Lesson for the Lord’s Day
Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints shout for joy. Psalm 132:9
In the instructions received by Moses for the tabernacle, there were special instructions for the garments for the high priest and for all the priensts who served in the tabernacle. Those instructions included a command that only those who were appropriately dressed could participate in the various ordinances associated with the worship of God. For those who would come into God’s presence to worship today, God has not changed that rule. But, instead of linen or other outer garments, God today looks for the inner garment of righteousness. Those who God has declared righeous are appropriately clad to enter His presence to worship.
The religions of the world have their little ceremonies and practices by which they declare a person righeous. But they have no right to do so. Only God can make such a declaration. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that the One who was without sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In His righteousness and as God’s righteousness, we come today to worship. Only wretched and undeserving sinners, but we can come boldly to Him, knowing that we are appropriately clad to worship the Lord.
Our text tells us how the priests are to dress and how the saints are to behave. In this context, the priests and the saints are the same folks. A good dictionary tells us that saints are the people who God has declared righteous. God’s word makes it plain that His saints are to worship Him, and to do so joyfully. But what about the shouts that our text speaks of? I hope God’s instructions for respect and proper order in His presence will keep us from disorderly shouting in our gatherings. The emphasis in this text is that the joyfulness of the saints will be expressed, and not hidden. When we meet today to remember the Lord, our voices should be lifted up in praise and adoration; our hearts should be filled with appreciation and thankfulness.
As those who God declares righteous, we gather today to remember how that righteousness was obtained by the Son of God. As we do so, our joy must be evident in His presence. -Jim MacIntosh