Psalm 84 is a beautiful picture of someone who wants to be close to God. The writer isn’t simply interested in knowing about God. He longs to be in God’s presence.
He begins: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” (Psalm 84:1-2, ESV)
Those are strong words. His soul longs and even faints to be near God.
That raises an important question. How much do we really want God?
It is easy to want what God can provide. We want His protection. We want His blessing. We want Him to answer prayer and solve problems. But the writer of Psalm 84 wants something more.
He wants God Himself. He even notices the birds living near God’s altar and seems almost jealous of them. They have made their home near the place where God is worshiped.
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” (Psalm 84:4, ESV)
But life isn’t always spent on the mountaintop. There is a journey involved.
The writer talks about passing through the Valley of Baca, which pictures a dry and difficult place. Yet those whose strength comes from God don’t stay stuck there.
“They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” (Psalm 84:7, ESV)
Notice that it doesn’t say life will be easy.
Following God doesn’t mean there won’t be valleys. There will be hard days, disappointment, loss, uncertainty and challenges. The difference is where strength comes from while walking through them.
God doesn’t always remove the valley. Sometimes He provides the strength to walk through it.
Then comes one of the best-known verses in this Psalm: “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” (Psalm 84:10, ESV)
Think about that. One day with God is better than a thousand days anywhere else.
The world offers plenty of alternatives. Money. Success. Recognition. Comfort. Possessions. Experiences. None of those things are necessarily wrong. But none of them can replace God.
The writer goes even further: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10, ESV)
He would rather have the lowest position near God than the best position away from Him.
That’s perspective.
Psalm 84 ends by reminding us why God can be trusted: “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.” (Psalm 84:11, ESV)
God provides. God protects. God leads. God knows what is truly good.
The chapter closes with a simple truth: “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:12, ESV)
That’s the choice.
- Not simply knowing about God.
- Not merely asking God for things.
- But wanting Him, walking with Him and trusting Him.
- There is no better place to be.
Portions of this blog post are based on the Enduring Word commentary, (c) 2023 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com“
“Scripture (bold and italicized) is from the English Standard Version, © ESV.org – www.esv.org”
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