The Blessing of the House of God

Temple Baptist Church - 9-22-2024

Psalm 122

 

Introduction: 

 

Psalms 122:1  A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 

A.  Psalm 122 is another of the Song of Degrees written by King David.  It is a traveling Psalm that inclines upward.  The relationship between the believer and the local church is an upward one.  The older we get in the Lord the more that we should realize the importance of going to church.  A little bit of heaven on earth!

 

B.  This verse is one of the most important ones in the New Testament.

 

Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  “Not forsaking” is not as admonition to the faithful but an admonition to the unfaithful.  “And so much the more” shows the importance of what we are doing today.

 

2.  Psalm 122 is a Psalm of the faithful.

 

C.  Those who love and are faithful to God’s House are neither sad no mad.  They are Glad!  Glad, Sad, or Mad?  So many people only attend church either regularly of irregularly because they either think that they have to or, in the case of young people, because they have to!  Everyone here tonight fits into one of these categories.

 

D.  In verse 1, King David shows excitement, enthusiasm, and eagerness when someone comes to him and announces that it is time to go to church!  King David, a man who has everything and anything that he desired.

 

E.  In verse 1, we find the thrill of going to church that most people know nothing about.  “I was glad!”  “Let’s Go!”

 

F.  Going to church is very special to Barbara and me.  We became like kids with a new toy!  I want to say that in a right way because for the first time in our lives, we were excited about church.  It was something new though we had been raised in church.  It was different than before.  We have built our lives around the local church over the past 48 years.  And, Yes, going to church is also an act of discipline but not one of drudgery. 

 

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

~ Samuel Smiles

 

G.  Hebrews 10:22-25 are possibly the most quoted verses concerning church attendance and have been often preached in the negative. 

 

Hebrews 10:22-25  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  (23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (25)  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

1.  Verse 22.  It is a place that gives assures us.  “with a true heart in full assurance of faith”  Going to church does not save us but faithfulness to church certainly assures us!

 

2.  Verse 23.  It is a place that stabilizes us.  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering”

 

3.  Verse 24.  It is a place that provokes us. “to provoke unto love and to good works”

 

4.  Verse 25.  It is a place that encourages us.  “exhorting one another”

 

Psalms 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

H.  We love our church!  We love our people!  What a privilege it is to be able to come to church!  What a blessing it is to be able to come to church!  What a benefit it is to be able to come to church!  The importance of faithful, happy attendance is both important and beneficial to our lives.

 

J.  A beautiful breakdown of Psalm 122:

 

1.  In verse 1, we find Gladness.  “I was glad”

 

2.  In verse 2, we find Stability.  “shall stand”

 

3.  In verse 3, we find Fellowship.  “compact together”

 

4.  In verse 4, we find Worship.  “give thanks unto the name of the LORD”

 

5.  In verse 5, we find Teaching.  “judgment”

 

6.  In verse 6, we find Love.  “that love thee”

 

7.  In verses 7-8, we find Prosperity.  “Prosperity”

 

8.  In verses 7-8, we find Peace. “Peace be within thy walls … peace be within thee”