Scripture: Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Observation:
The Psalmist writes about his desire to be in the house of the Lord. He writes: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” (Psalm 84:10-12)
Application:
At the time when the Psalms were being written, the Holy Spirit would inspire the writings. Today, that same Holy Spirit is with every professing believer in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Therefore, like the psalmist we should yearn for God’s presence. Yet often times, even as believers, we can ignore the Holy Spirit in our lives. What would the Psalmist say to us regarding that? The Psalmist has already given us this council, when he says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)
Since as believers, the Holy Spirit is with us as promised in the scriptures, we are already in the House of the Lord, here on earth as it is in heaven. So, we should live our daily lives in thankfulness of that reality. We should live our lives in reflection of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, as the Psalmist reminds us, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” Help us through your Spirit to be ever mindful of your presence in our lives. Help us to grow in wisdom and knowledge of you that we might walk in your ways and allow the others in our lives to recognize your presence in us, all to your glory. Amen