Duane Liftin
February 8, 2001
10:30 am
Community: Some Insights from Exile
Message Summary
During his exposition on the 84th Psalm, Wheaton College President Duane Liftin set the context by describing King David's flight from Jerusalem. As this traveling group hastily descended from that holy city, some lesser-known men who journeyed with David conveyed their desperate longing to return to the dwelling place of God.
These men, known only as the sons of Korah, served as gatekeepers for the house of the Lord. Liftin described the temple's layout, noting how God's very real presence inhabited the Holy of Holies. And these men, who for many years offered seemingly mechanical service at the temple, became willing to trade all wealth and other human treasures for the chance to return to the presence of God.
Stepping away from the Psalm, Liftin described how with the cross of Christ the need for a particular place where God dwells in a real sense is gone. Furthermore, he pined, "While there is [currently] a particular piece of real estate in which God dwells, you are that piece of real estate."
Since the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, Liftin exhorted his listeners to cultivate the same respect for other Christians as the sons of Korah had for God's house. From Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, Liftin quoted the command against destroying the corporate body of Christ. He said, "How easy do I vandalize your reputation by saying what I should not say," likening this personal destruction to placing graffiti on the Old Testament Tent of Meeting or slicing a temple curtain. He concluded, "Look [every believer] in the eye and say, 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty.'"
Student Response
God lives in people. This assertion, simple as it sounds, should radically change my daily behavior. God lives in the unpopular guy telling corny jokes. God lives in the annoying student beside me who drones on and on. Even though God makes his home in such people, I find it all too easy to undervalue them. A scorning glance. A condescending look. Some hurtful words behind their backs. Any of these, and I destroy God's House. But as I love God more, I grow to love His house. A listening ear. Encouraging words. A simple smile. A warm reception. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty.
—Dale Harris, Junior, Pastoral Studies major