Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sanctuary, What is it?
It is mentioned to be the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, even the temple in the old testament. But it doesn't have to be a physical location.
It can be an idea: Isiah 8:14, The idea of abbiding in the presence of God.
Psalms 23:2&3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.
Jesus sought it when he moved away from the crowds, the work and the disciples, and went into the mountains alone to spend time with God the father.
Sanctuary suggests an idea of a place set apart for spiritual protection, rest and renewal.
It is a spiritual hiding place where we can seek refuge, and restore our hearts and strengthen them for the struggles of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Psalms 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then i understood their end.
You see, when we focus on ourselves, all we can see are our own problems, our delimas, our troubles.
But when we focus on God, when we go into his sanctuary, and stand in his presence, we see as God sees, and everything changes.
The circumstances remain the same, but we are given new perspectives and understanding.
Asaph had been overwhelmed by the unfairness of present circumstances before he entered God's sanctuary. BUt after he did, he got new perspectives and he saw the difference in rewards for humans inequities between his vision and God's vision.
Asaph found his answers when he went into the sanctuary. He no longer questioned God, but put him as the centre of his focus. The solution came to Asaph when he turned to God not as an object of speculation, but as ne of worship.
So what then did Asaph see in the sanctuary?
The judgement of God -> Psalms 73:17-20
V18 The unjust were lacking security. From the world's perspective, they seemed completely safe, but from God's perspective, they were on shaky ground/slippery places and heading for destruction.
V19 They will not be prepared for it. They will not see their judgement coming suddenly upon them, like the people of Noah's day, who rejected years of warning and when judgement came, it was too late.
V20 God's judgement is inevitable. Asaph understood the principle of fair returns. But he was trying to see God's judgement in a period marked mostly by God's mercy and grace; in hopes that they would change their ways. Only when he went into the sanctuary did he see that the judgement was inevitable, but also that God would choose when to hold them accountable.
& because of these revelations, Asaph's anger softened, and he began to examin himself.
His mistakes -> Psalms 73:21-22
In the sanctuary, Asaph discovered his real complaint was not with the moral rebels or even God. His real problem was himself. He had been focusing on the unfairness of life, rather than trusting God to settle the score in a perfect and just way. By allowing such a conflict of faith to overwhelm him, he was forfeiting the comfort and peace faith is intended and designed to bring.
V21 & 22 Asaph saw his actions and attitude as an offense to God and said: my heart was grieved. In the New American Translation, it says, My heart was embittered.
Asaph had grieved and held bitterness against God, and it is these he had come to regret.
V21: I was pricked in my reins.
Asaph was brought to the point where he could finally see the wounds he had inflicted on himself.
V22: I was so foolish and ignorant
He saw that his questioning of God's ways of handling life was foolish and ignorant. Afterall, God is the only one with the full knowledge of the future; we must remember Isiah 55:8, my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways
Verse 22: I was like a beast before you
He did not understand God's ways and rebelled against him, and finally understood that he was unqualified to judge God.
God's All sufficiency -> Psalms 73:23-24
1) God will be with us continually, he will never leave us or forsake us.
2) God will uphold us -> He will strengthen us.
3) God will guidde and counsel us -> The spirit and word of God would guide us along the way.
4) God will recieve us to glory -> At the end, God will recieve us into heaven and prepare a home with him forever.
What did Asaph learn?
#1: God is more important than anything else in life. V25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.
Asaph realised that God was all he had and all he needed
#2: God is all the strength we need. V26 my flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Asaph discovered that only in God could he find the unending strength he needed now and forever.
#3: God will be as fair as he is merciful. V27 for indeed, those who are far from you shall perish, you have destroyed all those who desert you for harlotry.
In the end, Asaph learnt to trust God, that in his own timing and wisdom, he would deal justly and mercifully with all the inequities of life.
#4: God draws near to those who draw near to him. V28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.
Asaph learnt that his responsibility was not to mete out judgement, but to (james 4:8) draw near to God and he will draw near to you. He realised that the heart was the key (Psalms 73:1), truly, God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. (Matthew 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Knowing and trusting in his goodness keeps us from seeing only our external circumstances and wrongly assuming that God is not in control, or is not fair, or does not care. This is the kind of relationship founded and fostered in worship. It helps us break out of our daily issues of life and remind us that God doesnt settle all his accounts on our schedule, but in his time.
So, I pray that whenever we feel bogged down by the inequities of life, when we feel that our strength isn't enough, when we breakdown or we feel that life has thrown too much at us, remember to set aside some time, break out of your daily routine, meet God in worship, let go of all your burdens and let God carry them. Just soak in the presence of the Lord and talk to him. Draw near to him and he will draw near to you. Let him reveal all the new perspectives and guide you through the things that you do. He will renew your spirit and give you rest.
Much love, J
It is mentioned to be the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, even the temple in the old testament. But it doesn't have to be a physical location.
It can be an idea: Isiah 8:14, The idea of abbiding in the presence of God.
Psalms 23:2&3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.
Jesus sought it when he moved away from the crowds, the work and the disciples, and went into the mountains alone to spend time with God the father.
Sanctuary suggests an idea of a place set apart for spiritual protection, rest and renewal.
It is a spiritual hiding place where we can seek refuge, and restore our hearts and strengthen them for the struggles of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Psalms 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then i understood their end.
You see, when we focus on ourselves, all we can see are our own problems, our delimas, our troubles.
But when we focus on God, when we go into his sanctuary, and stand in his presence, we see as God sees, and everything changes.
The circumstances remain the same, but we are given new perspectives and understanding.
Asaph had been overwhelmed by the unfairness of present circumstances before he entered God's sanctuary. BUt after he did, he got new perspectives and he saw the difference in rewards for humans inequities between his vision and God's vision.
Asaph found his answers when he went into the sanctuary. He no longer questioned God, but put him as the centre of his focus. The solution came to Asaph when he turned to God not as an object of speculation, but as ne of worship.
So what then did Asaph see in the sanctuary?
The judgement of God -> Psalms 73:17-20
V18 The unjust were lacking security. From the world's perspective, they seemed completely safe, but from God's perspective, they were on shaky ground/slippery places and heading for destruction.
V19 They will not be prepared for it. They will not see their judgement coming suddenly upon them, like the people of Noah's day, who rejected years of warning and when judgement came, it was too late.
V20 God's judgement is inevitable. Asaph understood the principle of fair returns. But he was trying to see God's judgement in a period marked mostly by God's mercy and grace; in hopes that they would change their ways. Only when he went into the sanctuary did he see that the judgement was inevitable, but also that God would choose when to hold them accountable.
& because of these revelations, Asaph's anger softened, and he began to examin himself.
His mistakes -> Psalms 73:21-22
In the sanctuary, Asaph discovered his real complaint was not with the moral rebels or even God. His real problem was himself. He had been focusing on the unfairness of life, rather than trusting God to settle the score in a perfect and just way. By allowing such a conflict of faith to overwhelm him, he was forfeiting the comfort and peace faith is intended and designed to bring.
V21 & 22 Asaph saw his actions and attitude as an offense to God and said: my heart was grieved. In the New American Translation, it says, My heart was embittered.
Asaph had grieved and held bitterness against God, and it is these he had come to regret.
V21: I was pricked in my reins.
Asaph was brought to the point where he could finally see the wounds he had inflicted on himself.
V22: I was so foolish and ignorant
He saw that his questioning of God's ways of handling life was foolish and ignorant. Afterall, God is the only one with the full knowledge of the future; we must remember Isiah 55:8, my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways
Verse 22: I was like a beast before you
He did not understand God's ways and rebelled against him, and finally understood that he was unqualified to judge God.
God's All sufficiency -> Psalms 73:23-24
1) God will be with us continually, he will never leave us or forsake us.
2) God will uphold us -> He will strengthen us.
3) God will guidde and counsel us -> The spirit and word of God would guide us along the way.
4) God will recieve us to glory -> At the end, God will recieve us into heaven and prepare a home with him forever.
What did Asaph learn?
#1: God is more important than anything else in life. V25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you.
Asaph realised that God was all he had and all he needed
#2: God is all the strength we need. V26 my flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Asaph discovered that only in God could he find the unending strength he needed now and forever.
#3: God will be as fair as he is merciful. V27 for indeed, those who are far from you shall perish, you have destroyed all those who desert you for harlotry.
In the end, Asaph learnt to trust God, that in his own timing and wisdom, he would deal justly and mercifully with all the inequities of life.
#4: God draws near to those who draw near to him. V28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all your works.
Asaph learnt that his responsibility was not to mete out judgement, but to (james 4:8) draw near to God and he will draw near to you. He realised that the heart was the key (Psalms 73:1), truly, God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. (Matthew 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Knowing and trusting in his goodness keeps us from seeing only our external circumstances and wrongly assuming that God is not in control, or is not fair, or does not care. This is the kind of relationship founded and fostered in worship. It helps us break out of our daily issues of life and remind us that God doesnt settle all his accounts on our schedule, but in his time.
So, I pray that whenever we feel bogged down by the inequities of life, when we feel that our strength isn't enough, when we breakdown or we feel that life has thrown too much at us, remember to set aside some time, break out of your daily routine, meet God in worship, let go of all your burdens and let God carry them. Just soak in the presence of the Lord and talk to him. Draw near to him and he will draw near to you. Let him reveal all the new perspectives and guide you through the things that you do. He will renew your spirit and give you rest.
Much love, J
what we could have been, 5:36 AM.
