Psalm 27: Safe-House

Read Psalm 27

Safe-House

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4

I’ve often heard preachers say that they would rather be in church than the best hospital in the world. Not much of a choice, I suppose, but there is truth in that statement. The house of the Lord is truly the best place in the world to be—in good times and bad. It is truly our safe-house.

It is there in the house of God that we find shelter in the time of storm. David understood that. That’s why when calamity was all around him, he asked God for just one thing: To dwell in the Lord’s house, for there, “in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” (v. 5)

What is it about the house of the Lord that is so healing? Obviously, God’s presence is magnified in the place of worship and in the collective praise of his people. Likewise, the house of God is full of faithful friends—people who will encourage you, pray for your, help you in tangible ways, and if nothing else, put an arm around you and walk empathically through your valley of the shadow of death.

That’s why the Scripture tells us that especially when the going gets tough, we should get going to church. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I’ve noticed that some people don’t do that. When things go bad, they go south. They pull away from the one place they ought to lean into—the church. Can I encourage you: Don’t be one of those types. Whether in good times or in bad—especially in bad times—lean into God and get vitally connected to his people.

Build your life around the church. Make his house your house. I’m telling you, from my experience in life, that is the safest place on earth. Oh, and if you don’t believe me, just ask David!

“Friendship redoubleth joy, and cutteth griefs in halves.”
—Francis Bacon

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