Temple and Thought

“We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.” (Ps 48:9 AV)

Psalm 48 is all about Jerusalem and what it means to the Hebrews.  The writer, David, speaks fondly of his seat of government not because he built it.  Rather, he sees Jerusalem as a testimony to the greatness of his God.  The palaces and temple are known as the place from which God converses with man.  He speaks fondly of Zion because God is there.  Much like heaven and the things we will see there, David sees the city of Jehovah and a place unlike any other. To the same idea, the saint has a place to which he is going.  When we go to God in prayer, we are there.  The beloved Apostle Paul tells us our citizenship is in heaven.  There is a part of us there.  The closer we get to heaven, the more real it becomes.  The more we enter the throne of God as commanded in Hebrews; we are in the temple of God where He dwells.  It is there that we can experience the lovingkindness of God.

It is a challenge to live by faith when we cannot see the person of God.  We experience Him.  He speaks with us.  Our relationship is genuine.  It is not visible or audible, but it is no less real.  What I notice about the writer’s words is the purposeful musing on the lovingkindness of God while in the midst of the temple.  This exercise was not one of simple remembrance.  The tense of the grammar suggests this was more than a fleeting thought.  He was musing.  A continual meditation on the lovingkindness of God.  Why?  Because that was his nature.  Sure, life stinks sometimes.  But what we think upon is a choice.  We can either get wrapped up in the troubles of life, or we can think on the lovingkindness of God.  What we choose to think on is not fatally caused.  It is not like our minds are not under our control.  We can choose that which entertains the mind.  David chooses the lovingkindness of God.

God is good.  He is all the time.  God loves His people with an everlasting love.  God loves His people beyond their capacity to understand it.  Some thoughts we have are silly, or even offensive, when held against the lovingkindness of God.  It is silly to think of our Father in how we do.  The temple is where we need to be.  The lovingkindness of God is what we need to consider.  He is our ever-loving Father who will never leave us nor forsake us.  If trouble has come, God has not left.  He is still there.  For whatever reason the LORD has allowed or caused our adversity, His character never changes.  He is our Father.  He is loving.  He is kind.  He is all these things infinitely and completely.  Time to go to the temple and meditate upon His grace and mercy.  That is what He is.