The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-09-28
JOY IN GODS HOUSE.
for October Z. 1SOD-Text. Psn.
122-MemOry VS.. 90.

GOLDEN TEXT was glad when they
said unto me, Let us go into the house of
the Lord.-Psa. 1921.
Read Psalm A.
LIGHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES
The House of God.-Psa. 81: 9j:6: Chron.
5:13. IA; Joel 215; lisa. 2:3; Mark l1:15-17. For
the Church Of God.-Psa. 2S: 722-S; Isa.
A3-5; 62:l; zech. s:2O-22; Heb 1928, "a; Rev.
204-6; Chaps. q, 20; Acts 2:1-4; John 4:23, "a
THE DATE of this Psalm Is unknown.
1t fits best the times of David and Solo
mon, except the plural thrones" In g
But, whenever written, 1t belongs to a post
exilic collection, just as our modern hymn
books are continually obtaining new hymns
from very ancient days and revising them
for present use. The application was to
the times after the return which we are
now studying.
EXPLANATORY.
I. The Joyous Summons.-V.1 II was
glad when they said:" 1t is always
Joy to be summoned with others to
something good. This Psalm is sup
posed to have been sung just as the pill
grim band climbed up the hill to the
walls of Jerusalem for one of the great
feasts, the social joyous occasions of the
year, to the Jews. 1t was SO good to be
at the Holy City, the center of life and
religion of country and of nation, the
focus of all that made the nation what
it was; it was so good to be at the end
of their exile, at the close of their long,
hard journey-that they sang out their
praises so loud that the other pilgrim
bands could hear them and take cour-
age.
II. The Place.-Vs. 1-3. Let us go
into the house of the Lord" The tenn
| pie, the chief glory of the city, the CEN
| trail light, the source of religion, the
symbol of Gods presence, the gate of
| Heaven. V. 2. Our feet shall stand:"
r. ", are standing. This is a lively ex-
| preston of the satisfaction and delight
| Of one who finds himself on this high
day of festal joy within the sacred
walls, mingling with the throng of wor-
shippers who crowd the courts Of the
temple, and taking his part, with a full
sense of his privileges as an Israelite,
in the solemn services of the feast."-
Perowne. Jerusalem" the capital
city, "the joy of the whole earth," the
symbol of all that was highest and best
In the nation, the type of the New Jeru-
salem. v. 8. "Builded as city that is
compact together" Either in contrast
with the scattered dwellings of the
country villages, "a compact line of
stately buildings which form so impos-
ing feature of the capital" or, more
probably, in allusion to the fact that
"there are no more waste places, no
more gaps and heaps of ruin."-Pe-
rowne.
III. The Company.-V. 4. "Whither
the tribes go up" This expression is q
strong proof that this is an early Psalm;
for sit was part of the Machiavellian
policy of Jeroboam to put stop to this
custom, lest such occasions should be
made the means of restoring the ma
tional unity Il Kings 12:26)." - Pc
rowne. Jerusalem was the place to which
it was commanded that the tribes go
up; this act was part of the Divine sys-
tenn, and the custom was restored at a
later day. unto the testimony of Is
rael." Better, as r. ", for a testimony
unto Israel, proving their devotion to
God and His cause.
!, ~. The Character of the People,
VS.. 4, s. First. They give thanks unto
the name of the Lord" The very Joy
|
eousness. V. s. For there" in Jeru-
salem, ''are set thrones of Judgment -
1t was the civil and religious metrop.
oils. Justice, righteousness, the hatred
of all oppression, all wrong of every
: kind, are the characteristics of the
true city of God. THE thrones of the
house of David" David and his sue
cessors, especially great David's Great
! er Son." who rules in the city of God
!, and his rule is righteousness evermore
All sin is treason to the great King.
V. The Blessing. - VS.. 90. V.
pray" Because God is the source Of
the blessings needed, and they can bt
given only to those who so put theil
trust in God, and so love and care fol
the city of God, as to pray for her. Th'
, best blessings cannot be received by ,
prayerless soul. They fall on it as rail-
on desert. Itch peace:" Res
from enemies, peace among it,
] people, peace with God, peac,
!. in the soul. "Of Jerusalem:" Je
. rusalem means "Habitation of Peace.
"They shall prosper that love thee:
{ Because that means the love of wha
g Jerusalem stood for and was the mean
of imparting to the world, the knowl
, edge of God, the character of God, al
that was holy and loving and true. v
Z. peace be within thy wallis" Tt
those who belong to the city and tina
> which it represents,-true Jews, tru
j. people of God, within the fold prosper
), ity within thy palaces" The inne
n dwellings, the homes of the people
V. s. "For my brethren and compan
. IONS sakes:" He was not selfish in hi
hopes and prayers. His was no lionel.
Heaven. He 'breathed spirit OF tn
noblest and most unselfish patriotism.
V.9. Because of the house of the Lord:
s He will seek the good of the city, for tn
!. sake of Gods house within it.
] PRACTICAL.
v True religion is never selfish. It de-
=, sires to share all it's blessings. 1t build