God loves His “House,” His Dwelling Place on earth.
All the way through Psalm 78 the Tabernacle is seen. And Psalm 78 is a divinely inspired history of Israel … from her leaving Egypt to the time of David’s reign.
Today our focus verse addresses this theme. “And he (the Lord God) built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.” Psalm 78:69
Note that, first of all, GOD built His Own Sanctuary. Not Moses, not a crew of able workers. God did it himself! All the way from the original plans to the finished product … ordained of God. (This is the Same God Who built the world!) Psalm 139 suggests He also builds every baby in his or her Mother’s womb. Jehovah is a BUILDING God. I love this particular emphasis on God’s Character, His Activity.
The Tent (what the Tabernacle actually is in reality) is called a “Sanctuary” in our text today. The noun is “miqdash,” meaning “Holy Place,” a sanctified, consecrated, dedicated building.
The “high palaces” of our verse translates “rum,” a major Hebrew verb meaning “lifted up.” God has “exalted” His House. Elevated, especially true of the Temple (a later, more permanent manifestation of the Tabernacle), which was built on a “mount.” Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
Also the idea here (poetically) is that of importance! High and Significant in God’s Eyes!
Furthermore, God’s “Building” is “established,” like the earth. (Even the Hebrew noun for “earth” derives from a verb root meaning “to be firm!”) But “established” is “yasad,” simply meaning “fixed, set, sure,” only used 42 times in Scripture.
God’s House is elevated.
God’s House is stable.
Now let’s segue a moment from the literal Tabernacle/Temple to its New Testament “type,” the CHURCH of the living God. Is the Church elevated, high and honored by the Lord? Is she also established, firm and enduring?
Jesus personally tells us. “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18, sounds quite honored to me, enduring as well!
This is being written on Saturday, January 23 of 2016. Tomorrow is Sunday, “the Lord’s Day.” Which means … we are to go to Church! Is such activity important? Hebrews 10:25 answers: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.” We tomorrow have the privilege of beginning a Revival in a local, New Testament CHURCH! (In the city of LaGrange, Georgia.) Welcome Baptist Church (pretty good name) … a visible, corporal fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ.
A Church which, in God’s eyes, is BUILT … ELEVATED … and ESTABLISHED!
Amen.
Do you love your Church?
— Dr. Mike Bagwell