the place where your glory dwells.” (Ps. 26:8)

Perhaps the tabernacle is intended here. The temple was yet to be built. It was in the Holy of Holies that the presence of God dwelt. The journey through the wilderness was made with God in their midst. He made his dwelling place with them. The psalmist understands the significance of the presence of God among his people.

Today, God dwells in the church. That is where his glory lives. I remember the old hymn,

I love thy church. O God; her walls before me stand,
dear as the apple of thine eye, and graven on thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall, for her my prayers ascend;
to her my cares and toils be giv’n till toils and care shall end.

The church today is losing its appeal to many in our society. They do not see its necessity in the life of the Christian. To forsake the church is to forsake the glory of God. The church, unlike the Jewish Temple was paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is the most costly structure ever built. God purchased the church with the life blood of is only begotten son. I cannot understand those who say the church doesn’t matter.

I love your house, David said. I love it because your glory dwells there. Where is the glory of God today? It is in the house where he lives. Where does he live? In the church through every Christian. Christ in us, he is the hope of glory because he brings the glory of God to earth. Not to temples made with hands but to a living building of precious stones. We, the Christians are the stones. To reject the church is to reject the body of Christ and the glory of God. To disdain the dwelling of God is to disdain God himself.

How can one say they love God and at the same time deny his very body, the place where his glory dwells. I love thy church. O God; her walls before me stand.” In a world who is denying the validity of the church we must shed tears and send up prayers. The church is precious to God. Let us pray that this current rejection is short lived and that Christ seekers will turn again to embrace the dwelling place of God.