FOR THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD

How refreshing is the attitude of the unnamed psalmist towards the house of God. He recognized that to gather in the ‘courts of the Lord’ would bring him into fellowship with ‘the living God’, v. 2. He observed that even the common sparrow realized the benefit of raising her young in the presence of God. He concluded from this, ‘Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee’, v. 4.

God has only one house that is manifest in different ways throughout the dispensations. The house of God today com­prises of believers in the Lord Jesus - ‘whose house are we’ - ‘builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit’, Heb. 3. 6; Eph. 2. 22. What is universal in its nature is to be seen in the character of the local assembly, ‘house of God … church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth’, 1 Tim. 3. 15.

The ultimate blessings to be found in the house are ‘grace and glory’. God is to His people as a sun that shines glory upon them. He is as a shield that provides the protection of His grace. These blessings have been available to all who dwell in the house of God in every dispensation. They are still available to us in our day. Paul lived his life in the good of ‘abundant grace’ and an ‘eternal weight of glory’, 2 Cor. 4. 14-17.

In a day when so many believers are indifferent to the gath­erings of the local assembly, when the ‘meetings’ are treated like a hobby, it is salutary to read in this psalm of the many blessings extended to those who give their heart to the ways of the house, v. 5. The prophet Haggai could well be describing the experience of present day assembly life when he wrote, ‘Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it’, Hag. 1. 9. Neglect of God’s house and its principles will never bring spiritual prosperity.

As for Israel, there will yet be a ‘remnant of the people’ who will be prepared to consider their ways, and to them is given the promise, ‘The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts’, Hag. 2. 9 JND.