One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
(Psalm 27:4–6)
Psalms 26, 27, 28 form a group all united by the theme of God’s house. Psalm 26 contains David’s responses to his mockers as he made his way to God’s house. Psalm 28 examines the prayers he makes and the answers he receives in God’s house. Psalm 27 shows how in God's house, we perceive his provision of refuge from all our enemies and how knowledge of that provision enables us to wait confidently for his deliverance.
David first looks to God's attributes—God is his salvation and stronghold. But as David looks around him, he sees another reason to wait confidently for God’s deliverance; he is surrounded by the Church of God. Many years ago, I read an article which made a major impact on the way I think about corporate worship. The writer’s point was that pastoral care is occurring in the midst of worship. Throughout the worship service, people are being put back together. A young professional terrified of the future is being comforted as he sings, “Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me.” A mother who grew up in a dysfunctional home is learning how to train up her children in love as she watches an older mother and her daughter worship together. An addict is beginning to understand he is not left to his own resources to find freedom. A beaten up public leader basks in the unconditional love of his brothers and sisters in Christ.1
Something real happens when God’s people are gathered in God’s house to worship. The Puritan Richard Sibbes said, “Particular visible churches under visible pastors…now are God’s tabernacle.”2 It reminds us we do not come to worship just for ourselves; we come for each other. Hebrews commands us to not “give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” (Heb. 10:24).
We also recognize in corporate worship that we are not alone. There is safety in numbers. David sees others about him and finds shelter. Likewise, Elijah was distressed until God told him there were seven thousand in Israel who still worshiped God (1 Kgs. 19:3-9). When you come together with other people on Sunday morning, you should be reminded you have a shelter which others in the culture envy. It is painful to watch those who have rejected God and his church grieve a tragedy by themselves, welcome a new baby just to their own home, endure a physical trauma without the prayers of God’s people, or worry because their kids don’t have good friends. There is safety in God’s house.
It may seem counterintuitive to stress the community aspect of corporate worship at a time when the pandemic keeps us apart in many ways. But consider this: when you engage in corporate worship—even if from your living room out of caution—you join with your brothers and sisters at your local church, around the world, and from all of history in worshiping God due to the bond you share in the Holy Spirit. Even if you feel alone and outnumbered throughout the entire week, when you confess your faith in corporate worship, be reminded of the millions of other believers doing the same. Corporate worship reminds us that we are never alone but are joined with all of God's people who live under the care of our loving Father.
- The article was the forerunner to William Willimon’s Worship as Pastoral Care (Nashville: Abingdon, 1982).
- Richard Sibbes, A Breathing After God (Pavlik Press, Kindle Edition, 2012), 449.