IN THE FORECOURTS OF YOUR TEMPLE

For the past two Sunday mornings our pastor, Alwyn Fouche, has preached from Ps. 84. What a beautiful Psalm this is.

The first verse tells of the songwriters' longing to be in the house of God – because they had been taken captive and were in Babylon at the time – far away from their home and the temple of their memories... missing the many opportunies they had to be in God's presence.

But what really spoke to me was verse 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.”

The altar was not in the holy sanctuary, or in the most holies – no, in was in the forecourts of the temple – where everyone was welcome, and came to worship and to bring the offerings which were to be sacrificed to God.

And here, at the altar, where blood was being spilt every day, where animals were slaughtered and killed, the sparrow and the swallow, although so tiny compared to the beasts that were being slaughtered, so insignificant in the order of things, understood that it was still a safe place for them to have their nests and to lay their eggs and care for their young...

In another Scripture God says words to the effect that he will meet with His people in the forecourts of His holy temple – there He will there dwell with them.

We are so privileged to be able to visit places where God is being worshipped – churches where people gather in the name of the Almighty Triune God, where all are welcome to come into His presence.

                    “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah”

                    Ps. 84: 4

The little word “dwell” has such wonderful meaning in the Hebrew: I am told it can literally be translated as “being married to the presence of God”... think about that...dwelling in the presence of God. Being united with the presence of God. The verse carries on saying “ever singing your praise!” I wonder if the sparrows and the swallows understood that they were also welcome and free to “sing His praise!” in the temple where they dwelt in His presence. Their young might not have understood, but if they were hungry, they would certainly have "sung"...

                     “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh

                     sing for joy to the living God.” Ps. 84: 2

Do we also long, yes faint, for the house (courts) of the Lord? To be there, whether it be on a Saturday, or a Sunday? Do we take the time off our busy lives to sit and listen to and absorb the Word of the Lord, and to sing His praises with our heart and our flesh?

Our church buildings are not the “holy of holies”, not even the “holy sanctuary”, merely the forecourts of God's house. One day when we see Him face to face we will be with Him in the Holy of Holies, yet He said he would dwell with His people in the forecourts of His temple...

Verse 4 ends with the word “Selah” - this literally means “pause – and think about that... “

One does not know the value of what you have until it is taken away from you.

Time to pause and reflect: Would I miss going to the Lord's house, singing praises to His name with the congregation when I can no longer attend because of distance, or illness, or lack of transport or facilities or old age or no longer legally being allowed to do so?

Then why not enjoy it while we may?

There is the story of two men who were in conversation about church attendance. The first one said to the other: “You know, for 30 years I have been attending church every Sunday yet I cannot even remember one of the sermons that I heard. Obviously there is no benefit in church attendance at all.”

The second answered: “You know, my wife has been cooking me delicious meals all of our 34 years of married life, and although I ate and enjoyed them all, I cannot remember what they consisted of, but this I know, if I had not eaten them these 34 years, I would not still be alive and in good health!”

                    "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do... "
                    Heb. 10:25                   

Selah

Thank You, Lord, for so many wonderful privileges which we enjoy. Thank You that we may come into Your presence at any time. Thank You that we are privileged to have “forecourts” where we may gather in Your name and sing praises to your glory.