Title: Happy Man/Psalm 84:1-12
Content Title: Happy People / Psalm 84:1-12
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We greeted the new year and said 'Happy New Year!' a lot. Everyone wants to receive blessings from all ages, east and west. There is no one who can turn away from blessings. However, if the concept of blessing is wrong, no matter how much you seek for it, it will not come. First, in order to understand today's text, we need to organize the concept of blessing. First, blessings are not made by humans. Man is the beneficiary of blessings, and the giver is God. Second, only God blesses us. The God of glory who made all things in the universe wants to create life in it and bless us so that our lives can grow abundantly. Third, true blessings can be enjoyed when we have a right relationship with God, a relationship of life, a relationship of grace, and an open relationship.
Psalm 84 is a beautiful confession and song of the faith of the pilgrims who came to Jerusalem. If you look at the title of the text, it says 'a poem of the children of Korah'. The sons of Korah are those who are called to serve God in the temple in Jerusalem. A certain pilgrim glorified the Lord as a hymn of this poem as a confession of faith with allegiance before God. It was passed down so that the descendants of Kora could preserve it and receive blessings from generation to generation.
*Who is a happy person?
1. Those who dwell in the house of the Lord <verse 4>.
The 'House of the Lord' here refers to the Jerusalem Temple in the Old Testament. The house of the Lord is the dwelling place of the Lord. It is a meeting place for the people of the Lord to meet God. So it's worth it. In the New Testament, it means 'church'. The church is not a building, but a group of believers. There is no one who can maintain grace beyond the gatherings and groups of believers.
Saeronam Church has a dream of a beautiful church in Mannyeon-dong. God does it clearly in God's way in God's time. But before we can build a visible building, we must first build the temple of the Holy Spirit, the temple of our heart. We must build a temple of faith. We must build a temple of prayer. Why do we say that those who dwell in the house of the Lord are blessed? The house of the Lord is the spiritual Garden of Eden. It is the only place on earth where our souls can sing songs of true joy, freedom and contentment. When we meet the Lord, we can sing a song of glory.
When Saeronam Church is also built in Tanbang-dong and Mannyeon-dong in the future, I hope that 'Jesus has come to the souls of the people around Dunsan and Daejeon' will be the same glory. Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that Saeronam Church will be not only the home of our souls, but also the souls of our children. Thousands of people are losing their homes. In particular, we are losing our hometown of souls. It is the house of God, the church, that transforms this tragic life into a glorious life. That's why the poet confesses, "Blessed are those who dwell in the house of God."
2. Those who have strength from the Lord and have the highways of Zion in their hearts <verse 5>.
The last route the pilgrims pass through is the 'Road of Zion'. Soul pilgrims ascend to Zion with enthusiasm to meet the Lord, to re-examine my life before the Lord, and to realize the true meaning and truth of life.
Having the highway of Zion in your heart means longing for God. God has given us the New Year as a gift. What longing do we have in our hearts? Without wishes, there is no fulfillment. Without aspiration, nothing can be achieved. What is the deep longing of my soul that I can't stop myself no matter what other people say? In verse 2, the poet confesses his longing. It's not just raising your voice, it's a longing that comes from deep in your soul. People don't just live by eating. It's not just about wearing it. Since man was created as a spiritual being, he is nothing without God's inner grace. We want the holy longing in our hearts to bear fruit this year.
3. Those who depend on the Lord <verse 12>.
Dear Saenam Church members, especially young people, I want everyone to live a happy Christian life this year.