Young Adults' Group

Love For The Lord’s House

by Pastor Mark
May 22, 2014

A special love for the house of the Lord

This Friday, the YAG will be having its 19^th YAG Retreat. The theme of the retreat is one that is very close to my heart…to many of our hearts. Setting our affections on the house of the Lord is something that we all must seek to cultivate further as we consider Bethany IV. In view of this, I will be writing about my own personal feelings for the Lord’s house over the next few weeks from Psalm 84…a Psalm that I have come to appreciate.

This Psalm was written by the sons of Korah who were Levitical priests serving in the house of the Lord.  They wrote, “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1) This expression reflects a special love for the Lord’s house. They saw it as something most lovely. In the same way, I too feel that Bethany is most lovely. Over the years, I have cultivated a special love for Bethany and will continue to feel the same for Bethany IV.

Deep longings for the Lord’s house

“My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2)

How do we know that we have a love for the Lord’s house? It is when we have a deep longing to be in the Lord’s house. The sons of Korah worked in the house of the Lord. They assisted the High Priest and the priests in their duties. For them, they had a deep longing from the soul, the heart and the flesh to be in the house of the Lord. This means that their whole being longed for the Lord and His house. I also long for the house of the Lord. Not only to dwell in it but to long for the Lord Himself. Let us cry out to the living God in His tabernacle as we face challenging circumstances of life.

A home for the humble

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.” (Psalm 84:3)

How should we see the house of the Lord? It is to be seen as our home. Though the house of the Lord was holy and sacred, God still allowed for the sparrows to make their home in the inner courts. The sparrow is the humblest of all birds yet it can make its home in the Lord’s house. I see Bethany as my home. It is a place where we can find joy and refuge…to see the Lord as King and Lord. Let us always appreciate how we can find a home in the house of the Lord, even for the humble.

The blessing of being in the Lord’s house

“Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.” (Psalm 84:4)

The sons of Korah would spend each day in the house of the Lord. While they did not stay in the house of the Lord, they would spend most of each day in it. They are truly blessed. I too thank God that I have been greatly blessed. There is no greater joy than to be in the Lord’s house, where we can truly give praise to the Lord. Let us look forward to being at the Retreat as we seek to grow deeper in our love and longing for the Lord and His house.

Back to Article Listing