David’s love of the assembling of God’s people shines forth as a strong example for all who love the Lord. David wanted to be in the worship of the Lord. The worship was an espe- cially wonderful experience for him. His worship of God lifted him to write beautiful expressions that are available for us to read and consider. Our sentiment toward the worship of the Lord should be no less. We should genuinely desire to be in the house of the Lord. Certainly there were those in David’s time that went to the house of the Lord out of obli- gation. That is what they were re- quired to do, so they went. To the contrary, we can rightfully assume that David went up to the house of the Lord because he wanted to do so. Because of his desire to worship God, David’s worship was beneficial, meaningful, and joyous to him. His worship was acceptable to God. David’s attitude was akin to what Jesus described to the woman at the well. ". . .true worshippers shall wor- ship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to wor- ship him” (John 4:22). Please notice, "for the Father seeketh such to worship him." God has instructed us in the acceptable forms of worship. They are faithfully recorded in the Word. We must follow them accu- rately and specifically.
Equally important is our spirit when we worship. We must, as David expressed, "be glad. . .to go into the house ofthe Lord." The Father seeks such wor- shippers to worship Him. The application of Hebrews 10:25 to this matter is appropriate. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselvestogether, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching? I cannot imagine one who is glad to go into the house of the Lord, as David was, intentionally and deliberately forsaking the assembly. What about our worship service can bring such joy as David ex pressed? I offer my sincerest apologies to devout brothers and sisters for even asking this question! You know what joys are received by truthful and spiritual worship to the Lord. So, let us be reminded ofthe descriptions in the Word pertaining to our worship.
Singing
". . .teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16). The songs we sing do teach and admonish. As we consider the words we sing, we are taught of the wonderful blessings of God through Christ, and we are instructed and warned of the wrongs we are to avoid. As exhorted, we sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. Grace "bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard" (Vine). Therefore our singing from the heart is an expression of genuine pleasure, delight, and favorable regard for the God of all. It is a heartfelt expression of our thankfulness and gratitude toward Him. The singing service is not entertainment. Indeed, it is worship to God.
In Ephesians 5:19, the apostle paraphrases the same instruction to sing. We "speak" to ourselves, collectively and individually. Joyous and sincere singing benefits the singers. Paul emphasizes that we are to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Remember, God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. After an especially good song service, don’t we reflect that it was good to be in the house of the Lord?
Prayer
ln Ephesians 5:20, the apostle admonishes "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. . ." Our assembled prayers are to be many things, but clearly they are to be prayers of thanksgiving. Paul repeats in Colossians 3:17, "Giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (the Lord Jesus). The humble prayers offered by humble brethren on behalf ofthe congregation are blessings to all. Our praises, thanksgiving, and supplications need not be great oratory. We need not preach a sermon to God the Father. The faithful prayers of dependent and submissive Christians are heard by God. Those prayers are answered in His way and in His time. The blessings of beseeching God as our Father, calling for His aid, laying all things in His care, and offering up all praise and glory to Him are immense and sure.
Peter advised, "Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Additionally, David wrote, "His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1). And finally, James reminded us "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). By being quiet and attentive participants in such prayers, it is good to be in the house of the Lord.
Teaching
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God..." (1 Peter 4:11). As we assemble to worship God, the hearing of His Word is such a blessing. As hearers we should long for this precious Word as a babe longs for sustenance. It is the Word that has the power to save (Romans 1:16). Our good men hold fast the faithful word as they have been taught, that they may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). Yes, they do correct us. "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). We are clearly blessed when these men follow the
admonition given to Timothy. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2).Jesus commanded that we be taught "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20).
None of us wish to feel as if we have been "beat up" by a sermon. But, we must listen and hear when we have been corrected and admonished by the Word of God as presented by a loving brother. That is how we grow and are perfected. "And he gave some... evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work ofthe ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ...but speaking the truth in love, (we) may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-15). We are blessed when we hear "that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). Yes, it is good to go into the house of the Lord.
Communion
How quickly we forget! The Lord Jesus Christ established the ordinance of the communion so we would remember him and his sacrifice. We assemble to do this on the first day of the week, every week. We are commanded to do this because we would quickly forget his great saving sacrifice if we did not. Consider those who do not assemble. How often do you think they consider the sacrifice of Christ? How often do you think they remember Him? "Do this in remembrance of me." The observance is a remembrance. It is a sharing, a communion, with brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a sharing of the life-giving body and blood of Jesus. "The cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion ofthe body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:l6)?
1 Corinthians 11:26 tells us that "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come." Vine says "to shew" as rendered here is to make a proclamation. To proclaim means to announce officially, publicly, unmistakably; to praise, to extol. By our obedience to Jesus’ command to participate in this memorial, we continually proclaim to the world that Jesus gave his body and blood for the sins of the world. It is a sober occasion. We are to share. We are to "tarry for one another." Together, we remember. He sacrificed Himself for us. We remember, "He died for me." It is good to go into the house of the Lord to remember Jesus.
Contribution
The apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when Icome" (1 Corinthians 16:2). This is not a burden. We are expected to give as God has prospered us. The contribution on the first day of the week is "as a matter of bounty" (1 Corinthians 9:5). God has given us so much. Each of us has experienced the training of the young child to give during the contribution. Remember how happy the young child is when he/she places the coin into the container? We need to retain that enthusiasm as adults. "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). It is good to be in the house of the Lord to "perform the doing of it" (2 Corinthians 8:11).
Conclusion
In Nehemiah, the eighth chapter, there was a great gathering of the people who had returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon. Their purpose was as follows. "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." After hearing the Word of the Lord, the people wept and mourned as they understood the words that they heard. But, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites stilled the people. Nehemiah told them "...this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (verse 10). As we meet and worship as Christians on the first day of the week, let us say with David "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." —P.O. Box 841, Princeton, Tx 75407
