Psalm 84
"I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells."
(PSALM 26:8)
Close your eyes and think of "home." Does a particular house come to mind - the one where you felt the safest, most comfortable, and happiest? I have sweet, strong memories of a cream-colored stucco home, sprawled in a sunny valley in the South of France. Some of you may never have known a safe, happy home. You can only imagine something that never was a reality for you. Take comfort in knowing that our heavenly Husband creates a safe home for us.
First, it is a home characterized by the safety of His loving arms. Nothing can take that home from one of His children! He also gives us Christian families, where intimacy and trust reign. Those families make a larger home - the church, where we sense God's presence and learn of His love. Finally, our heavenly Husband has gone ahead of us to a country we've never seen, to make us a home so glorious we can't even imagine it. God has opened His front door and invites you in. If you are not already enjoying that hospitality, let Jesus carry you over the threshold!
INSIGHT
"BETTER IS ONE DAY IN YOUR COURTS THAN A THOUSAND ELSEWHERE."
(PSALM 84:10)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Ezekiel 7-8
Psalm 134
Galatians 5-6
Psalm 84[a]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
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.[c]
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.[d]
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,[e] 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.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
b. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
c. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
d. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
e. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
HOPE FOR YOUR PRODIGAL [PART 3]
with Barbara Juliani
Are you able to relate to the story of the prodigal son? If not, maybe you are more like the older brother who did not recognize his own sin. No matter who you are, we all need the Father's grace.
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