Michael writes that Psalm 84 is about entering into the presence of God. Unless God’s people enter into the house of the Lord according to His terms, they that build the house build it in vain.
This Psalm is a cross reference to Numbers 16 about the sons of Korah who rebelled against Moses, God’s prophet. The sons of Koreh were rejected because of their earthly lineage ... the curse that had followed their tribe from generation to generation. When Moses confronted them about their murmurings and disputing, the sons of Koreh were swallowed up by a earthquake along with a number of the children of Israel who had risen up against God’s prophet and the Word of the Lord. God also allowed a plague to destroy the unbelievers in the ranks of the house of Israel.
Psalm 84:1-10 “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
We learn that prayer is the way to align our hearts in a vertical relationship with God. Corporate prayer is the way to collectively bind our hearts together in unity of purpose as members in the body of Christ. Praying together builds the dwelling place of the Most High, for we are collective God’s temple ... His dwelling place.
Christianity is God’s rescue plan to deliver desperate men and women. When people are desperate and wondering how they will provide for food, shelter, and clothing, God will meet them in their moment of need. It’s not the things of this world that meet our needs, it’s the Lord. He is our Jehovah Jireh. He is our supply, our portion, our allotment, our provision and our all in all. We’re are instructed to keep and guard our heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life. The eye gate protects our heart. What is it that you look at and regard longingly? If your eye be single, with singleness of mind, the whole body will be flooded with the light of the Word of God. The eyelid protects the eye ... we need to condition our eyelids to protect us from being distracted from the shiny sin baubles that the world dangles in front of our eyes.
The epistles say, grieve not the Holy Spirit. As the deer longs for streams of water, Lord I long for you. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Jesus Christ is the bread of life ... He is the fountain of living waters. He who drinks from the water of life shall never thirst. As the darkness of the world increases, we need to approach the presence of God. Repentance means to turn from sin, the missing of the mark, and unto the mark of the high calling of God in Chrsit Jesus. When we forsake our pride and approach his throne of grace with meekness and humility then God will welcome us into his presence.
According to verse 3, Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. God created the sparrow with an instinct to return home. Sparrows are called home because God has created a homing instinct in the depth of their beings. This is our prayer, that we would develop a homing instinct to be drawn unto the Lord. As we, God’s people, pass through the valley of the shadow of death, the valley of pain and guilt and shame, we can turn aside from the darkness and destruction and into the presence of the Lord. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Let's continue Michael message on entering the presence of God in the next post. In Christ, Brian
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