PSALM 26:8–12 Loving God’s House
READ: PSALM 26:8–12 (LUKE 2:41–52)
v. 8 “O LORD, I love the habitation of your house.”
How do you feel about going to church? Is it a chore? Boring? For David, it is a burning passion! He tells us that he loves to go where God lives, and that’s in the middle of his people!
Earlier in Psalm 26, David described himself as one who trusts the LORD without wavering, who does not join wicked people in their evil ways, and who lives a life that is morally upright. Now he adds one more thing. As a true believer he loves to visit the house of God in order to see the sacrifices being offered (v. 6) and to participate in the singing of God’s praises (v. 7).
Now, why would David be excited about sacrifices (with all that blood flowing and animals dying)? Those sacrifices tell him that God has accepted a substitute for him, that in the death of another his own sin is forgiven. That makes him want to shout out for joy and sing God’s praises! This is the place of grace! Can you see why he loves coming to God’s house?
It is striking that David’s great descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ, shared that same love for the house of the LORD. Already as a boy of twelve years old he loved to spend time in the temple, listening to the teachers of the law and asking amazing questions. When his parents asked him about it, he said, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).
In the new covenant we no longer have a temple built by bricks that is called the house of God. Instead, each and every Christian congregation is now called God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16, 17). The church is the body of Christ and his Spirit fills his people especially when they gather for worship (Phil. 3:3). Therefore, Christian believers love to come together to adore the Lord, to hear the proclamation of the gospel, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Sometimes you meet people who profess faith in God but think going to church is a waste of time. This is impossible. God’s word teaches us that genuine believers (like King David) hungrily seek God’s presence in the company of his people. When you understand what church is, how can you not want to be in that special assembly? Pray for the desire to be there each Sunday!
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