Psalm 84:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 84:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
Verse 2My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Verse 3Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Verse 4Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
Verse 5Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Verse 6As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
Devotion
While this Psalm might sound as if it was written by Johannes Brahms, it actually came out of the real-life experience of the Hebrew people. Do you find that, like them, your soul “desires and longs for the courts of the LORD?” If that means, “Do I want to go to heaven,” I would say “Not yet.” If that means, “Do I want to be in the presence of God,” I would say a strong “YES!” And where else can I feel that intimate presence of God more fully than through worship with other believers? The Psalmist affirms for us that God’s house can be a place of comfort and peace.
We long for God's grace and mercy to be extended to us. Because of Christ Jesus, we have every confidence that our sins are forgiven and we are loved. As you seek Him, may you be filled with God’s presence and the desire to follow His will in whatever this day may bring.
Prayer
We give you thanks, Almighty God, for your gracious invitation into your presence. Amen.