Why should we say of “the habitation of God’s house,” “We will not forsake it”?
1. God has clearly ordained public worship. He made man to be social--social in virtue of his sorrows, joys, wants, affections, and relationships. He also made man to be social in things spiritual. The isolation of selfishness is sin. Union is cherished by communion, and communion strengthened by public worship. Jesus honoured the temple. The faithful in every age have desired to dwell in the house of the Lord.
2. The special manifestations of the Divine presence, vouch-salad in the congregations of the saints, ought to endear to us such privileged scenes.
3. As the sanctuary has been the place of the Lord’s rest, so has it been the scene where He has imparted the richest gifts to His worshippers.
4. The servant of God will love the courts of the Lord, and not forsake them, because in them he tastes most of heaven below. You cannot form a better conception of heaven than by fixing on the happiest Sabbath, and the happiest hour of worship on the happiest Sabbath, you ever enjoyed in the assembly of the saints. (Canon Stowell.)
Zeal for God’s house expressed in a holy resolution not to forsake it
I. A resolution well becoming Christians themselves. This resolution comprehends the following particulars:
1. That we will never cast off the profession of our faith, nor make a defection from the truth and ways of the gospel, for any cause, nor upon any account whatsoever.
2. That we will not neglect theordinances of Divine worship, nor be wanting in our attendance on them whenever we are called, and have an opportunity of appearing before God in His house.
(1) Jesus Christ, as Lord of His own house, has appointed divers ordinances to be observed.
(2) There must be an assembly of people meeting together for the public administration of these holy ordinances.
(3) There must be some proper and convenient places appointed and agreed upon for such religious assemblies where they can be had.
(4) There are particular times and seasons for the holding these religious assemblies.
(5) There are certain persons whose work and duty it is to go before others in these holy administrations.
3. That we will promote as far as in us lies the interests of religion, and spread the kingdom of Christ in the world.
II. It is not only lawful, but may be useful and expedient for Christians in societies to engage themselves to God, and the duties they owe to him and one another.
III. Offer reasons both for making this resolution and obliging ourselves to make it good.
1. Because it is God’s house.
(1) To forsake God’s house would be to forsake our own mercies.
(2) To leave this house is to forsake the place which God Himself hath chosen and where He delights to dwell.
(3) To forsake this house is to forsake God Himself. We cannot quit the inheritance of the Lord but in effect we go and serve other gods.
2. Because our particular good is lodged in the public interest.
3. This is the noblest way of imitating the great God Himself, and conforming to the example of our blessed Saviour.
4. This makes men real blessings to the world. Such men really are the strength and security of a nation. For their sakes God sometimes preserves others from those judgments which their crying sins would otherwise pull down upon their guilty heads. Sodom had been preserved for the sake of ten righteous men, could so many have been found in the place.
5. This will be our rejoicing and comfort another day. Application: Having made this resolution, we must oblige ourselves to make it good. Because of the inconstancy and deceitfulness of our hearts. Such engagements will help to fix us more firmly in the interests of religion, and make us more successful in resisting all temptations to apostasy. Hereby we are rendered more capable of serving the interests of religion. A force when united becomes the stronger. The joint concurrence of many gives a great advantage to a design, and a better prospect of success. (Matthew Clarke.)
Attachment to God’s house
Consider--
I. The resolution itself: “We will not forsake,” etc. This resolution includes--
1. Constant and regular attendance.
2. A lively interest in its welfare and prosperity.
II. The grounds of this resolution.
1. Our gracious union with God. All connected with God should be dear and sacred to us--His Word, ordinances, people; therefore His house.
2. Our clear and imperative duty. Public worship is of His own appointment.
3. Our public profession.
4. The special advantages we shall derive from it. Exaltation of desires; soul elevation; enlargement of mind; soul enrichment with all spiritual blessings in Christ. “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand,” etc. “They that wait upon the Lord,” etc.
5. The connection of the house of God with the celestial world. It is “the gate of heaven.”
Application:
1. Where professors are indifferent to the welfare of God’s house, it is an unfailing indication that the heart is not right with God.
2. Let the subject inspire the sincere friends of Christ to more ardent zeal for the diffusion of the Divine glory.
3. How suited is God’s house to every description. The reckless here are warned, the supine aroused, the inquirer directed, the mourner comforted, the faithful established, etc. (J. Burns, D. D.)
