Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

I. HE WILL HIDE ME IN HIS SANCTUARY - 1-6

“ The Lord is my light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The lord protects me from dan- ger-so why should I tremble?” (1)

This beautiful and unique title for God is not used anywhere else in the Old Testament and points directly to Jesus who claimed to be its fulfillment: “ I am the light of the world…I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the darkness.”(Jn. 8:12; 12:46) Darkness can cause us to fear and tremble with apprehension but Jesus dispels all thoughts of danger with the warmth of his light and truth.

“ When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.”(2)

Both Saul and Absalom were unsuccessful in destroying the great king of Israel as the ‘Light of the world’ protected him. This ‘stumbling and falling’ literally happened to the soldiers who came in the dark night to arrest Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane: “ And as he (Jesus) said, ‘I am he,’ they all fell back- ward to the ground!” (Jn. 18:6)

“Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident.”(3)

As Saul’s army hunted David in the wilderness, Jonathan came and “ ..encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ Jonathan reassured him. ‘My father will never find you!”(1 Sam. 23:16,17) This promise of the Lord is still true for all of David’s descendants. Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah from David’s lineage, was attacked by a large army and experienced the truth of this verse. One of the prophets, Jahaziel, gave him this message: “ Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”(2 Chr. 20:15)

II LIVING IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD - 4-6

“ The one thing I ask of the Lord-the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. (4)

David experienced his clearest vision and understanding of the Lord as he worshiped in the light of the Tabernacle with God’s people. Delighting in the Lord is described as a “clinging, lingering, chained gaze upon the pleasantness and gracefulness of Yahweh 2 .” Worship must be a priority, a passion and a regular practice of our spirituality. There are four ‘one things’ mentioned in scripture the first being found in this psalm. These are essential ingredients of our faith: 1. One thing I ask , seek after- “ to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” 2. One thing I lack - “’ You lack only one thing,’ he (Jesus) told him. ‘Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” (Mrk. 10:21) 3. One thing is needed - “ There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it– and I won’t take it away from her.” (Lk. 10:42) 4 One thing I do - “ but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” (Phil. 3:13,14)

“For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. (5)

Whether it’s in a beautiful cathedral or on a desert rock, God will hide our soul in his presence when trou- bles come. “ When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock…” (1 Sam. 23:25) David might have been referring to not only the earthly tabernacle but also the heavenly sanctuary of his presence that is available whenever we call upon him.

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