STRENGTH AND BEAUTY

PSALMS 91:1

A. "STRENGTH AND BEAUTY ARE IN THY SANCTUARY"
  1. The Psalmist in that lyrical outburst of adoration from which the text is taken professes to have discovered two qualities of the sanctuary:
    1. Strength
    2. Beauty
  2. We do know that the place eluded to:
    1. Is the temple of the Lord and its significance to the worshipers
    2. It includes the material structure as well as the worship of God's people; compare I Chron. 16:29 with Ps. 29:2; 96:9 B. STRENGTH AND BEAUTY
  3. The Sanctuary represents:
    1. Strength 0 not only in its massive structure, but mainly the presence of the Lord - Ps. 48:9; Is. 6
    2. The Sanctuary represents Beauty because of the presence of the Most High - Ps. 90:17; Is. 28:5
  4. The magnetism of strength:
    1. "Give to the Lord glory and strength" - Ps. 96:7
    2. "He girdeth me with strength to battle;" 2 Sam. 22:40; Ps. 18:32,39; Examples: David meeting Goliath - I Sam. 17:34-50; Samson - Judges 16; Elijah - I Kings 19
    3. "God brought them out of Egypt; He hath the strength of an unicorn" - Num 23:22
    4. "Glory and honor are in Thy presence; strength and gladness are in His place" - I Chron. 16:27
    5. "The Lord is the strength of my life" - Ps. 27:1
    6. "The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength wherewith He hath girded Himself; the world also is established that it cannot be moved" - Ps. 93:1
  5. Nature of the divine strength:
    1. To meet our daily burdens - Deut. 33:25
    2. To withstand the attacks of the enemy of our soul - Is. 59:19; Eph. 6:10-17 C. A TIMELY LESSON FOR US
  6. Our concept of God's sanctuary is rather narrow and undeveloped:
    1. We often forget that when we pray we direct our petition to the Sanctuary in heaven; Examples: Solomon directed his prayer to the Sanctuary in heaven - I Kings 8; Daniel directed his prayer to the temple of the Lord - Dan. 6:10
    2. We overlook the fact that the ways of the Lord are in His Sanctuary - Ps. 77:13
    3. David was in a state of confusion until he went into the sanctuary of the Lord - Ps. 73:17
  7. Note, especially four related truths beautifully expressed in our opening text:
    1. God designs that beauty and strength characterize the worship of His children
    2. "Holiness becometh thine house" - Ps. 93:4-5
    3. Strength is a mark of our connection with the Lord - "He giveth strength" - Is. 40:29
    4. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts brings beauty and strength to our worship - Zech. 4:6
  8. Strength and Beauty:
    1. Are ever found in the lives of those who have broken with sin--which weakens and defiles
    2. These Divine blessings are the gift of heaven to all who accept Christ as their personal Saviour - Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:7-8
    3. It is when we live in the atmosphere of truth that the Divine presence will transform our sinful lives and bring beauty and strength to us - 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Examples: Moses spent forty days in the presence of the Lord and note the affect of God's presence upon his life - Ex. 34:29; Stephen too, experienced this Divine power - Acts 6:15
    4. What a challenge this text offers to God's people in the last days
    5. Have we discovered the beauty and strength of the Lord in the House of Prayer?
    6. Is this Divine power reflected in our daily life?


Design © John Bryant 2011