BIG IDEA:
LOOK TO THE LORD AS THE SOURCE OF EVERY BLESSING
INTRODUCTION:
Alan Campbell: “This psalm is a celebration of the house of God, in all its glory and in all its beauty. It arises out of a heart that has come to love God’s dwelling-place, and that delights to be where God is honoured in the sanctuary.”
I. (:1-4) LOOK TO THE LORD AS YOUR SANCTUARY
“How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house” (:4a)
the sons of Korah were talking about the Temple; the place where the presence of God dwelt among the people;
How important is the presence of God to us?
A. (:1) Are you attracted to the right things? Check out Your Value System
“How lovely are Thy dwelling places”
where God dwells it is by definition a lovely place;
that’s why Christians are beautiful people (even with all of our blemishes);
to some extent the beauty of the presence of the Lord shines through and radiates to others
B. (:2a) Are you seeking after the best things? Check out Your Ambitions
“longed” / “yearned”
C. (:2b) What gives you the greatest joy? Check out Your Heart’s Focus
“sing for joy”
D. (:3) Significance of a Sanctuary
Def: a sacred or holy place (like a temple or church)
1. A Home = Place of Family Relationship and Protection
cf. Wildlife sanctuary
“His eye is on the sparrow” I know He’s watching me
2. An Altar = Place of Sacrifice and Worship and Service
Response: “They are ever praising Thee” (:4b)
II. (:5-7) LOOK TO THE LORD AS YOUR STRENGTH
“How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee” (:5a)
A. (:5b) Spiritual Strength means No Clogged Arteries (obstacles to fellowship)
“in whose heart are the highways to heaven”
importance of being connected to God with no blockage
B. (:6) Spiritual Strength Transforms Desolation Into Fertility
Valley of Baca (cf. Tucson Desert, golf course) valley of weeping or of desolation;
Cf. Experience of David at Ziklag (1 Sam. 30) — look how he strengthened himself in the Lord in the most difficult of circumstances
C. (:7a) Spiritual Strength Must be Continually Renewed
“They go from strength to strength”
Response: “Every one of them appears before God in Zion” (:7b)
completion of pilgrimage to the house of God
III. (:8-12) LOOK TO THE LORD AS YOUR SUPPLIER
“How blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!” (:12)
Supplier = the one who gives you what you need
As a company we deal with many different suppliers — looking at the quality of their products,
how quickly they respond, how well they service what they sell, pricing, stability of their company
(will they still be around in 2 years)
A. (:10-11a) Review — Look to the Lord as Your:
1. Sanctuary (:10)
“tents of wickedness” cf. Las Vegas (lots of glitter and glamour)
2. Strength (:11a) “sun and shield”
B. (:11b) God’s Nature is to Give — Not Withhold
C. (:11b) God’s Gifts are the Best
1. Grace and Glory
2. Every Good Thing
(:8-9) Response: Prayer
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Hear / Give ear
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Behold / Look upon