Psalm 84 (NIV)

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. 

Reflection:

So, I’m missing church. At this writing, we are five weeks into the COVID-19 quarantine, and we are streaming worship in our homes. Holy Week and Easter came into our living rooms, and while it was beautiful worship, we weren’t there in the sanctuary. I missed Easter at church. I miss going to the beautiful building and singing, praying and praising God with my brothers and sisters in the congregation. But here’s the good news—I’m not missing God.

The psalmist loved the house of the Lord and called it “lovely.” Whether it was a Tabernacle or Temple, tent or glorious building, the writer’s soul “yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord.”  Now I have really, really liked something or someone. I have indeed loved and yearned to with the beloved, but I don’t think I have fainted and had my flesh cry out for a place. Gratefully, verse 2 continues “my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Now we’re talking. 

In 1882 Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“The great object of our desire must be to meet with God himself. In hearing, the point is to hear the voice of God. In singing, the charm is truly to praise the Most High. In prayer, the main object is to plead with God, and so to speak that our cry comes up before him, even into his ears. Let us always recollect this, and never rest content with merely going to a set place. Let us reckon that we have failed if we have not met with God. Let us come up hither with strong desire for communion with the Lord in spirit and in truth.”

So, let’s do church at home… .not just watch church. Sing just as if you were in the church. God thinks you sound marvelous. Close your eyes and pray with the pastors and say amen just as if you were seated in the pew. Because our hearts cry out for Jesus, not the building, and he deserves our offering of worship. Expect transformation at home.

In verse 10, the psalmist declares, “ Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere”

The “courts” go far beyond a place. The courts are anywhere we connect with God, where we proclaim him king of our hearts, and where we humbly align our desires trusting that God is for us and God is good. Where are your courts? Today, enter them with praise!  

Activity:

Play this on repeat the next time you take a walk and sing along! Matt Redman – Better Is One Day  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4Fj9bbEmVk

Closing Prayer:

Loving God, We thank you for our church home and our friends. While we are away from our church and each other, please help us to truly worship in spirit and truth at home. All glory is yours. Amen.