Lord’s Day, Vol. 7 No. 14
Dwelling In Thy Courts
Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
The psalmist pronounced God’s blessing upon the worshipper whom God caused to approach Him in holy worship. He comes and dwells in the courts of God’s house by an irresistible call.
(1) God Draws
The psalmist tells us it is God who draws us to Him. Jesus says in John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
What a privilege to hear the voice of the Great Shepherd of the sheep calling us to be assembled before Him. As God draws us, He also prepares our hearts to approach Him. He draws us with an irresistible love. Jesus says in John 10:14-15I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus laid down His life to purchase our redemption. We were rebels yet Christ laid down His life for us. What love! All who have been redeemed by Christ understand this great love. And therefore, will hearken to the call to be assembled before Him. Whereas before, we were destined for eternal damnation now we are His very own. We have tasted of the goodness of God, comforted by His peace and assured by His joy. The heart rejoices to accede and obey His call – Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)
(2) God Chooses
The psalmist also explains that before God would draw us to Him, He has chosen us to be His people. What unthinkable privilege! Why did God choose us? Because He loves us.
This was the reason given by God to Israel, His chosen people – Deuteronomy 7:7-8 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God intervened in our lives to manifest His Son Jesus Christ to us so that His chosen ones will acknowledge His love and Christ’s atoning work for our sins.
(3) God Blesses
God promised the nation of Israel His blessings when they would keep the Sabbath because it is a sign that they are set apart as God’s people – Isaiah 58:13-14 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
The seventh day was set aside at creation, but the holy Sabbath was first given to Israel as a gift of rest to God’s people after they came out of Egypt. God provided a double portion of manna on the sixth day so that they may enjoy this gift of the rest. As slaves in Egypt, there was no day of rest.
The Christian Sabbath is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, where our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. It distinguished God’s people from the unbelieving world. We are assembled with grateful hearts to extol His sustaining grace upon our lives in the past week. It brings to mind the hymn “Command Thy Blessing From Above”.
Command Thy blessing from above, O God! on all assembled here:
Behold us with a Father’s love, While we look up with filial fear.
Command Thy blessing, Jesus, Lord! May we Thy true disciples be;
Speak to each heart the mighty word, Say to the weakest, Follow Me.
Command Thy blessing in this hour, Spirit of truth! and fill the place
With humbling and exalting pow’r,
With quick’ning and confirming grace.
With Thee and Thine forever found, May all the souls who here unite,
With harps and songs Thy throne surround, Rest in Thy love, and reign in light.
(4) God Satisfies
…we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
God’s people are satisfied with the goodness of His house. In God’s house, God’s Word is put into remembrance in the hearts of His people. God’s goodness is imparted to His people as they obey His Word. Moses gave these last words to the children of Israel not to depart from the LORD.
The book of the written law was to be placed beside the ark of the covenant that contains the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and a pot of manna – Deuteronomy 31:26-27 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. 27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee