The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-09-27
JOY IN GODS HOUSE.
sunday school Lessee,
for October ., IsDD-Test, Psa.
I22-Memory We. 90.

said unto me, Let US 20 Into the house OF
tho Lord-Psa. I22i
/ Read Psalm ~
| LIGHT FROM OTHER sCRIPTUREs.-
The House Of God .-Psa ~; $3.50; Chron
blS II; Joel 2:i5; lisa. 2:3. Mark II i5-i7. For
the Church OF God Pisa. rs. ms; lisa.
H.3-5; 62;i. Zech s:2O-22. Heb. l2:23, "a; Rev.
04-e; CHAPS q. q; Acts 2l-4 John i:25. ~
THE DATE OF this Psalm IL unknown
II fita best the times OF David and Solo
mon. except the plural thrones" In V o
But, whenever written. II belongs 60 post
| exile collection, Just a. our modern hymn
books are continually obtaining new hymns
from very ancient days and revising them
for present use. The application was 20
the times after the return which we are
EXPLANATORY.
| i. The Joyous Summons.-N.l." 81 was
glad when they Said:" II Is always a
| Joy TO be summoned with others Go
something good. This Psalm is sup.
posed TO have been sung just M 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, 10 the Jews. II was 40 good TO be
at the Holy City, the center OF life and
religion Of country aud Of nation, the
focus of all that made the nation what
IL was; Il was 40 good TO be al 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. "Iet 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 stnnd;"
II. ". are standing. This Is lively cx-
preston of the satisfaction and delight
of one who finds himself on this high
May OF festal joy within the sacred
walls, mingling with the throng Of wor-
temple. aud taking his part, with full
sense OF his privileges as an Israelte,
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. ,. "Builded rs 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 allusiou to the fact that
there are no more waste places, no
more gaps and heaps OF ruin."---Pe-
rowne.
Ill. The Company.-V. 4. "Whither
the tribes go ups" This expression is a
strongproof thatthis is an early Psalm;
for ut was part OF the Machiavellian
policy Of Jeroboam TO put stop 20 this
custom, lest such occasions should be
mnde the means OF restoring the ma
tional unity q Kings i2;2O)." - Re.
rowne. Jerusalem was the place TO which
IL was commanded that the tribes 60
up, this act was part Of the Divine sys-
TEN, aud the custom was restored at
later day. Unto the testimony OF Is
rnel." Better. us Il. ". for testimony
unto Israel, proving their devotion To
God and His cause.
~. The Character OF the People
Vs. Z. S. First, They give thanks unto
the name OF the Lord" The very JOY
OF life Is TO praise God. Second. Right.
eousness. V. S. For there" in Jeru.
salem, ARE set thrones OF judgments:
II 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 10 righteousness evermore.
All sin Ia treason TO the great King.
V. The Blessing. - Va. 60. V. 9.
Pray" Because God Is the source Of
the blessings needed. and they car he
given only to those who so put their
trust In God, and so love and care for |
the city OF God. as TO prny for her. The
best blessings cannot be received by a
prayerless soul. They fall on Il as rain
on a desert. Itch peace" Rest
from enemies, peace among its
people, peace with God, peace |
In the soul. "Of Jerusalem" Je. |
rusalem means "Habitation OF Peace"
They shall prosper that love thee;"
Because that means the love of what |
Jerusalem stood for and was the means
Of imparting 20 the world, the knowl.
edge OF God. the character OF God. all |
that was holy and loving and true. "
7. Peace be within thy wallis" To
those who belong TO the city and that
which II representative Jews, true
people OF God. within the fold. Prosper
ity within thy palaces" The inner
dwellings, the homes of the people.
V. 8. "For my brethren and compan.
Ions sakes;" lie was not selfish In his
hopes and prayers. His was no lonely
Heaven. lie "breathed n spirit OF the
noblest and most unselfish patriotism"
V.9. because of the house OF the Lord"
lie will seek the good OF the city, for the
sake Of Gods house within II.
PRACTICAL
True religion is never selfish. II dc.
sires to share all it's blessings. II builds
the walls OF Jerusalem "for my brett
rem and companions sakes." The more
Christianity rules, the more Is done for
the good OF the Deonle ms n whole