Psalm 84:1-7 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 84:1-7 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.
Verse 7They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
Devotion
One of my favorite memories growing up is when we would go and visit Grandma and Grandpa in the summer afternoons after church. There would be the smell of freshly popped popcorn, the pool waiting out back. I knew their love for me would be shown in tangible ways: when Grandpa slipped a fun-sized candy bar in my hand after a hug, when Grandma would sit and listen to my stories. Those days with them always seemed to fill my heart with joy.
The memory of my grandparents’ house fills my mind as I hear the words of the Psalmist. These are words that are filled with anticipation, words that describe a place better than even our best memories. Even more than anything my soul longs to be in the presence of the Lord, it longs to experience the love that God has for me.
Prayer
God, knowing what you have in store for us makes my heart and flesh sing for joy. Thanks for your unending, generous love. Amen.