Psalms 92:12-13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
 
ARE you planted well in the courts of our God? What joy for the righteous person to know God promises you will enjoy a sure, abundant spiritual life in God’s presence. This is aa song for the Sabbath, and the LORD wants us to stop and savor our life-sustaining relationship with him, V 15 proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” How good it is to confess the LORD is your life’s foundation.
   Do you believe this psalm is for you? Or does the word “righteous” cause you to stop and wonder if you qualify to be planted in the house of the LORD? To many Christians, “righteous” seems to be too big to describe their relationship with God. Isn’t the righteous person perfect in every way? After all, we don’t want to be as the Pharisees, whom Jesus condemned for their self-righteousness. Matthew 23:28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. We may believe that to presume one is righteous will label us “hypocrites”.
   Righteousness to the psalm writer was an obedient relationship with God. The righteous person was not perfect, but he pursued an obedient life. His heart was rooted in God’s commands. That was Jesus’ point to the Pharisees. They pretended on the outside to obey the commands, but their motives were self-serving. They wanted people to worship them.
   To be a Christian is to be righteous. The Bible teaches us we are made righteous in Christ. Romans 5:19b  through the obedience of the one man (Jesus Christ) the many will be made righteous. To be righteous in God’s sight is to receive Jesus’ salvation with a true heart. Faith in Jesus opens your heart to receive God’s purity. You cannot claim, “I’m righteous.” because you perfectly obey God’s laws. But you can truly claim, “I am righteous because I believe Jesus died for my sins. He has removed sin’s penalty from my life. I am alive in Jesus’ salvation. By faith I will flourish like a palm tree. I will grow in strength like a cedar of Lebanon.”
   Your righteousness is God’s gift to you through his gift of faith. Receive the gift and use it with humility. Joyfully sing the praises of the psalm in your heart. V 1 It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, 2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.
   This is a good song for the Sabbath. It’s a good song for each day as you remember God has made you righteous by faith in Jesus.  
 
   

​God Promises He is Your Dwelling Place
 
Psalm 90:1 LORD, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
 
MOSES wrote this oldest recorded psalm. God formed  him to be among the world’s greatest leaders. Yet Moses had a very difficult life. Being God’s appointed leader does not open luxury to you. Our Lord’s call directs you into the “streets” to confront sin’s abuse against humanity. God wants his leaders – all of you who call Jesus, “Lord and Savior” – to dwell with him in their daily work. Nearing the end of a hard life, Moses confessed and praised the LORD you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. What does it mean that God is our dwelling place?  
   First of all Moses acknowledged the earth is God’s creation. V 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world. Always know you dwell in God’s physical place. You will have a greater intimacy with God and love for the earth when you acknowledge our LORD has welcomed you to his abundant earth he built for your physical life.
   But Moses’ next words express a weariness of life. For example, life is brief. V 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.” In that brief life, you will also know God’s wrath. V 7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.   Moses also experienced God’s anger against the Jews and himself. V 11a Who knows the power of your anger? In a short time, Moses had watched Israel refuse to enter the Promised Land, and God judged them to 40 years of wandering. (Numbers 13) God judged Moses and Aaron for striking a rock at Meribah when the LORD specifically told them, “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.” (Numbers 20:8) God killed two of Aaron’s sons for improper worship. And he destroyed hundreds in a rebellion against Moses. Nearing the end of his 120 years of life, was he disappointed his desires remain unrealized?
   So how does he dwell with God in this disappointment? He submits his heart to God. Instead of rebelling against the LORD’s authority, Moses prayed God would reveal his splendor and majesty to Israel. V 16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. He prays for God’s saving mercy and strength. V 17 May the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. Moses’ wants Israel to commit to God and to live well with their heavenly Father. He knows he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1) God’s shelter is his sovereign blessing to call you, “Mine!” even as you may become weary with life. Commit to the one who commits eternal life to you.
   As Jesus died on the cross, he committed himself to the Father: Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Jesus experienced the greatest trouble of all. Yet he knew his dwelling place is with the Father. Receive the Savior and know your eternal home is with God in the new heaven and earth.
 

 

2 Samuel 7:12-13 “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
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Psalms 89:30, 33-34 “If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes … 33 but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. 34 I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered.”
 
DO you like waiting? The Jews first and now the Christian church have been waiting about 2800 years for God to keep this promise to David. 2 Samuel says God promised David that out of David’s descendants – also known as David’s house – will come one who will build a house (a kingdom) for my Name and will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. This is the eternal reign of Jesus, Son of God. He is the only one who has a forever house – the eternal kingdom of God. Out of David’s lineage will come the Ruler of Nations.  
   Imagine if you are descended from David! How exciting to know God will use your family to bring forth the Ruler of Nations. Imagine, too, if you were a citizen of Israel. Believing the promise, you would rejoice God promises such a glorious plan for your country.
   But then came many dark days of judgment and ultimately the Babylon exile. No son of David was on Israel’s throne. Jerusalem was a mess. Will the Promise Maker be a Promise Keeper?
   Through Ethan, the psalmist, the LORD assured Israel he is faithful to his Word. Even “If his (David’s) sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.” How merciful God is to stand on his Word and to assure his people they still have a future as God’s own. He had made a promise. He is faithful to keep it.     Yes, it is yet to be completely fulfilled. But Jesus has come from David’s line, and we can trust God to finish it. Into sin’s exile has come the Light of Salvation. The Spirit has awakened us to the Savior. Our faithful Father will send his Son to reign one day.  
   Do you want further evidence? Look to the cross. God is faithful to die on a cross. He is faithful to save you from your sin. He said he would do these things. And he has. He says he will establish his eternal reign. And he will.  
   With this good news of God’s faithfulness, the LORD also inspires Ethan to lead the Jews in praise and worship. He begins this psalm with I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. This is God’s Word spoken to keep you awake to his faithfulness. He promises himself to you and to keep you with him. V 8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
   The LORD is faithful. Be faithful to him. Rejoice in your salvation. V 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.
 

Psalms 88:1, 6, 13, 18 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you…6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths…13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you…18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
 
THIS has been called the saddest psalm of all. In some respects it is as the book of Job, focusing on a man in despair. The author is Heman, a son of Korah, who was a musician in David’s court. Apparently he had a very difficult life. Nearly every psalm, regardless of the topic, praises and thanks God for some aspect of his character. There is no evident praise, no thanksgiving to God here – only the mournful cry of a man whose soul seems to live in darkness.
   The four verses represent four ways Heman approaches God. He first proclaims his faith in the LORD (Jehovah), the God who saves me. His faith causes him to day and night cry out to God. Four times in the psalm he speaks to the LORD, the God of the covenant – the God of promises. He unceasingly seeks God to fulfill his promises.
   Then he tells God how he feels. V 6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depth. Is he blaming God for his darkness? More likely he is expressing the depths of his emotions. God does not want you to come to him to say, “All is good, LORD.” when it’s not. If you trust him as the God of your life, creator of the universe, you can trust him to hear your cries, even from the darkest depths.
   Within this question is the mystery of God’s will in all circumstances. How often we wonder, “Why, God?” when we can’t see the end result of suffering? 
   Heman then defends himself. V 13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD, in the morning my prayer comes before you. Heman wants God’s help. He is persistent and faithful to pursue God. Shouldn’t God reward such faith?
   Then Heman closes the prayer with what seems to be the deep despair of a lonely man. V 18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend. Fifty years ago, the pop music due Simon & Garfunkel wrote the song Sounds of Silence. Its opening lyrics are “Hello, darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.” Then the song goes on to lament a life of isolation and loneliness, even as one is surrounded by the people, sights and sound of a large city.  Had they read Heman’s plea?
   The songwriters left no option for release from the darkness. Heman’s psalm seems to leave us in the dark, too. But even as Heman laments the darkness is my closest friend, we can understand that his closest friend is really the LORD – Jehovah – Redeemer, Savior, Comforter, Promise Keeper, Light and Life. His plea is not a resignation to an unchangeable situation. His plea is for the LORD to reveal himself in the same ways we read of Job, David – and even Jesus in Gethsemane – pleading with God for release from the darkness of the moment.
   In our despair it would be good to look for songs of faith to direct us out of the darkness. Here’s one: “You are Waymaker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper, Light in the Darkness, My God, that is who you are.” (“Waymaker” by Nigerian gospel singer Sinach)        
   God is Light. Stay faithful to him. He will bring you out of darkness’ void into his sure salvation. 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Psalms 87:1-4 He has set his foundation on the holy mountain; 2 the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are said of you, O city of God: 4 “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me – Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush – and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”
 
FROM Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells us Jerusalem is God’s chosen city. We first see the image of Jerusalem when Abram returns from rescuing his nephew Lot from several kings who had taken him hostage. Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Melchizedek was from Salem, a region near Jerusalem. “Salem” means “peaceful”, similar to the Hebrew greeting “shalom”.
   When Israel settled the Promised Land, Jerusalem was home to the Jebusites (Joshua 10 & 15). Because it was set on a mountain, Jerusalem was nearly impossible to conquer. But eventually Daivd’s army found a way to take the city. It was called the City of David for many years. During David’s rule, God brought his ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. And then Solomon built the temple. God’s glory was evident in the city and the temple. Nations came to enjoy Jerusalem’s peace and prosperity.
   This reign illustrates God’s eternal plan for Jerusalem. Long before the gospel, the psalm writers prophesied God’s universal peace in Jerusalem. The foundation on the holy mountain expresses Jerusalem’s fundamental role in revealing God to the world. God protected Jerusalem from many invading armies to reveal his strong arm of protection for his people. He also used Jerusalem to display his justice when Babylon destroyed the city.
   But the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. He sent Nehemiah from Persia to rebuild the city’s walls and Ezra to rebuild the temple. But Jerusalem’s story has been one of conquest and foreign rule. Today the Muslims rule the Temple Mount. Where is God’s promise? 
   His promise is in the future kingdom reign. The prophecies of the new heaven and earth point to the glorious things said of you, O city of God: God said, “I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me – Philistia too, and Tyre, along with Cush – and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” These were all Israel’s enemies. But one day all the redeemed world will be in the New Jerusalem. Through the sacrifice of Jesus’ crucifixion, the power of his resurrection and the glory of his ascension, the Holy Spirit poured out the gospel onto Jerusalem at Pentecost. From Jerusalem and Judea, the gospel now covers the earth. One day all opposition, even Egypt and the Islam controlled countries will submit to God to worship him in the new Jerusalem.
   The peace of God will rule the eternal city. Our Great High Priest Jesus will draw all people to him. And we will submit in joy and reverence to the One who loves us. Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”  

​Psalm 86:14-17 The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life – men without regard for you. 15 But you, O LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. 17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
 
THIS is a remarkable response to another life-threatening time in David’s life. As David looked to the opposition’s strength, he contrasted the enemy’s power with God’s character. David knows he belongs to the God, who has the strength to save the son of your maidservant. (David apparently refers to his mother as a faithful servant of God.)
   David’s response is a good lesson in prayer and spiritual warfare. David prays, “Save me LORD.” by exalting the fullness of God’s character. His pattern is to declare God is compassionate, a gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. He prays God will turn and have mercy on him. And David petitions God to grant me your strength, to give him a sign of your goodness. David prays for God to show himself so completely to David that my enemies may see (God’s glory) and be put to shame. He wants all to know the LORD has helped and comforted him.
   David praises God for his mercy, grace, patience, love, faithfulness, strength and goodness. Note he is not praying for God to protect and save him with military force. David is trusting God’s character to fill him, so he is prepared to confront the opposition with the fullness of God.
   Jesus wants you to know he has prepared you with God’s fullness to oppose Satan’s warfare. Our Savior told us, “The thief comes to kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
   The full life is striving to resist the devil and to live into God’s abundant character. He fully makes himself available to you: Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Do you see the Spirit’s fruit compares with David’s list of God’s character? God promises to be fully available to protect and empower you against evil.
   When you are in Christ, the enemy Satan will always attempt to destroy you. As David called on God to confront and destroy the enemy, so we must grasp the fullness of God to engage his protection and power for our lives.
   We fight the battles; we  win the war with God’s character filling our souls.
 

Psalms 85:8-10 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his faithful people – but let them not return to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
 
GOD has given us unconditional promises. For example, he promised a Savior to redeem sin. No amount of sin among mankind stopped God from fulfilling this promise. This was God’s decree, and he fulfilled it in his time. God also unconditionally promised a nation from Abram. No deceit or lack of faith on the part of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob deterred God from forming Israel.
   But God’s peace promise here is a conditional promise: he promises peace to his people, his faithful people – but let them not return to folly. God promises peace to the people who resist foolish living. Folly is useless pursuit of self-desires; it is yielding to temptation. Folly is thinking you know better than God. You believe his commands are of little use. They only block your passions.
   There is no peace for foolish people. We know that from our own experience. Foolish errors lead to internal and external chaos. But God wants you to know he promises peace will belong to those who fear God. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him. This is salvation from conflict and turmoil in your life. A right fear of God is a reverent obedience to his commands; it is a submission to his authority. You worship God above all. You love his commands. You know they lead to peace with him, with your neighbors and with yourself. Your conscience is at rest because you know God knows you fear God’s retribution for your folly.
   God also knows your heart joyfully anticipates living each day in God’s ways. You know how much he loves you. Your life is a testimony that love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. We should all hunger for this joyful union of God’s goodness. God is pleased.
   When God’s people are at peace with God, his glory may dwell in our land. His evident power will be visible to the world. God’s people will see the value of love and faithfulness joining together. There will be a strong, effective bond between righteousness and peace. Peace brings prosperity, health and security to our lives. Why would the world reject God’s promise when he has so richly fulfilled it in Jesus Christ?
   Through this salvation, we now have Jesus’ unconditional promise for his own: John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  
   When you faithfully confess, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” the glory of his peace will reign in your heart. His love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Your life is complete because you know the Lord of Life has given you his peace forevermore.

Psalms 84:1-2, 10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God…10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
 
WHEN all is said. When all is done. What is the best thing to happen to you? According to the Sons of Korah – the psalm writers – the best thing above all things is to dwell in the courts of the Living God. Even if you would spend just one day there, you would never experience a place so grand and glorious as the dwelling place of the LORD Almighty. Do you eagerly anticipate your arrival there?
   We certainly hope you do. But you don’t have to wait until you die in the flesh to live in God’s glorious house. You can begin to experience his courts now. How is that possible?
   When Jesus talked to the crowds about John the Baptist, he said this amazing truth: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28) Does that mean you, who are a Christian, are greater than John? John was a great prophet, considered the highest of any “Old Testament” prophet because he personally pointed to Jesus. And he baptized Jesus. This is extraordinary favor God granted John. Each of God’s true prophets longed to see the Messiah.
   But John’s greatness as a prophet is not as great as even the least in the Kingdom of God. “Kingdom of God” is the evident presence of God. Jesus announced, “The time has come,” he said. “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Then he went into people’s lives to welcome them into the Kingdom for a moment, an hour, a day. His disciples experienced kingdom living for three years. Wherever Jesus went, he demonstrated the glory of dwelling in God’s courts.
   How did people respond? The believers ran after him. They camped out awaiting his arrival in the hillsides, towns and villages. They pressed against him. They went hungry, so they could hear his teachings. They stood along the Sea of Galilee and also met Jesus in the desert. Why?
   They would rather spend one day with Jesus than to be anywhere else. The Lord Jesus loved them. They knew his healing. They head his teaching. The faithful knew one from God was among them. They responded with great joy.
   John was born of man. As a Christian you are born again. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) Your dwelling place in the Lord’s courts begins to take shape when you are born again under the Spirit’s power through Jesus’ blood. By God’s grace, you confess faith in Jesus Christ. By faith, your greatest desire is to go to Jesus. You are eager each day to spend time with him in prayer and devoted Bible reading. You love going to church because it is a physical display on earth of God’s courts in heaven .
   When you are born again, kingdom citizenship is now, and it is forever. Remember, God has called you into his court. He sees you as “great in the kingdom” because you belong to him. Live in praise of God’s eternal gift for you. His place is prepared for your eternal dwelling in his courts. Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
 

Psalm 83:16-18 Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. 17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. 18 Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
 
YOU likely hear many accounts of people angrily speaking against God. Mention the name “Jesus” or “God” in some places, and people may mock or criticize you. Each time a public figure refers to the true God of heaven, he or she is ridiculed, sometimes called hateful or a bigot. There is no shame in the evil mind. Evil lusts for revenge against the holy God. It pridefully resists God’s perfect law, mercy and forgiveness. To the evil mind there is nothing to forgive.
   This anti-God aggression is as old as history. Asaph, the psalmist, exhorts God in prayer to see how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads.
   Then Asaph lists 10 nations and people groups that are antagonizing Israel. This is as if we are reading current events. But from the time Israel walked out of Egypt, nearly all other nations have opposed God’s nation. How would Israel respond then? How does Israel respond now?  
   The answer goes to the fundamental truth of Israel’s relationship with God. Asaph prays Israel will know that you whose name is the LORD is the Most High over all the earth. When they know his name, they know his attributes.
   Israel’s god is the eternal Creator named Jehovah (or Yahweh). The name means he is Sustainer, Provider and Promise-Keeper. He is the self-existent, all-powerful Master of the universe. Jehovah especially created Israel to be his people, so the world would be saved into eternal life.
   Israel’s first response to their enemies must be to trust God is who he says he is. They must lift up God’s name in worshipful love. Nothing, not even all the weapons and aggression of war in 800 BC or in 2023 AD, will subdue Israel if they call on Jehovah. They must remember he calls them, “My people.” Yes, it may seem that the opposition is often successful. Enemies continually attempt to destroy God’s people and declare victory in their self-proclaimed perfection.
   But Jehovah has shown the world over centuries that he will ultimately keep his people against all forms of evil. He has shamed and judged Israel’s aggressors. And he will do so again.
   What has happened to each nation that has tried to remove Israel? They are gone. Where’s Rome, the Islam countries of old and the Third Reich? The descendants of the ancient nations are trying anew to remove Israel. Will they succeed?
   Israel’s salvation now is as it was in ancient days. 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
   We pray this will lead Israel to further pray as Jesus taught us, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed – holy, perfect, righteous, true – be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
   The same is true for you, Jesus’ church. Seek God with reverence and faith. Understand God’s name is to be kept holy because his is the name of creation, power and salvation: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:10)