The House of the Lord

READ PSALM 69:1-15

Psalm 69:9 (ESV)

⁹ For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

Wow, what a crazy week it has been in Nashville. Many people are still without power and the damage caused by the ice storm will require weeks (maybe even months) of clean up. My heart goes out to those whose homes were damaged. We will be going out this weekend into the community to help where there is a need, but we know it will not even make a dent in the grand scheme of things. Nevertheless, we will do fallen tree and branches removal one at a time.

I actually wrote this devotion over a year ago, but as I opened my Psalms journal today and read the words I was struck by how appropriate they are.

I have had people tell me in the past that "the Church is a movement, not a monument." The idea behind these words is that the Church is not a building, but the people, and the people are the ones who must be the Church in the community. This is largely correct, and the "Church" will be active in the community in Nashville this weekend as we become the hands and feet of Christ to our neighbors. Our service for the Lord is one way we show our devotion to the Lord. After all, we are to love the Lord with all of our hearts, soul, mind, and strength, which drives us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

With that thought in mind though, let's take a look at our verse for today. This Psalm of David echoes the thoughts of many that David wrote. I am struck by his love for the house of the Lord. There are too many Psalms for me to list that describe the love, desire, and passion David had for worshipping the Lord in the sanctuary.

In Psalm 69:9 he simply states that "zeal for your house has consumed me." He goes on to say that those who disapprove of the house of the Lord have disappointed him. I would add that those who don't see a need to gather in worship in the house of the Lord are missing a divine opportunity to focus solely on Christ.

Let's go back to what I said about the Church being a movement, not a monument. Yes, the Church (the people) should be a living, active, and serving light of Christ in the community. However, those same people are called in God's Word to pause, rest, and worship the Lord. And this time of worship should be protected and cherished with zeal.

Where?

Well, it can be any gathering of people who come together to worship Jesus. The building in which they gather becomes a sacred sanctuary. I posted a picture of Crosswalk Church in the header because this is where I am blessed to worship with my church community, and I love to walk through the doors. I love to be in the sanctuary, and when the ice and snow knocked out power lines and electricity to our community, I had deep concern and desire to protect the facility that God has given us as a home for worshipping Him.

This is where our church community (people) gathers to sing praise, pray, and hear the Word preached. It's where we encourage one another, support one another, and gather with one another for ONE purpose...JESUS! As one of our elders perfectly states, "This is the Lord's house."

When Jesus entered the temple in John 2:15-17 he saw that His Father's house was being mistreated. It was being used as a place that manipulated people and was irreverant toward the presence of God. He cleared it immediately and verse 17 quotes Psalm 69, "zeal for your house has consumed me."

Even though the Church is made up of God's people, we should maintain a zeal for the house of the Lord, wherever we worship. The facility itself is not to be worshipped, but the fact that God has given us a place to worship Him should be something we are profoundly thankful for. We should protect it and cherish it...with zeal!

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Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN.

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