown from that heavenly dwelling place. Longing to be in your presence. And as we consider that dwelling place this evening.
[11:00] We pray that you would make it real to us. That we would see the riches of your grace. And provide in a place and prepare in a place for your people.
[11:14] And Lord, we pray for this congregation. We pray for the gospel seed that is sown here.
[11:25] And has been sown in many years past. That they may grow. That it may take root. That it may flourish in the hearts of those who have heard it.
[11:41] For the young and old. We pray that you would raise up your people. Raise up your people.
[11:52] Believers that are not ashamed to enter into this building. Not ashamed to associate themselves with your people. Not ashamed to be called a Christian.
[12:04] And we will stand boldly for you and your calls. And Lord, we pray for this congregation and their losses.
[12:16] We pray for those who are more. We ask that you would be near to the brokenhearted. And that you would bind up their wounds as their wonderful cancer.
[12:31] And that you would give them the peace that passes all understanding. And that they would know that death has lost its sting.
[12:43] Because they know that the believer in Christ Jesus leaves them with the greatest of their illnesses. That they are in the presence of their own.
[12:57] And that they have left those whom they love a great comfort.
[13:07] Knowing what they have experienced. And knowing things that could never be spoken of in this world.
[13:18] Lord, we pray for those who mourn. And Lord, we ask that you would be with our nation.
[13:29] Be with our nation, it seems to have little time for God. We pray for all those who preach your gospel across our nation. Across our world.
[13:41] That you still have to be with me. That you may turn us again to bow humbly before us, the Lord.
[13:54] That we may not be so selfish in our ways. As we look across our nation, it seems that confusion rules.
[14:05] We do not know which way to turn as an nation. But Lord, we pray. You would direct the leaders, those in government, to call upon you.
[14:22] Lord, may we not be scared to ask great things in your name. Lord, may we not be scared to ask great things in your name.
[14:39] We pray that they will be opened. We pray that they will learn from your word. And find it as a fountain of goodness to their soul.
[14:51] Lord, we pray this evening, as we come before your word. Instruct us to the power of your spirit.
[15:02] Teach us and guide us, we pray. Banish all thoughts of the world from entering into this space. And let us look heavenwards.
[15:13] Let our minds be affixed on the duty of Christ. Lord, we pray. Lord, we pray.
[15:24] Give us peace and understanding in this earth. We ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.
[15:35] We continue in our praise of God by singing in Psalm 63. Psalm 63, at the beginning of that psalm.
[15:48] We sing from verse Mark 1 to the end of verse Mark 8. Lord be my God, I will only speak.
[16:00] My soul does thirst for me. My flesh runs in a dry parched land, with no water speed. But I, I, I, however, may the whole and brightness of thy face, as I have seen thee here before within thy holy face.
[16:17] Since there thou hast thy love and light, my lips thee praise shall give. I, in thy name, will lift my hands and bless thee while I live.
[16:27] Even as with marrow and with fluff, my soul shall filled be. Then shall my mouth with joyful lips sing praises unto thee.
[16:39] When I be upon my bed, remember with delight. And when on thee I meditate in watches of the night. Then shadow of you thy wings I'll join.
[16:51] For like my help has been, my soul thee falls hard, and me thy right hand doth sustain. We sing these words to God's praise.
[17:05] Lord be my God, I will only speak. Lord be my God, I will only speak. Lord be my God, I will only speak.
[17:20] My soul has heard for him. My soul has heard for him.
[17:33] My soul has heard for him. My soul has heard for him. Where they will hold for him.
[17:45] The time of my soul has heard for him. God of God, I will only speak.
[18:05] God of God, I will only speak. God of God, I will only speak.
[18:20] Since better is thy love on life, my rich sweet grace shall give.
[18:39] I am the dying of living, my hands of mercy while I live.
[18:56] He does with my own wondrous heart, my soul shall give.
[19:11] I am the dying of living, my soul shall give.
[19:41] I am the dying of living, my soul shall give.
[20:10] I am the dying of living, my soul shall give. I am the dying of living, my soul shall give.
[20:26] I am the dying of living, my soul shall give. Amen.
[21:06]
[23:06] Amen.
[23:37]
[25:07] Amen. Amen. Amen. Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck The price of God goes hither.
[25:48] To which he'll stand in all he's head, To God's name's hands to pay.
[26:05] For through such judgment in the road, For the rest of their state, In our heaven's heavenly heart, Peace and felicity.
[26:42] Let him not love thee, And thine is a still prosperity.
[27:03] We'll turn now back to the psalm that we read, Psalm 84, And we'll read it verse 10. Verse 10.
[27:14] For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I'd rather be a goalkeeper in the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
[27:29] Have you ever had a feeling, Where you just want to get home?
[27:45] Have you ever been away on holiday? Have you ever been travelling? Have you ever been living in hospital? Maybe in hospital? And you've just got that belonging in your heart.
[27:58] Or you say to yourself, I wish I was just at home. You may have been going to a hotel room even, You may be in a B&B, You may be somewhere very comfortable.
[28:11] But yet it is not like home. Your heart longs to be at home. And this is what we have here in this Psalm 84.
[28:25] This is the psalm that's longing to be in this special place to him. And that is the dwelling place of God. And for whom we would have written this psalm, That dwelling place would have been a temple in his day.
[28:44] For him the temple was like a home. But today as we sing it, We don't so much think of the temple, But we have our minds directed heavenward To that great home that is prepared for all those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ.
[29:11] Calvin and Luther would agree that it was David that wrote this psalm, Although it doesn't state that at the beginning of the psalm.
[29:23] And you have that there in the introduction. In many of your Bibles it will say, The under Psalm 84, It will title it, To the chief musician upon Gittib, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
[29:40] And with Gittib, I believe, What I was reading is a musical instrument, And instruments are things that would have been used in the temple worship. Not so much in the sanctuary where the common worship was held.
[29:55] The temple employed instruments at certain times in their worship. But it also states there that it is a psalm for the sons of Korah.
[30:09] Now that's important to note. The sons of Korah were important in the days of the tabernacle. Before the dwelling place of God was a temple.
[30:23] The dwelling place of a tabernacle. That's the tent that was constructed in the wilderness. A tent that they would pack up, a tent that they would take with them. The sons of Korah were important in the movement of that tabernacle building.
[30:40] But the name of Korah may stick in your mind for other reasons. You may remember Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16. Where he rebelled against Moses.
[30:52] But it doesn't seem like all his sons followed in their foul footsteps. The sons of Korah.
[31:05] Korah was a Kohabite, they called it. This was a tribe within the tribe of Levi, a family within the tribe of Levi. And they were set apart to look after the tabernacle.
[31:19] And they are an important job which you can read about in Numbers 3, the Kohathites. They were set apart to be the men that would handle the holy things of the tabernacle.
[31:34] To handle the things that have been anointed by Moses as holy. The table, the lampstands, even after the covenant. The Kohathites were the men that would carry these pieces of furniture.
[31:50] They would all handle them by hand. If you don't use any cards or any other instruments. You remember that these items had roots in them where they would pull through them.
[32:04] And what was called carrying it? They would not be touching the item. They would not defile the item by themselves touching it. But when a tent settles at a temple in Jerusalem.
[32:20] You can read in 1 Chronicles 9, the Sons of Korah. The Sons of Korah. Which specifically says to guard and keep the temple entrance.
[32:31] To guard the threshold of the temple. So it's true to say that the Kohathites, the Sons of Korah, they knew God's dwelling place in a way that many others didn't.
[32:47] They handled the things that no one else would handle. They guarded the threshold, the entrance to the temple. And surely in that life they knew how lovely this place was.
[33:04] They were faced with the holiness of God on a daily basis. And in many respects such a fearful thing.
[33:15] But also what a blessing at the same time. So what does David write about in this time?
[33:27] I think we can break it into three sections. Verses 1-4 speaks about the longing of being in the dwelling place of God.
[33:41] Verses 5-7 speak about the way to this home. The way to this dwelling place.
[33:52] And verses 8-12 speaks about what the members of this home receive. So firstly, the longing for this home.
[34:04] In verses 1-4. You can see there. The writer of the psalm begins, How amiable art thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts.
[34:19] That is, how lovely, how pleasant art thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts. How lovely is thy dwelling place.
[34:31] Where you dwell. Where the Lord of hosts dwell. That is a lovely thing. And not how he writes it. He doesn't say, it is, amiable.
[34:43] Or it is a lovely place. But he says, how amiable. How lovely. The psalm of the church is asking everyone that reads this psalm, yourself and myself tonight, to think about how lovely the dwelling place of God is.
[35:05] How lovely are thy tabernacles. And it's almost as if he doesn't have the words to express how lovely they are. He asks you to everyone here to think about how lovely the dwelling place of God must be.
[35:25] And when you do that, I believe it will lead you in the praise and worship of God. Instinctively, when you think about where God dwells and all it will be like, we praise and worship him.
[35:44] And you will notice that he says, it is the dwelling place of the tabernacles of the Lord of hosts. That phrase is repeated through the psalm.
[35:58] It appears in verses 3. It is slightly different in translations of different verses.
[36:11] But verse 3, verse 8 has it, Lord of hosts. And 12 has it, O Lord of hosts. This is where the hosts gather.
[36:27] The Lord is a Lord of hosts. The Lord is a Lord of people. His people. Those in heaven who praise his name.
[36:40] Those of the angels and the redeemed that gather in his presence. A multitude that no one can number. Do all praise God. Say, worthy is the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
[36:53] Hallelujah for the Lord God Almighty reigns. And you read through Revelation. Do you see these items of praise bursting forth from the hosts that gather in the dwelling place of God?
[37:05] The psalmist here has a longing for the earthly courts. The dwelling place of God.
[37:17] To be within the temples. Such that he fainted. His longing to be in this place almost drains him of all his strength.
[37:31] It's an exhausting thing. I want to be there. It's a tiresome, almost thing. It makes him faint with longing. To be in that place where that praise will be sung.
[37:45] To be with the multitude that praises God. This is the home that the psalmist longs for. And after that heavenly thing.
[37:59] The dwelling place of God. It is surely something that speaks to us as a church today. Let me ask you. What was your longing like to come to church this evening?
[38:13] Where did you just drive here? And did you just come because it was our routine in your Sunday? Do you think it's maybe a good thing to do?
[38:25] Or did you come because it was your heart's desire to be in this place? Have you had the longing all week to come back to where the hosts worship God?
[38:40] Is this place like a home to you? Well, it's like a home to him who writes this down.
[38:51] What is a home? Bricks and mortar don't make homes, they make houses. But home is really where your people are.
[39:05] A home is where your friends are. A home is even there, if you can say it, where your family is. Home is about people. Home is about the peasants.
[39:17] Home is about the company. There is the phrase, where thou art, that is home. And where these people gather, that is a home to him.
[39:30] Where the Lord of the hosts is his home. Where the church gather to praise God. Is that a homely thing to you?
[39:43] When you come into this building, is it a home to you? And it should be a place that is like nowhere else.
[39:54] And it is a place that's where we should gladly come. And it's a place where we would be glad to see people come.
[40:05] Each and every one of God's children. And as David writes this song, he thinks about all the different birds that come to this dwelling place of God.
[40:22] He thinks about the sparrow in verse 3 and the swallow. They make their nests around the temple structure.
[40:34] And he thinks about the birds. You can imagine the sons of Korah at the entrance of the temple. Seeing these birds coming in. And actually entering into the roof space.
[40:46] And disappearing into the temple structure. And he sees them. And he sees them. And he sees them. And he sees them. Come in. And go in. And it's almost as if he's jealous of them.
[40:58] Like if they can so freely dwell into that presence. And remain there. But they can dwell and make a home. In the dwelling place of God.
[41:10] But they can enter into the presence of God. What a joy it must be for them. To enter into such a space. To remain so close to God.
[41:23] To be constantly here in the worship and praise of all the hosts that gather in his name. What a blessing it is.
[41:35] To be like these birds. And to call the dwelling place of God my home. If only he was so blessed as then.
[41:48] He stands there and watches these different birds come in and out. The swallow and the sparrow. And reading about these two birds.
[42:00] The sparrow and the swallow. The Spartan and the Comptured Voice would say. That the sparrow is an insignificant bird. It represents something that's really worthless in scripture.
[42:13] But the swallow is a bird of freedom. A swallow is a bird that flies high and follows across vast lands. The swallow represents restlessness.
[42:27] It's constantly on the road. Maybe we can say it's a martha of birds. But even these believers between seem so insignificant.
[42:39] Their small birds. Are not worthless. And even the one that cannot find rest.
[42:50] Makes it home. In the dwelling place of God. And the dwelling place of God is a home for each and every one of us here today.
[43:02] Do you feel restless here tonight with life? Have you found your rest in this world?
[43:15] Well look at the birds that find rest in God. And that is something that is true of every believer. That they find their rest in God.
[43:30] In the Lord Jesus Christ. And they know that in his presence they are not worthless. Because they know that Christ has died for each and every one.
[43:44] To redeem this as something precious in his eyes. This home is like nowhere else. And when you want to be at home nothing else will compare.
[43:59] Nothing else will do. What is your greatest desire in life? Who are the people you want to be with?
[44:11] Is it to come to this place? Is it to have fellowship with God?
[44:23] Are you longing to know a home like the swallow on the spalons? Like the sounds here out of ranks?
[44:36] To have a home like this is something I cannot compare. Home is where the heart is is what people say.
[44:48] And so when your heart desires to be at home. Your heart will long to take you. And that takes us on to your second point.
[45:00] The way home. Versus 5 to 7. If you walk away from home. If you have been away from home for a fire.
[45:11] If you have been living away. You will at some point have the desire to come back home. The desire of home will pull you back because it is such a loving place for you.
[45:23] And so you will make arrangements to get here. And you will think of the way in which you will have to travel. The routes which you will have to take.
[45:34] And maybe it may mean something unfavourable for you. It may mean crossing a windy lunch when you are not going on boats. It may mean sitting on a bus for hours when you go night travelling on bus.
[45:49] It may mean great unpleasantness along the way. But when you know you are on your way home.
[46:00] You can deal with these unpleasant measures. Because you know you are going to a lovely place. You are on your way home.
[46:14] David thinks about the way home. Blessed is the man who worshiped, whose strength is in me.
[46:26] And whose heart are the ways of them. Whose heart longs for the ways of God. Whose heart longs to find himself in the ways to Jerusalem.
[46:42] But it says they must pass through the valley of Beka. And we must ask out what does the valley of Beka mean in verse 6.
[46:57] Commoditors will vary on this. But it seems that it would be on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
[47:08] The temple was encroached in Jerusalem. So they would have had to make their way to Jerusalem. To this home. If they had their longing to be there. And it was a valley before they would make the climb up to Jerusalem.
[47:21] It was almost their final rest before they ascended up these hills. But the valley of Beka is seemingly a dry place. Famous for mulberry trees that would thrive in dry areas.
[47:36] This was where they would take rest before ascending. But Beka can also mean to weep. And in that respect it is a valley of weeping.
[47:50] So when you put these two things together. It is a difficult place to pass through. It is a dry place. It is a place that appears barren.
[48:02] It is a place that appears like would not refresh you for the journey. But even when they pass through this place. They will find a pool.
[48:14] Some theologians will say that this is a physical pool of water. Pools that they drink from. Pools that were like pits dug into the ground.
[48:29] Dug into the ground by pilgrims who had passed this way many years before. Pools that would catch the rains from heaven. And hold it there.
[48:41] So that pilgrims passing on their way could drink from it and find their strength. Those who went before them. Left this token on its father.
[48:54] On their route. It was for their physical refreshment. In such a blind and difficult place.
[49:06] They found their refreshment there. But Sturgeon would have a different view. And say that this is an entire spiritual thing.
[49:17] This refreshment. But the hosts as they would walk together. All the people as they came to Jerusalem. As they would spend time talking to one another.
[49:29] They would feed each other's souls. As they spoke about their Lord and their God. As they spoke about how lovely the dwelling place of God was.
[49:42] As they spoke about him. As they spoke about what the Lord had done in their lives. As they spoke about their lives. This fellowship that they spent together.
[49:56] Which feed their souls. In the dryness of vice. With joys and speed of them. It was like the rain of heaven. To their souls.
[50:08] But to strengthen and encourage them. And I suppose both views are helpful to us. As they travel through this valley. As they travel through this valley.
[50:21] It was so dry and warm. They do not get weaker and weaker. As you would expect. But they get stronger and stronger in verse 7.
[50:33] They go from strength to strength. And they finally appear in Zion. Everyone in Zion appears before God.
[50:49] You can see that they go together. But each and every one of them individually. Appears before God.
[51:02] And they come to reach of the word of God. As a Christian longs for the dwelling place of God. And they come to reach of the word of God. And they encourage. As a Christian longs for the dwelling place of God. They must pass through difficult experiences. And they are not in a situation. But the Christian must not sallow this way on their own.
[51:14] And they rely on Christ as their strength. Each and every day. And they come to reach of the word of God. And they encourage.
[51:25] As a Christian longs for the dwelling place of God. They must pass through difficult experiences.
[51:36] Difficult circumstances. And many times. It may feel like we are passing through a valley of weeping. A valley that seems so dry.
[51:50] A valley that on the surface. It's going to be a difficult thing to go through. As we know that they did not walk alone.
[52:04] They walked together on this way. Their friendship and fellowship encouraged them on their way. They remembered those past children who had dug these toots.
[52:17] And through them they found encouragement and strength. They found encouragement and strength. They found encouragement and strength. And you may remember those who have gone before you. You may read about those who have gone before you.
[52:30] Who have followed this way. Who have been in similar circumstances. Who have experienced the most driest of valleys in this world. And even when you are going through that same experience.
[52:45] You find a refreshment for your soul. You find the things that make you weak. When you read about these people.
[52:57] It feeds your soul and gives you strength. And the most difficult. Most unpleasant. In the places that cause the most weeping in our lives.
[53:16] These people are encouraged. So that it becomes a place of springs to them.
[53:28] Becomes a place of springs. They make it a well. The place that seems so dry.
[53:39] Actually refreshes them. As if they were coming to a well. Or coming to a spring. They find the refreshment.
[53:51] Strangely enough. In this place that is so dry and bad. And you may know that to be true in your lives. You may have heard it.
[54:03] Spoken to you. By a Christian. And has experienced these things. But they have entered into some particular difficulty in their lives.
[54:15] A place of weeping. A valley of weeping. And they can see. Or maybe you can see. That in the most dryest and difficult of places.
[54:29] That on the surface you would not dare enter. You actually found springs of spiritual nourishment for you. You almost felt the rain from heaven.
[54:42] The strength in you. In the most difficult of circumstances. God can turn your brokenness into blessing.
[54:59] Your dry valleys of experience. Into wells of water. Toes of water. Toes of water. Toes of water. Toes of water. Toes of water.
[55:10] Toes of water. Toes of water. Toes of water. reading about the psalm, one of the commentators, Plummer says that he was thinking about Paul's letters, all written from prison. And he thinks that you'd never think that they were written from prison. And he thinks about Banyan's Toad and Progues, again, written from prison, but you'd never think it was written from prison. From the driest of valleys comes this source of refreshing to the poems, comes this strength for the day. We normally go from strength to weakness, naturally. When we travel, we get tired. We run out of energy. But there's a beautiful passage in Isaiah 40.
[56:18] At the end it says, And those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.
[56:28] They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Those who trust in the Lord shall have their strength renewed, even as it is a valley of tear.
[56:48] Even as it is the most unexpected of places that we find God's blessing rained down upon us. And as it is a blessing to heal, it is a personal blessing. It is a personal blessing. It is a personal preparation by God for each of us to appear before God in the sun.
[57:17] Because each person is a valuable member of the home. And that takes us to our last point. The members of this home.
[57:34] Verses 8 to 12. Verse 9. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer. O God of Jacob, behold God of shield, and look upon the face of thine martyr.
[57:50] For a day my courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, and dwell in tent of weakness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory.
[58:04] For the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will be a door from them that walk uprightly. This home is a home of protection. He speaks of God being their shield.
[58:22] He is a shield to them in verse 9 and a shield to them in verse 11. And every home should be a safe place. A place where we feel safe, where we feel protected.
[58:36] And it speaks there of an anointed one. It speaks of an anointed one in verse 9. And that is, of course, a king. A king would be an anointed one.
[58:55] And a king would have his people in his kingdom. And the king of the anointed one. And the king of the anointed one is, of course, Christ to us today. A king that listens to his people through prayer. A king that is our protection, our shield.
[59:17] Eric Lane, the commonator, says that at these times of festivals, there was a special thanks and prayer made to the king. And so, when we come to our place of worship, we turn our attention to our anointed, our Lord and our King.
[59:43] The hearer of our prayer. To be a member in this home is like nothing else. To have made this journey to the dwelling place of God is not a bother to them.
[59:57] For this place does not compare with anything else. Even if it means to be left with treasure.
[60:09] Even if it means to be like the sons of Koran. To be a doorkeeper. To be a doorkeeper. It's better than anything else.
[60:26] It's better than to dwell in the tent of wickedness. A day and night court is better than a thousand years' square. Though they cannot directly enter into the dwelling place of God.
[60:42] Though they say, I know they only get a taste of what it must be like to enter into this dwelling place. They know that they would not rather be anywhere else.
[60:56] Not even what there is in here. They would not dwell in the tents of wickedness. And I believe the tents of wickedness would have been a very comfortable place to be.
[61:11] Not even if they were outside the dwellings of God. But it was better than dwelling within the tents of wickedness.
[61:22] Not even if they were outside the tents of wickedness. And even if it meant for a thousand years of trouble. They knew that nothing else could compare. To be now a doorkeeper in my courts.
[61:39] And that's what the Christians know to be through in their life. But they do not fully know what it is like to enter into the dwelling place of God in many steps.
[61:52] In many respects the believer is always given a taste of things. From the threshold. From the door. But they know.
[62:06] That this is far better than anything else. They know that the world cannot offer anything in comparison. Even to get a taste of what it is like in this dwelling place.
[62:22] Is enough for them. That they would give their lives. And forsake everything else.
[62:34] In order that they would make their way. To the dwelling place of God. But they would have that longing and skill within them.
[62:45] That taste. That taste. We would lead them. To seek after. This eternal home. To be a member of this home is a precious thing.
[63:01] einer And it is a place where each member receives great privileges. The Lord will give grace and glory.
[63:17] No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. He will give them his grace and his glory.
[63:27] And he will not withhold any good thing from them that walk in his ways. God has not withheld his ultimate good in his Son, Jesus Christ.
[63:46] For each and every one of us, we can receive the privileges of Christ being sent to redeem.
[63:57] The measurable riches of that grace. And through it, we connect us into glory.
[64:11] Through the goodness of God, we can be a member of this whole. We can be receivers of great blessing.
[64:23] Blessed is the man that trusts in me. As you read through the New Testament, you'll notice that the Spirit comes to dwell within the heart of the believer.
[64:46] And you may see in the believer something that is lovely. And that is not of the person himself.
[64:59] It is of the dwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus in them. The loveliness of the believer. It is of the beauty of Christ in them.
[65:13] How lovely is thy dwelling place. The Spirit of Christ that tabernates within each of the believers.
[65:24] The dwelling place of God. The dwelling place of God. What a wonderful place.
[65:34] A wonderful place for the hosts gathered. Where they gather to praise his name.
[65:46] Where they gather to worship him. Where they forsake all other things of his work. Where they gather to worship him. Is this place precious to you tonight.
[65:58] Is this place a desirable place for you to come. Not because of the burden. But because of the people that are here.
[66:14] And because of the one you come to worship. In many respects. We're standing on the outer course of what awaits.
[66:30] The great heavenly dwelling. The great dwelling place of God. Where he tabernacles. In many respects.
[66:42] We only have a taste of it here in this life. But it is enough. To forsake all other things.
[66:54] It is enough. That the longing is instilled within the heart of the believer. That he doesn't want anything else. That he will not desire anyone else.
[67:07] That he wants to go home. It is such a desire of your heart tonight. Have you been given a glimpse of Henry things?
[67:28] Is it better for you to be here for a day than a thousand years square?
[67:41] A Christian has that longing to go home. That can be difficult for many of us.
[67:54] A Christian is a traveller through this world. That too can be difficult for many of us. The Christian is a member of this household.
[68:11] A member of a home that receives great privileges. A home that will last through all eternity.
[68:24] Do you have a longing to enter into the dwelling place of God? Can you see in your heart that there is no place like home?
[68:40] That you know that this place is not your eternal home. That you long for your home.
[68:51] Knowing that your home is in the dwelling place of God. With the Lord is the Lord of the hosts.
[69:03] And that host that will eternally place him in food. I pray as each and every one of us. With no loveliness of the dwelling place of God.
[69:18] And with no one at heart. That there is a longing instilled within it. To follow God. To long for heaven.
[69:31] And to be let alone. In these thoughts, people are still teaching and their own. And to be let alone. We will conclude by singing in Psalm 84.
[69:42] And afterwards I will pray. In Psalm 84. And we will sing the remainder of this Psalm. From verse 7.
[69:53] Psalm 84. From verse 7.
[70:04] Psalm 84. Psalm 84. So lay from strength and weary. Go. Still forward and do strength. Until and while they appear before the Lord at length.
[70:15] The Lord God of hosts. My prayer prayer. O Jacob's God be here. See God a shield on the face of thine anointed dear. For in my coat one day excels a thousand raven.
[70:28] My God's house will I keep a door and well intents of sin. For God the Lord's Son and Sheol's in grace and glory gift and will will pour no good from men, but uprightly to live.
[70:42] O thou that art the Lord's hosts, thy man is truly blessed, to buy assured confidence on thee alone. O thou that rest. O thou that rest. We'll sing these words to God's face so they from strength and weary go so forward not to stand.
[70:59] O thou that art the Lord at length. Of this Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Eck Lord God of hosts my grace near for grace of God near He thought heard me and heard me O thine, anointing, dear.
[72:03] For in thy courts, one day, Excells the version, brother.
[72:17] My daughter's will, I keep adorber And dwell in tens of sin.
[72:35] For God the Lord's Son has killed In Christ and glory, dear.
[72:52] And will, O Lord, in all of us No matter that I'll find thee, dear.
[73:05] O thou, thou art the Lord's Son, And mine is pure in rest.
[73:23] Through the light of the earth, With all of you, dear. And only, dear.
[73:33] And only, dear. And only, dear. And only, dear. I want to do this prayer in the psalm today. In order to go, we pray that you would bless your words to each and every one of us.
[73:53] And we may have that deep longing instilled within us, yes, to join with your earthly people, but the longing also to join in the heavenly hosts, to be in thy tabernacles, to be in thy dwelling place.
[74:16] That we would trust in thee, and know the blessing of us. Now to them that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of us, glory with exceeding joy.
[74:34] To the only wise God our saint, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.