Our text for this morning comes from Psalm 57. If you have a Bible with you and I invite you

turn with me and follow along as I read. Psalm 57. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me.

For in thee my soul takes refuge.

In the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge till the storms of destruction pass

by. I cry to God most high, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and

save me. He will put to shame those who travel upon me. God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

I lie in the midst of lions that greedily devour the sons of men. Their teeth are spears and arrows, their

tongues sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let thy glory be over all the earth.

They set a net for my steps. My soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves.

My heart is steadfast, oh God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake my soul, awake, O Harpen Lyer, I will awaken

the dawn. I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises

to thee among the nations. For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, thy faithfulness

to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Let thy glory be over all the earth. I wonder if you find it as significant as I do that the greatest worship leader in the history of Israel, King David, wrote all of his songs and sang all of his solves and led all of his praise processions and gave the ideal biblical model of God-centered deep passionate vital worship

before there was a temple in Israel.

Solomon built the temple, the son of David, not David.

The great period of Israel's worship, its creative power, its God-centeredness, its depth, its vitality, its reality.

The great generation of Israel's worship was before they had any house in which to gather.

Now what's the significance of that?

Plain, straightforward, biblical historical fact? What's the meaning of it for Israel?

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