Standing in the Night

Temple Baptist Church - 8-24-2025

Psalm 134

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Psalm 134 is the last of the “Songs of Degrees,” and therefore a very important one.  These were Psalms of Song that were to be sung as the Jews journeyed to Jerusalem and the Temple for each of the three feast days that all males were required to attend.

 

B.  The Psalm speaks of the people or priests who worked the “Night Shift” in the Temple.  When we think of the Temple, we think of the myriads of sacrifices that took place each day as the people of Israel offered sin offerings, thank offerings, etc.  In the Book of Leviticus, we find many different offerings listed that were both requirements and “love offerings.”

 

C.  When we think of the work that went on in the Temple, we never give thought to those who served after the end of each day until the next, Night Shift.  The work of the Temple, in one form or another, never stopped.

 

When I worked in the coal mines of Western Kentucky, we usually mined coal during the first and second shifts. A few mines tried to operate on all three shifts but faced serious problems with their equipment. Mining equipment endures heavy wear during a shift and needs regular, thorough maintenance. These mines started to “patch up” the equipment instead of repairing it properly, and eventually, they produced less coal than the “two shift” mines because of equipment failures. Although they did not produce any coal during the third shift, it was just as important as the first two because it kept those shifts running smoothly with minimal breakdowns or downtime.

 

D.  This Psalm pronounces a blessing on those “which by night stand in the house of the LORD.”

 

E.  Now, the question could be asked, “Why the Psalm?”  Here are two things that I want to look at tonight by way of introduction.

 

1.  This Psalm shows Reminder and Responsibility.

 

a.  A Reminder that Night will come.

 

1)  In real time, of the 24 hours of the day, at least 8 (or one-third of those hours) are spent working in darkness.  The history of Israel is one of good and bad times.  There are times of blessing and times when there is little blessing.  These Jews were expected to travel to Jerusalem regardless of whether the year was good or bad!

 

2)  Prophetically, in our lives, possibly one-third of our years are what I would call “darker” years or harder years.  This Psalm is a reminder that the work of the Lord does not diminish in those darker or more complex years of our lives.  The Lord never said that we were to serve in good times but were excused in the bad times.

 

b.  A Responsibility that the God’s work is to continue. 

 

1)  God’s work never diminishes until He is done with us.  That’s why Paul’s life-ending statements of fighting a good fight, finishing his course, and keeping the faith are so important to us all.  When God is done with us, we will know it and then be excused from our service.

 

2)  Our work or “Light” is essential to the work of the Lord.  This is not of my choosing or yours; it is God’s!  We are to let our “lights” shine in both the good and bad times!  It is in the bad times of our lives that our lights shine more brightly.

 

F.  Now, look around you.  If there was ever a time of spiritual darkness or “Night,” we live in it.  Noah’s Day, Lot’s Day, a Day of Falling Away, and Laodicea all combined.  You and I work the Night Shift spiritually.

 

G.  Here are some things that the “Night Shift” at the Temple had to do before the break of day (in our case, the coming of the Lord).

 

1.  They Protected The Holy Things of The Sanctuary – We must protect the Old Paths of both doctrine and practice.  So many churches have become more worldly than holy, and it is up to us to keep holiness within our church.

 

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

 

2.  They Cleaned The Sanctuary For The Morning Worship – We must keep not only worldliness out of the local church, but also keep our pews clean from sin that is to be censured.  We are all just sinners saved by the grace of God, but there are things that the Bible commands the local church to censure.  Most churches in our area allow sin to sit on their pews and, therefore, make it acceptable.

 

1 Corinthians 5:1- 7 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, … In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, … Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

 

3.  They Kept The Fires Burning on The Altar – We must keep our worship a priority in our services.  Church worship begins in the personal lives of its people and is manifested in our corporate worship.

 

Leviticus 6:12-13  And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.  The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. 

 

4.  They Kept The Candlesticks Trimmed And Burning Brightly – We must keep the testimony of our church clean and bright in the community.  Once a church gets a bad name, it takes years to live it down.  We have a good name in Laurens County and are well respected.

 

Hebrews 1:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 

 

5.  They Baked Fresh Bread For The Table of Shewbread – I try to give you something every time you come to church.  Sound doctrine with practical application is a necessity for continued communion with our Lord Jesus Christ and each other.

 

2 Timothy 2:14-16  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 

 

Conclusion:  The threefold exhortation to the “Night Watch.”

1.  Be Sure And Be Thankful - vs. 1 “Bless ye the Lord”

 

a.  Because That Out of So Many Lost, You Are Saved 

b.  Because Of The Task That God Has Entrusted You With 

         

2.  Be Sure And Stand - vs. 1 - “Stand in the night”

a.  A Time of Spiritual Watchfulness 

b.  A Time of Spiritual Weariness 

c.  A Time of Spiritual Weaklings 

 

3.  Be Sure God Will Bless You For Standing - vs. 3