Originally posted: 11/17/2020

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³ Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God. (92:12-13).

Both Psalm 92 and 93 refer to the House of the Lord, and both touch on a theme of adornment and design.

Lord, your testimonies are completely reliable;
holiness adorns your house
for all the days to come, (93:5 CSB).

And this image of construction came to mind, like one of those renovation shows getting ready for the big reveal. The builders and design team work tirelessly to achieve their desired result. Once construction is complete, the interior decorator takes over. Not one design decision is left to chance, but each piece is carefully placed to best represent the family who will soon take up residence in their new home. And of course, there is the landscaping, with every planting meant to bring beauty and curb appeal.

And today, we wee the Lord as the Architect, the Builder, the Designer and Landscaper; and it all centers around the design theme of His Holiness.

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore, (93:5).

Befits: “4998. נָאָה nāʾāh: A verb meaning beautiful, fitting. It indicates that something is appropriate or in order: holiness is appropriate for the Lord’s house,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

House: “1004. בַּיִת bayiṯ: A noun meaning house, dwelling, family, temple, palace. It is used basically to denote a building in which a family lives… When the Old Testament speaks of the house of the Lord, it obviously refers to the Temple or Tabernacle,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

Only what is fitting and appropriate for the Lord’s House will be included. For His House signifies His very Presence.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple, (Psalm 27:4).

It is the righteous man He Plants in His House.

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³ Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God. (92:12-13).

And His Word is clear: apart from Christ, there is no hope of being included in His design plans.

As it is written: “There is none righteous, not even one,” (Romans 3:10).

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, ²² even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe…” (Romans 3:21-22).

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1).

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21).

It is when we place our faith in Christ, that we are justified and made righteous: fitting and appropriate to be Planted in His House.

Consider Him Who Plants Us in His House

• He Plants Us in His House to prosper and grow.
  • The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
    He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, (92:12).

• He Plants Us in His House to thrive in His Presence.
  • Planted in the house of the Lord,
    They will flourish in the courts of our God, (92:13).

• He Plants Us in His House to bear fruit throughout our entire life.
  • They will still yield fruit in old age;
    They shall be full of sap and very green, (92:14).

• He Plants Us in His House to declare His praises.
  • To declare that the Lord is upright;
    He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him, (92:15).

• He Plants Us in His House to walk in His Holiness forever.
  • Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
    Holiness befits Your house,
    O Lord, forevermore, (93:5).

How do we respond to Him Who Plants Us in His House?

The writers of our two psalms today have provided fitting and appropriate guides to encourage our response to Him Who Plants Us in His House.

• Let us daily meditate on His grace, His lovingkindness, and His faithfulness that is beyond anything we could ever imagine. Surely, we will be undone, for His goodness is really too much to put into words. Oh, that our very lives would give thanks and sing praises to Him Who Plants Us in His House.
  • It is good to give thanks to the Lord
    And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
    ² To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
    And Your faithfulness by night, (92:1-2).
    • Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen, (Ephesians 3:20-21).

• Let us give much time to contemplating all He has done by the work of His hands. As we prosper, grow, thrive and bear fruit in Him Who Plants Us in His House, our lives will overflow with joyful gratitude.
  • For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done,
    I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands, (92:4).
    • Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude, (Colossians 2:6-7).

• Let us build our life upon the solid rock of His righteousness and truth, that we would daily dwell uprightly and securely in Him Who Plants Us in His House.
  • To declare that the Lord is upright;
    He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him, (92:).
    • “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock,” (Matthew 7:24-25).

• Oh, that we would desire to live befitting and appropriate as His Planting in His House. Let us commit to obey His testimonies. that we would grow in our faith and fear of Holy God, and be empowered to live in His Holiness forevermore.
  • Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
    Holiness befits Your house,
    O Lord, forevermore, (93:5).
    • Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Oh, that we would truly live as curb appeal, that the way we live would be an appealing invitation to others to come and see the awesome works of Him Who Plants Us in His House.

Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men, (Psalm 66:5).

Let’s Grow Together!