Psalms 87:3 - Homiletics

The glory of the Church.

"Glorious things," etc. It is a glorious thing to be a real Christian. Glorious because of the relation such a one holds to God and to Christ—a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus ( Galatians 4:7 ; Romans 8:16 , Romans 8:17 ). Glorious also because of his relation to the Church of God—a citizen of the heavenly city, a member of the fellowship of saints, the brotherhood of the faithful, the spiritual body of which Christ is the living Head ( Colossians 1:18 ; 1 Corinthians 12:13 ). But it is a glory hid from worldly eyes—one of "the things of the Spirit of God" which are "spiritually discerned" ( 1 Corinthians 2:14 ). Hence St. Paul's prayer ( Ephesians 1:18 ).

I. THE GLORY OF THE CHURCH 'S HISTORY . If we would earnestly and wisely study the history which the Scriptures record, the inspiration of the Scriptures would speak for itself. Because history is written on different principles here from anywhere else. In these points (to name no others):

1 . Everywhere the hand of God is seen as the supreme factor in human affairs. Not in miracle, except at those special crises and occasions where miracles were the fittest means. These, not scattered at random, but ha groups, at certain junctures. But the constant presence and exercise of God ' s knowledge, purpose, power, goodness; like the pressure of the atmosphere, never felt, never absent.

2 . Under God, character, personal and national, is seen to be the decisive force in human life. The great men of the world have been great by ability, force of will, genius, circumstances. Some distinguished men of genius, rulers, etc; have been eminent saints; but this is not the rule. Bible heroes are spiritual heroes. Their sins, faithfully portrayed, were their weakness; their victory was always the victory of faith, prayer, godly sincerity (see Hebrews 11:1-40 .). "Faith"—not opinion, creed, speculation, but undoubting trust in God, proved by and producing fearless obedience. This psalm refers, of course, in its first meaning to the earthly Jerusalem. But it is full of predictions to be fulfilled only by the gospel of Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit "on all flesh." The great lesson of the history of ancient Israel is in reality not that which lies on the surface, in the political and national form of the Church, its rigid Jaws, the glories of David and Solomon, the priestly rites and material splendour of temple worship, but that which our Saviour taught, "My kingdom is not of this world." Spiritual, not material forms govern human life.

II. THE LIVING , ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD . ( Psalms 46:5 .) Under the old dispensation, every possible means was used to impress and to symbolize this central truth; and at the same time to surround and guard it with an awe and majesty, without which it would have been vulgarized and rendered spiritually powerless. Israel was never suffered to forget that their God was also God of the whole earth, Almighty Creator, universal Lord. The New Testament doctrine and promise of the Divine Presence is given by our Saviour in a double form

In the New Testament there are, in fact, four antitypes or spiritual realities typified by the tabernacle or temple;

III. ITS MEMBERSHIP . Christians are citizens ( Philippians 3:20 , Revised Version; Ephesians 2:19 ; Hebrews 12:22 ; Galatians 4:26 ). To an ancient Israelite, the glory of his citizenship was its exclusiveness; yet this psalm predicts the time when heathens and foes should become "fellow citizens," not by national subjection, but individual regeneration. This truth, plentifully foretold by the Holy Spirit and the prophets, was yet so inscrutable to the Jewish mind, that St. Paul calls it "the mystery hid from the beginning" ( Ephesians 3:4-6 , Ephesians 3:9 ); and the Christian Church at Jerusalem was overwhelmed with amazement when these predictions were fulfilled (see Acts 10:1-48 ; Acts 11:1-30 .; especially Acts 10:10 , Acts 10:28 , Acts 10:45 ; Acts 11:3 , Acts 11:18 ). It is a shame that Christians have such narrow, ignoble views of the Church of God. True views would be the death of sectarianism. The New Testament gives two canons of membership in the universal Church—one inclusive, one exclusive.

IV. THE FINAL AND ETERNAL GLORY . ( Ephesians 5:27 .) Typified by "the bride of the Lamb," "the holy city, New Jerusalem" ( Revelation 21:1-27 ; Revelation 22:1-21 .).