Day 502: Psalm 84- Would You Rather

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.
3 Even 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.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
    ever singing your praise! Selah
 
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
    each one appears before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed!
10 For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!
 
Meditation
Recently our family went backpacking. The boy’s conversations to pass the time on the trail included playing, “Would you rather…”  "Would you rather hike 20 miles today for a shower and hot meal or hike 10 miles for a camp dinner and another night in the tent?" The Psalmist offers his own trail talk of the same game asking: Would you rather spend a day in the courts of the Lord or 1,000 elsewhere? Would you rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God or dwell in the tents of the wicked (10)?
 
Longing to be in the presence of God in worship supports the celebrated “blessedness” that comes through worshipping the Lord (4, 5, 12). God matures us through worship, moving us “from strength to strength” (7). Our heart and flesh cry out to be nourished by the Living God through worship!
 
God is worthy of worship, even when God’s people are in exile. God is worthy to be our strength, gracious to give rest to all who seek refuge in Him (even sparrows-3). God is our sun and shield, bestowing favor and honor on all who turn their hearts to Him (11). God will not withhold good from those who trust in Him (12)!
 
Blessing is found for those who dwell in God’s temple and sing His praise (4). Blessing is found for those who dwell outside of Zion in exile but have pilgrim paths, sacred steps, in their hearts as highways to Zion (5). Blessing is found for all who trust in the Lord (12)!
 
Worship restores and renews whether we are at home or away. All touched by the grace of God would rather be in God’s presence than anywhere else!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Would you rather spend a day in the courts of the Lord or 1,000 elsewhere? Would you rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God or dwell in the tents of the wicked (10)? Why or why not?
 
-What does your heart and flesh long for? How can worship of the living God satisfy the longings of your heart? Take time to thank God for His goodness and grace that satisfies the longing of our souls.
 
-The blessedness that comes from worshipping the Lord is worth prioritization.  What are ways the Lord is leading you to prioritize worship?
 
Key Verse
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.