SHOWING APPRECIATION FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD

Lewis Hrytzak

In Psalm 27:4, the Psalmist wrote: “One thing I have asked from Jehovah; It is what I look for, That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the pleasantness of Jehovah, And to look with appreciation upon his temple.”

As these words of King David so clearly show, in the past, during the days of Israel, the House of God was a place of worship, for that is where God resided symbolically. The law of God was read there, and it was there that “the pleasantness of Jehovah” could be seen, and appreciated. The other highlight of this Psalm is that David considered it a great privilege “to look with appreciation upon (God’s) temple.”

The things from God, or of God, are sacred things, and David loved sacred things. Therefore, God’s temple was of paramount importance in David’s life. He looked with appreciation on that which God caused to be. Of course, David also was in awe of God’s inanimate creation, saying that such creation praises God, but he was especially excited and thrilled about spiritual things. In this way, David is an outstanding example for us.

The prophet Isaiah reveals, prophetically, that our Heavenly Father’s plan is to make his house, a house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 55:7 states: “I will also bring them to my holy mountain and make them rejoice inside my house of prayer…For my own house will be called even a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Some six hundred years later, when Jesus threw out the money changers from the temple, he quoted Isaiah’s prophecy and said: “It is written, ‘My house, will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a cave of robbers.” From these Scripture texts it is rather obvious that both Isaiah and Jesus are referring to the house of prayer as the temple. Nevertheless, Jesus later pointed out (in Luke 21) that the temple would be destroyed, and “not a stone would be left upon a stone …and not be thrown down.” What would this mean, then, and how would God’s house “become a house of prayer for all peoples?”

It should not escape our notice that the term “house” is often used to describe God’s chosen people, Israel. For example, throughout the Psalms and the prophets, we will find expressions like, “house of Jacob,” and “house of Israel.” Jacob means Israel, therefore, the two names are used interchangeably. And then, of course, we find the term, “house of Judah.” This is because Jacob, on his death-bed prophecy, declared that “the scepter would not depart from Judah.” Yes, Judah would produce the royal line, leading to Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the future king of God’s kingdom. Furthermore, King David’s royal lineage would produce the promised King, hence the term, “house of David.”

The conclusion of the matter is that the house of Jehovah, or house of prayer, referred to God’s temple, (which was a place of worship). On the other hand, the house of Israel, (or Jacob), and the house of Judah went to worship at God’s house. Of course, eventually, ten tribes broke away. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that many years later, the house of Jacob and Judah, would actually become one house, God’s house. How would this be? We will come back to this later.

David contrasts those that “love what is bad” and those of a “deceitful tongue,” with his own love for God’s ways. He states in Psalm 52:8, “But I shall be like the luxuriant olive tree in God’s house; I do trust in the loving-kindness of God to time indefinite, even forever.”

David was truly outstanding in his love for God, and for God’s ways. For this reason, he loved God’s house. In Psalm 65:4 he writes: “Happy is the one you choose and cause to approach, that he may reside in your courtyards. We will certainly be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holy place of your temple.”

In Psalm 69:9, David laments what appears to be his situation at that time, but he actually prophesies of the coming Messiah. He writes: “For sheer zeal for your house has eaten me up, and the very reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen upon me.” Many years later, Jesus quotes this Psalm and applies it to himself. We already know Jesus outspoken words about the destiny of the literal temple in Jerusalem. In John 2:19-21, this is what Jesus said of the temple: “Break down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Therefore the Jews said: “This temple was built in forty-six years, and will you raise it in three days?” Then John explains, “But he was talking about the temple of his body.”

Here we see a change. The literal temple became abandoned to the Jews, even as Jesus said it would be. However, the new temple is not a place, as the old temple was. Rather, it is a spiritual temple, consisting of Christ Jesus and his joint heirs. Jesus became the “head of the corner” and a foundation stone of this temple according to Acts 4:11. Likewise, Peter writes: “Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious, and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment.” Then he adds: “It is to you, therefore, that he is precious, because you are believers; but to those not believing, “the identical stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.” (1 Peter 2:6,7) Peter says that Jesus is the “foundation cornerstone.” We might well ask, “the foundation cornerstone of what?” Answer: The temple, that is, the new temple. The old temple was torn down and abandoned to the unbelieving Jews.

God’s house is his temple, a house of prayer, and it must become a house of prayer “for all the peoples.” For those whom God ‘chooses and causes to approach,’ it signifies a very special relationship with him. Being in his house indicates God’s favor and blessing. Psalm 84:4 “Happy are those dwelling in your house! They will keep on praising you.” Such ones are pronounced happy, for they show appreciation for what God has provided, and in turn, God blesses them.

David said: “I shall be like the luxuriant olive tree in God’s house.” And Psalm 92:13,14 states: “Those who are planted in the house of Jehovah, In the courtyards of our God, they will blossom forth. They will still keep on thriving during grey-headedness. Fat and fresh they will continue to be. To tell that Jehovah is upright…” The expression, “Those who are planted in the house of Jehovah” is most interesting and enlightening, because it actually shows, or reveals, the relationship that a human can have with God. What is more, once they have been “planted in the house of Jehovah,” they actually become a part of his house, or household, as that is what the term planted implies.

In Psalm 115:12,13, we have God’s assurance that this is so. There we read: “Jehovah himself has remembered us; he will bless, He will bless the house of Israel, He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those fearing Jehovah, the small ones as well as the great ones.” I would suggest that here we have an indication, indeed, God’s assurance that he has something special for those that have been planted in his house. God specifically promises “to bless those fearing him,” that is, those that hold him in high esteem.

In Psalm 122:1 David wrote: “I rejoiced when they were saying to me. ‘To the house of Jehovah let us go.’” (vs 5) “For there the thrones for judgment have been sitting, Thrones for the house of David.” (vs 9) “For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will keep seeking good for you.” Surely, these words not only indicate David’s heartfelt appreciation for God’s house, but also provide the reason why he had such appreciation. David clearly understood that Jehovah God was sovereign of the universe, and that as Almighty, God had a plan for the human race. The very fact that King David, in Psalm 110:1 wrote: “The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: “Sit at my right hand, Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet,” shows unmistakably that his descendant, the Messiah, was his Lord and future King. Interestingly, it is in “the house of Jehovah” where the “thrones for judgment have been sitting” and the “thrones of the house of David” are to be found, according to verse 5 of that Psalm. This prophecy beautifully describes how the “house of Jehovah” would develop at a future date.

We next see that this arrangement is not of human origin. Rather, it is of God. For that very reason, in Psalm 127:1 we are told: “Unless Jehovah himself builds the house, It is to no avail that its builders have worked hard on it.” Many years later, Peter wrote these words at 1 Peter 2:5,6,9 “You yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. And as we have already considered, Peter next quotes from the Hebrew Scriptures and says: “For it is contained in Scripture: ‘Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, precious, and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment.’ (vs 7) “It is to you, therefore, that he is precious, because you are believers. (vs 9) “But you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Those who look with appreciation on God’s house, even as David did, come into line for a blessing from God. They are brought out of darkness into the wonderful light of truth that God provides through the Holy Scriptures. More than that, they are brought into God’s house. But as Jesus said, some would prefer the darkness. They would hate the light, because the light reproves them. For this reason, they remain enemies of the light. As such, they will come to an end, while those loving God will remain. As Proverbs 12:7 states: “There is an overthrowing of the wicked ones and they are no more, but the very house of the righteous ones will keep standing.”

Throughout the Scriptures, we are encouraged to show appreciation for God’s house. Not only do we have the example of God’s faithful servants of the past, but we also have direct counsel to do so. Ecclesiastes 5:1 states: “Guard your feet whenever you go to the house of the (true) God; and let there be a drawing near to hear, rather than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do, for they are not aware of doing what is bad.” This reminds me of the Israelites, when they were about to enter Promised Land. They were given special counsel, admonishing them to remember the importance of showing appreciation for God’s house, as entire families.

They had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years. They had a tabernacle and priesthood. God’s presence was evident there by means of a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. In his farewell speech, Moses gave them specific instructions as to what they were to do upon entering the land. Some of this advice is recorded at Deuteronomy 31:12,13, “Congregate the people, the men and the women and the little ones and your alien resident who is within your gates, in order that they might listen and in order that they might learn, as they must fear Jehovah your God and take care to carry out all the words of this law. And their sons who have not known should listen, and they must learn to fear Jehovah your God all the days that you are living upon the soil to which you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of it.”

They were to come together “in order that they might listen and in order that they might learn.” Why? In order that they “fear Jehovah your God and take care to carry out all the words of this law.” Please bear in mind that the things they were to learn included Leviticus, things pertaining to the law, and some of these things were actually quite complicated. Nevertheless, they were to congregate men, women, children, and alien residents within their gates, that is, everybody, with the object of listening to those things and learning to fear Jehovah. It was of paramount importance, in Israel, that the whole family, learn appreciation for God’s house, yes, God’s whole arrangement of things. We must remember too, that these words came directly from God, and were transmitted to the nation by his servant, Moses.

Many years later, God provided further information concerning his house by means of his prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 2:2 reads: “And it must occur in the final part of the days (that) the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it all the nations must stream.”

The house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains. What could this mean?

In Scripture, the term ‘mountain’ actually refers to kingdom. There are several examples of this. For instance, Jeremiah 51:25 tells us that Babylon was a “ruinous mountain” and that God would make her a “burnt-out mountain.” On the other hand, Isaiah 66:20 informs us that Jerusalem was considered a “holy mountain.” In other words, these were governmental authorities. Likewise, Isaiah states that ‘the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established above the top of the mountains, and on top of the hills,’ meaning that God will elevate it above all other governmental authority, large or small. The Kingdom of God will replace all other existing kingdoms or authorities, and it will fill the whole earth, even as Daniel foretold. Yes, indeed! God’s kingdom will encompass the earth and bring blessings to all mankind.

Zechariah also foretold this restoration of Jerusalem. In Zechariah 1:16 we read: “Therefore this is what Jehovah has said: “I shall certainly return to Jerusalem with mercies. My own house will be built in her, is the utterance of Jehovah of armies, and a measuring line itself will be stretched out over Jerusalem.”

In keeping with this prophecy, the revelation that God gave his Son, Christ Jesus, which was presented in signs to the aging apostle John, gives us further clues as to what ‘Jerusalem’ would do. At Revelation 21:2 John relates what he saw in vision: “I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them.”

New Jerusalem is also referred to as “Holy City,” as it will be the administration for the new earth. It consists of Christ Jesus, the King, and his bride, that is, the “royal priesthood” or “holy nation” that Peter speaks of. The purpose of this administration is to subjugate all things to Christ, and this it will do.

Let us go back to Isaiah’s prophecy, for a moment, to chapter 2. Having said that “the mountain of Jehovah’s house will become firmly established above the top of the mountains” and that “to it all nations must stream,” he then says: “And many peoples will certainly go and say: ‘Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion law will go forth, and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem.” The law that will issue from this house is God’s law. That’s why Isaiah uses a parallel statement, saying: “and the word of Jehovah out of Jerusalem,” that is, God’s kingdom, the legitimate new government for this earth.

Please note what this government, God’s kingdom, will accomplish. Verse four states: “And he will certainly render judgment among the nations and set matters straight respecting many peoples. And they will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation, will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”

Our Heavenly Father, Jehovah God, will subjugate everything under the feet of his Son, the King, and only those who submit to Christ’s rule will remain. However, after this has been accomplished, then Christ Jesus will turn such kingdom power back to God, so that God may all in all, as stated at 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

Like Jacob, we want to show appreciation for sacred things. We must not be like Esua who despised sacred things, and sold his birthright for the price of a meal. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, at Hebrews 2:1: “That is why it is necessary for us to pay more than the usual attention to the things heard by us, that we may never drift away.” Therefore, in chapter 10 of this same letter, in verses 23-25 we find this admonition:

“Let us hold fast the public declaration of our hope without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near.”

When we meet together in this way, it is with the object that we might encourage one another. Jesus said: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

Therefore, let us continue to meet with fellow believers and show genuine appreciation for God’s house. What is more, let us help others to find their way, as it were, so that they, too, might come into it in order to have God’s blessing.