Timeless Biblical Truth.
Believers desire to be and to pray in the sanctuary of the LORD where they realize His powerful presence and manifestations of His grace and glory.
- Believers deeply desire the joy of being in the LORD’S presence in His lovely sanctuary (1-4).
- Believers deeply desire the joy of the LORD’S presence (1-2).
- Believers envy those who can remain in His sanctuary (3-4).
- Believers enjoy the LORD’S blessings as they travel to enter His presence (5-7).
- Believers are blessed who desire to be in the LORD’S presence (5).
- Believers are blessed as they travel to appear before the LORD (6-7).
- Believers pray for God’s grace upon their leaders (8-9).
- Believers desire to be in the LORD’S sanctuary where they see His grace and glory (10-12).
- Believers prefer to be in the house of the LORD than anywhere else (10).
- Believers realize God’s grace and glory in the sanctuary of the LORD (11).
- Summary: Believers are truly blessed by the LORD (12).
Questions for Second Milers
- The psalmist refers to the Temple in Jerusalem (Zion) where God’s presence was especially manifested in the Old Testament. Where does God’s presence especially dwell today (besides heaven)?
- How does psalmist respond to the opportunity to worship God?
- What is the psalmist’s deep desire? Describe how he feels about coming into God’s presence?
- What images/figures of speech does he use to express his joy?
- Describe how those going up to the Temple felt and how the Temple looked in their eyes.
- What images does the psalmist use to express God’s attributes?
- What do you find so appealing about being close to God?
- Give your own short title to this psalm.
“Demonicus being asked at what time he began to be a philosopher, answered, When I began to know myself. So a man never begins to be a Christian till he begins to know himself. And, indeed, for a man to know himself, to acquaint himself with himself, is one of the hardest works in all the world. For as the eye can see all things but itself, so most can discern all faults but their own. Henry the Fourth, emperor of Germany, his usual speech was Multi multa sciunt, se autem nemo, many know much, but few know themselves.” Thomas Brooks, “Apples of Gold,” The Works of Thomas Brooks, 1:238.
“To know and follow Christ is not always easy, but it is simple, because God came to earth to simplify—not to complicate.” Eugenia Price: The Wider Place, 20. (Eugenia Price was a novelist, especially about the antebellum south and a script writer for the dramatic radio program Unshackled).
Lanny Tanton is the Pastor at The Bible Church of the Lakes in Horseshoe Bay, Texas – just outside of Marble Falls. Pastor Tanton welcomes you to our website and hopes that you’ll enjoy reading these insightful blog posts. Please contact us if you have further questions!!
