How lovely is Your dwelling place, O, Almighty Lord! My soul longs for Your courts, My worship restored. My heart and my flesh will cry out For the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home Made of straw and sod. The swallow has her own nest too, Where she has her young. A place near Your altar, O Lord, Where praises are sung. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house. Ever they praise You. Blessed are those who journey in might. Strength from You they view. Passing through the Baca Valley, Made of many springs, The early rain fills all the pools. Refreshment it brings. They travel from strength to strength Until God they see. Listen to me and hear my prayer. Have favor on me. Better is one day in Your courts Than thousands elsewhere. I’d rather be a doorkeeper In the house of prayer. I’ll not dwell in wicked men’s tents. God is my sun and shield. He will give grace and glory To those who will yield. No good thing will the Lord withhold From those He sets free. Their walk with the Lord is blameless. Rich blessings they see. Psalm 84
How lovely it is to be in the Lord’s house, to worship, sing praises, and be blessed. Church is a place of joy, fellowship, self-examination, and encouragement. It is a small taste of heaven as we set aside a time with God. In biblical times, this psalm was sung by the Jewish people traveling to Jerusalem to worship God in the temple. These same longings are to be experienced today. We journey in our Christian life feeling thirsty, the kind that water can’t quench. At times we may not feel like worshipping, but that is the time we need it most.
The sparrow builds her nest near the altar, the place where sacrifices were made, but she feels safe. We are surrounded by a world flying apart, but we are safe in God’s protection. We may have problems but in the presence of God, we can sing joyfully because He has us under His wing.
We are refreshed in the presence of God’s people when we meet in prayer and Bible study. Let God be your sun and shield, guiding with His light and protecting with His armor. Psalm 84 holds a great truth. Great blessings are given to the person who worships our living God.