Psalms 132:5 - Homilies By S. Conway

A place for the Lord.

I. TO SECURE THIS SHOULD BE THE OBJECT OF OUR INTENSE DESIRE AND ENDEAVOR .

1. Because the Lord so desires it . See his name here, "the mighty God of Jacob." What a poor mean wretch Jacob too often was! And yet how God compassionated, pitied, uplifted, and saved him! What does not such a redeeming God deserve and demand!

2. For the sake of our fellow-men . It is the world's great and crying need—that the Lord God should dwell among them. It is heaven where "the tabernacle of the Lord is with men."

3. For our own sake . For God's "loving-kindness is better than life." God is the soul's exceeding Joy.

II. WHERE WE SHOULD MAKE THIS ENDEAVOR .

1. In our own heart . Until he have a place, a habitation, there, it is no good our trying to find him a place elsewhere.

2. In our homes . Let our own family be the scene of our first aggressive work.

3. In the branch of the Church to which we belong . The Church should be God's rest forever; he would have it so ( Psalms 132:13 ). But it too often is not. And until the Church is right, the world will remain wrong. To have a better world we must have a better Church.

4. In our own neighborhood . All who dwell around ought to be the better for our dwelling in their midst. "Let your light so shine," etc.

5. Throughout the world . The missionary cause should be dear to our heart.

III. HOW WE SHOULD GO TO WORK .

1. By personal self-surrender to Christ . This stands at the threshold of all our work. Nothing can be done till this is done.

2. By believing prayer , importunate and persevering, and by holy example and faithful testimony.

3. By consecration of our substance to this work .

4. By continual self-denial .

5. By perpetual trust in Christ .

6. By firm , holy , and abiding resolve . ( Psalms 132:2-4 .)—S.C.