The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04
JOY IN GODS HOUSE.
LESSON VI, SECOND QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, MAY 8.

ory Verses, S-l2-Golden Text, Ps. lxxxtv.
a Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ.
stearns.
L How amiable are thy tabernacles
o Lord of Hosts" See David's love for
Gods dwelling place, the tabernacle in
which He was pleased TO dwell among the
children of Israel The instruction TO
Moses was, Let them make me "A sanctu-
airy, that | may dwell among them" (Ex.
XIV, s. 22). Amiable is the same as be-
loved or well beloved, and is so translated
In Deut. xxxiii, y; lisa V. l. The title
lord of Hosts" is first found in / Sam. i.
g. and is first heard from the lips of Han
nah in the same chapter Verse lD in n
time of great distress 1t is a name full of
comfort to all who are helpless and alone.
See it four times in the psalm
2. my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth,
for the courts of the Lord; my heart and
my flesh crieth out for the living God" IL
was not the house that he thought so
much of, but the living God who there
dwelt among His people Israel The reason
why he so earnestly desired this-one thing
was that he might behold the beauty of
Jehovah Cps. xvii, q. He had a holy APP
petite for God Himself
3. Yea, the sparrow hath found an
house, and the swallow a nest for herself.
where she may lay her young even thine
affairs, . Lord of Hosts, my King and my
God" There were two affairs, one for sac
rifice and one for incense, signifying
Christ's work of atonement whereby we
are saved, and His work of intercession
whereby we are kept. He envies the
lIrds, worthless and restless, who feed
and live about the tabernacle Or posi-
bly, he speaks of the neglect of these affairs
upon which the birds now make their
nests, and his soul signs because of such
sin OF Israel
l. Blessed are they that dwell in thy
house. They will be still praising Thee
Selah." So in Ps lxv, 4, he speaks of the
blessedness of dwelling in Gods house
and being satisfied with His goodness.
Only those who are the redeemed of the
Lord, and can truly say rs in the previous
verse, MY King and my God, know any
thing of such blessedness and only such
can truly praise God. Selah is found sew
enty-three times in the Psalms and three
times in Hab. iii, and signifies a pause or
rest and is suggestive of meditation. Am
among these blessed?
s. blessed is che man whose strength is
in Thee, in whose heart are the high
ways" Or. W Before we can have much
joy in the Lord we must learn that He
alone is our salvation and our strength and
our song (Ex. Ky, o Ps cxviii, IA; lisa. xii,
q, and must learn TO say, My soul wait
thou only upon God" (Ps. xii, I, 9, 3, 6, ..
Then shall we find in heart and life the
highway of holiness or Wilderness to God
lisa. xXNv, s, l0).
6. Passing through the valley of weep
ing they make it a place Of springs; yea,
the early rain covereth it with blessings"
h Il he al Il
places on earth become places of springs
and blessings by the very presence of those
who can say TO God All my springs are in
Thee" (Ps lxxXvii, =. They become in
deed the life and light of the world because
of the presence in them of Him who is the
Life and the Light. They are rs trees by
the waters they do not see when heat
cometh, nor cease from yielding fruit der
xvii, s; Ps. i, 3D.
= "They go from strength TO strength:
every one of them in Zion appeareth before
God" The people Of Israel journeying to
Jerusalem three times in the year TO keep
the various feasts, rs God had appointed
Ok xiii, l4-l1), and their JOY on the way
made glad the land (Deut. xvi, II, IA, IS,
16) All true Christians journeying through
this world TO the New Jerusalem should
bring Joy and gladness rs they journey
because they are children of God and know
that they shall every one be at the mar
riage Of the lamb (John X. %, IS; Phil. i,
6; lisa. Xl, 81.
s 20 Lord God Of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, . God of Jacob. Selah." Ii we
cannot gather with the saints in their
semhlies we can always pray; and God
Himself will be our sanctuary even in the
midst Of our enemies (Ezek xi, l6). Every
name of God is full of significance. Jeho-
yah is our Righteousness der. xiii, 9;
Ps. ri, >. ElOhim is our Faithful Creator
l. q Pet iv, l9). Lord God of Hosts reminds
Us of all the hosts of heaven who rejoice
TO do His bidding on behalf of His re-
| deemed Cieb. /, IA While God of Jacob
is suggestive of the fullness of His mercy
| for all who come to Him, however crooked
they may be. Pause and mediate on
] this
Behold, O God, our shield and look
| upon the face Of thine anointed." When
/ Abram was tempted TO be afraid Of what
/ might come TO him from the kings from
whose hands be had rescued Lot, Jehovah
said TO him. Il am thy shield" Gen. XIV, y.
! He is a wall of fire around about all who
trust in him (Zech. ii, 81. See also verse IL
of our lesson and Ps. xXXiv. Z. Israel is
! His anointed (ps. CIV, l5) but lsraePs Mes
siah is the true Amounted Fps ii, ,, Sam.
| IL 10, o0) Tor whose sake GOd grants &c
lverance TO His people. He can only look
upon us with approval for His sake.
10. For day in Thy courts is better
than a thousand. had rather be a door
keeper in the house of my God than to
dwell in the tents of wickedness" Some
one has said that Gods worst is better than
the DEVILS best. What though we should
have all that the world can give2 il soon
passes away, but he that doeth the will Of
God abdeth forever u John ii, ID. Better
far like Moses. to suffer af1liction with the
people of God than TO enjoy the pleasures OF
sin for season QIeb. xi, ~.
IL. For the Lord God is sun and
shield The Lord will give grace and
glory. No good thing will he withhold
from them that walk uprightly." He is
our Sun, source Of all light aDd life. Soon
He shall arise as the Sun OF Righteousness
for all the world, and then shall the Right
eous shine forth as the Sur (Nlal. ", ?;
Math xiii, 49, While we wait for that
Glory which He has given unto us (John
xvii. 22) we know that He is with us full
of grace and truth and will supply all orr
need John /, Is; Math. xviii, 20. Rom
viii, 30; Phil iv, 10, Ps. XxXiv, 10y.
70. 20 Lord Of Hosts, blessed is the man
that trusteth in Thee" He is the source
of all good. the sum Of all happiness, the
defense from all evil, who then can esti
mate the blessedness of such abide III
Him. AS he is all Righteousness we can