Psalm 84:1-12
New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 84
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[a]
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises. Interlude
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2 I long, yes, I faint with longing
to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4 What joy for those who can live in your house,
always singing your praises. Interlude
5 What joy for those whose strength comes from theLord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,[b]
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.[c]
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,[b]
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.[c]
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude
Listen, O God of Jacob. Interlude
9 O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
Show favor to the one you have anointed.
10 A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.
I love this Psalm! Every Word so accurately describes my affections for the things of God.I can visualize the birds of the air finding refuge in the Presence of God. He is everywhere; He is omnipresent, even in the existence of nature and natural things...not just supernatural things. Is joy something that you are lacking in your life? Then, do what the Psalmist says...live in the house of God, always singing praises. My mouth....my mouth is my greatest enemy (not satan). Satan cannot read my mind; he cannot know the future. He only knows what I verbalize or portray in my attitude. I am the one who gives him clues as to what my struggles are and he attempts to monopolize on my weaknesses by what I say. I have to remember that I am anointed for God's good work. The Psalmist also says that the Lord shows favor upon the anointed. I have God's favor. It's so true. "I would rather be a gatekeeper in the House of my God than live the good life" anywhere else!! God gives me grace and glory, and HE will withhold NO good thing from me if I strive to do what is right. Again, there is joy available for those who TRUST in God. I trust the Lord. Therefore, what struggles could I possibly have that can deter God's plan for my life. There are none! None! God is good, as is HIS Word.
