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The imagery of the church throughout Scripture is vast, giving us great insight into who we are as the people of God. As the New Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) finding its rest in Christ, the church is given the voice of gladness (Jer. 33:10-11) as it worships in the house of the Lord. Surely this can shape our approach to singing praises to God in weekly worship. But there’s a bit of a double meaning here. At the same time the church is being built up as a spiritual house of the Lord (1 Pet. 2:5) through Jesus Christ. This means that the covenant promises of God, all the way back to the Garden, through Noah, Abraham, Moses and David find their fulfillment in God’s relationship to Christ (Jer. 31:31-33; Matt. 26:28) and his body (Col. 1:18), the church (Gal. 3:29). God dwells in you and with you through Christ and his Spirit.
Here’s what this means: if you are in Christ, you have access at any moment to an endless tap of the joy of Christ! John 15:11 - “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” FULL JOY! Despite your circumstances, trials, losses, and persecutions, your joy may be full in Christ. In fact, it’s even through those things that Christ is stirring up in you unending joy as you share in his sufferings to the glory of God (Rom. 8:17; 1 Pet. 4:13). We don’t ignore the brokenness in and around us in this life, but we are called to rejoice in and through them with a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15) as they prepare for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor. 4:17)! In Christ we are forgiven, accepted, and redeemed by his grace. Hallellujah, there’s JOY in the house of the Lord!
-Jonathan
House of the Lord
Written by Jonathan Smith & Phil Wickham
Lyrics:
Verse 1
We worship the God who was
We worship the God who is
We worship the God who evermore will be
He opened the prison doors
He parted the raging sea
My God He holds the victory
Chorus
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
There’s joy in the house of the Lord today
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
Our God is surely in this place
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
Verse 2
We sing to the God who heals
We sing to the God who saves
We sing to the God who always makes a way
'Cause He hung up on that cross
Then He rose up from that grave
My God’s still rolling stones away
Bridge
We were the beggars
Now we’re royalty
We were the prisoners
Now we’re running free
We are forgiven accepted
Redeemed by His grace
Let the house of the Lord sing praise
© 2020 Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Cashagamble Jet Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC), Phil Wickham Music (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC]), Simply Global Songs (Fair Trade Music Publishing [c/o Essential Music Publishing LLC])
CCLI Song #7168995 | CCLI License # 193208