I. In the days of David, as well as of Solomon and his descendants, pious Jews looked to the local habitation of God's house as the place where His honour dwelt, and this place the Psalmist in the text says he loved. Pious Jews indeed knew that heaven was God's throne and earth His footstool, and that therefore no house built with hands could really contain Him; but still it was part of the religious system of the Law to regard this centre as the peculiar abode of God, and therefore all Jews said that Jerusalem was the place where men ought to worship. The breaking up of the old Law, we know, changed this. Pure, hearty Christian worship is acceptable to God everywhere, and no distinct place can make worship acceptable which is not pure and hearty.
II. If there is to be a real, lasting love for our churches in the hearts of Christian men, it must be because we believe them to be centres of Christian life through the grace of God. No external beauty, no desire to improve the outside of religion, can avail if there be rottenness within. To love the Lord Jesus Christ, to adhere to those plain, simple Gospel doctrines which are set forth in the New Testament this must be the strength of our reformed Church. To this its ministers and people are pledged by their very declaration that they rest all their hopes on the pure word of God.
A. C. Tait, Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 33.
I. "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house," for there I first learned to know myself and Thee.
II. There I have learned most richly the meaning of Thy discipline, and found strength to endure.
III. There I was guided to the most noble, blessed, and fruitful labour, to the service which is absolute freedom, to the work which is perfect rest.
IV. There I and those whom I have loved best have held sweet and fruitful fellowship; and there we cemented a union which, when the family on earth breaks up, will renew itself eternally in heaven.
J. Baldwin Brown, The Sunday Afternoon,p. 141.
References: Psalms 26:8. J. Baldwin Brown, The Sunday Afternoon,pp. 133, 150; J. Aldis, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvi., p. 273; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 250. Psalms 26:9. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ix., No. 524; Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 267; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 243.Psalms 26 I. Williams, The Psalms Interpreted of Christ,p. 454.