Sermon Tone Analysis

Working Definition for this Series:

Working Definition for this Series:

“Recognizing Who God is, and responding appropriately.”

ESV

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

Anytime we recognize God for who he is, there is a response: Here through the lens of the book of Psalms…

GOD’S HOUSE –

ESV

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!

Selah

Recognition of God—in His dwelling place: and meeting HIM there

Prayer

1.

A Journey to Joy

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

The sons of Korah were a family of worship leaders appointed by David.

A Processional Hymn

used in three Psalm titles- ; ; ; a song title used for the Feast of Tabernacles

Each year, the people were to make a pilgrimage to the central place of worship for the various feasts.

The Feast of Tabernacles was supposed to be a feast to remind the people of how God took care of them in the wilderness when they came out of Egypt.

It’s likely that this song was written for those pilgrimages.

It is a song of anticipation, longing for God’s presence.

“The purpose of singing this psalm is to cultivate that delight, to open the eyes and hearts of God’s people to the staggering privilege of being a welcome guest in God’s own house, and to write deep into their souls the conviction that wickedness offers no reward that can even remotely compare to the joy and pleasure of God’s house.”

-ESV Study Bible

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Expectancy—Anticipation

fainteth – kalah – (Qal) be at an end; to be spent, be used up; to waste away, be exhausted, fail

3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!

Selah

“The marvel is that God’s house is a welcoming place; if even the sparrow finds a home there, and the swallow too, then the humble and faithful Israelite need not fear that God will turn him away.

those who dwell in your house.”

-ESV Study Bible

Commonly today, God’s House is seen as the church gathering or service – but I would ask you today: do you approach it with the same “Journey to Joy” as we see here?

Spurgeon: “Some need to be whipped to church, while here is David crying for it.”

Can I ask—Have we made God’s House something it’s not?

Is it a chore?

A burden?

Is it anything but A JOY?

Finding joy in the journey depends on what you’re thirsty for.

Where is God’s House now?

There is yet another recognition we need to keep in mind:

2. Church is Where You Are

Main Thought: God’s House is You, God’s Church is HIS People

church n

1. a building for public worship, especially in the Christian religion

4. church or Church religious authority as opposed to the authority of the state

5. church or Church all the followers of a religion, especially the Christian religion, considered collectively

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation.

All rights reserved.

Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

The localized presence of God and God’s glory among his people is central to the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

This “sacred geography” includes:

Eden (),

Bethel (),

Sinai (; ; ; ; ; ; ; cf. ),

Shiloh (; ; ; ).

ark of the covenant, in the tabernacle, and in Solomon’s temple, God’s house and in Jerusalem

Fisk, B. N. (1996).

Building.

In Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed., p. 76).

Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Although Israel knew well that God could not be confined to this earth, much less a man-made dwelling they experienced God among them in specific, holy places.

Fisk, B. N. (1996).

Building.

In Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed., p. 76).

Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

But when Jesus came along, a new perspective is added!

Jesus’ promise to build his church echoes God’s promise to Israel in the Old Testament

(; cf. ).

For John, Jesus is the new tabernacle (1:14) and temple (2:19–21) of God.

Fisk, B. N. (1996).

Building.

In Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed., p. 77).

Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

After Jesus’ resurrection, ascension and release of the Holy Spirit, the focus now shifts to God’s presence (dwelling place) being with His people

ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

So now, the Church, God’s dwelling place, is no longer perceived as being within the four walls of a building, but rather inside the hearts of those who believe Jesus to be their savior.

Paul makes reference to our bodies being temples:

ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

So when we start to see ourselves as dwelling places of the Lord, it changes our perspective of a bit doesn’t it?

The same needs to be said for the church.

We need to see church, not as a building, but as God’s House built upon His people.

We are His extension to an unknowing world.

When we gather together, the presence of the God should be increased because the spirit of the Lord is with us—a true sanctuary, a safe harbor, where we can worship God in unity.

And when we exit this building, we are still the church!

Church is where you are, we should see…

3. The Church as Strength

I recognize there are varying experiences—but this is the original design for church

ESV

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.

The psalmist here realized that walking with God is a “Journey”, and it is one that will endure many hardships.

In fact the Valley of Baca is known as the “Valley of Weeping”.

Some suggest a literal place, others say it’s an illustration of the dry, desperate seasons we all find ourselves in—either way, God’s dwelling place (His people—His CHURCH) is where we can draw strength.