Psalm 26:8 “Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells.”
This summer we had the opportunity to see yet another production of My Fair Lady. I enjoyed listening to “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face.” But you know the song that moved me most? “On the Street Where You Live.” Sung by love-struck Freddie, he finds blissful contentment simply hanging outside Eliza Doolittle’s doorstep.
It reminded me of our daughter’s freshman year of college. I remember walking around the Grove City campus on our first parent’s weekend. I wanted to soak up every street, sidewalk and footpath of her new residence. True confession: while on my isolated morning jaunt, I actually belted out the lyrics to “On The Street Where You Live.” Yep, it was the epitome of mom-sappiness.
David writes in Psalm 26 about a place that has captured his affection. He loves the temple because the temple is the street where the Lord lives. The place where he can enter God’s presence, God’s glory. I can only imagine how his heart must have started racing as he approached the temple steps. Anticipation greater than an American soldier kissing the ground after returning from foreign battle, greater than Freddie’s infatuation with Eliza, greater than a mom longing to connect with her daughter. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord!” David declares (Psalm 122:1 KJV).
According to Gallup, church membership and attendance has dropped sharply in the last two decades. Clearly, a majority of people don’t share David’s enthusiasm for “the house where [God] lives.” Of course, we know God doesn’t dwell in houses or man-made structures. But Scripture warns us not to forsake the gathering of the saints (Heb. 10:25). Something supernatural happens whenever two or three come together in the name of Jesus.
He promises to be present (Matt. 18:20).
Let’s not overlook such outrageous potential, whether it happens on a Sunday morning, Saturday night or Monday afternoon. The Holy Spirit wants to be right in the middle of us. And that, friend, is pure dynamite! I think it’s time we shed our mediocre expectations of church and start anticipating.
Start loving the street where He lives.