Public Worship

Psalm 5:7

David, the sweet singer of Israel and the man after God's own heart, gave the matter of public worship a place of highest priority in his life. He said, "As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple." He could not force others to worship God, and would not if he could. "But," he says, "as for me, I will come into thy house." That is to say, "I will come into the place of public worship at the appointed time in the assembly of God's saints, to worship the Lord my God. I am willing to do so and determined to do so." When he came into the house of God, David was determined to worship. And he prepared his heart for the solemn and blessed service. Take a moment to look at the text more closely. Ask the Spirit of God to apply it to your heart.

"I WILL COME INTO THY HOUSE." The house of God is the congregation of God's saints, wherever they gather in public assembly to worship him. "IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY MERCY" - It is not enough for the ransomed soul to merely "go to church", as they say. We must come into the house of God in faith, trusting the Lord's mercy. And there is a multitude of mercies with God in Christ. As sinners we ever need mercy. And we come to the place of public worship trusting God's abundant mercy in Christ. If we do not come as sinners seeking mercy, we will not worship. But sinners looking to Christ for mercy always find a multitude of mercies in him (Luke 18:13-14). In Christ we find everlasting, covenant mercy (Jer. 31:31-34), effectual, redeeming mercy (Rom. 3:242-26), almighty, saving mercy (Micah 7:18-20), immutable, preserving mercy (Mal. 3:6), and daily, providential mercy (Rom. 8:28). Truly, "it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed"(Lam.3:22). And every worshipper in God's house finds it to be so. "AND IN THY FEAR WILL I WORSHIP TOWARD THY HOLY TEMPLE." Let us come to the house of God with reverence and godly fear that we may worship him (Eccles. 5:1-2), see him, hear him, adore him, believe him, praise him, and obey him. This was David's resolve. May it ever be ours. May God give us grace to make public worship our delight and to truly worship him in the assembly of his saints.

Don Fortner