2019-11-08 “in the time of trouble”

Psalm 27:5  “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Why would we yearn to “dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of” our “life” (Psalm 27:4)?  First, because “in the house of the LORD” we are highly blessed “to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).  In king David’s day, there were astonishingly beautiful things in the Temple; all of which pointed to “the beauty” of Jesus Christ, His blessed Gospel, and His glorious Church-Kingdom.  To “enquire in his temple” is to learn of the Lord, to search His Word for knowledge and understanding of the Lord and His blessed Will, to hear His Gospel preached, to experience the sweetness of brotherly fellowship, and to pray.  Furthermore, we yearn to “dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of” our “life” “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion”; that is, “he shall hide me” “in the secret of his tabernacle” and “he shall set me up upon a rock”!  The word “trouble” refers to all kinds of bad or evil things that are so often flung upon us in this present life.  The point is, no matter what our “trouble” may be, the Lord our merciful God has provided us refuge “in the secret of his tabernacle” where we are greatly loved and protected.  Also, I will “dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of” our “life” because there is where my Lord sets “me up upon a rock”; that is, He lovingly lifts me up out of my “trouble” and strongly secures me by the almighty power of Himself.  It is no wonder that evil is so anxious to tear down “the house of the LORD”; for, it is indeed a mighty fortress filled with joy and peace unspeakable and security more sure than all the armies of this world could provide.  But, evil hasn’t gotten the Lord’s message, “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)!