Verse of the Day 3/20

Verse of the Day 3/20

Psalm 84:10-11For 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.  English Standard Version (ESV)

   

I've shared before that each day I read from one of the Psalms which means that I go through the book a little more than twice a year. There are certain psalms that I look forward to reading and Psalm 84 is one of them.  Over the years I've read through this book dozens of times.  Each time I read through them, something new is revealed, often relating to the circumstances of my life or it could be the particular day, as with today being Palm Sunday.  For me, the key verse is Psalm 84:5 "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage." NKJV

Leading up to the Passover celebration many Jews would be heading to Jerusalem to worship.  On the first "palm Sunday" this group likely included Lazarus who Jesus had raised from the dead, it may have included blind Bartimaeus, the man the had been crippled for 38 years whom Jesus had healed and now could walk to see Jesus coming and many others.  They saw Him as a sun, bringing light and warmth to their lives.  They realized that He would not withhold anything good from them.

 As we go to church this week or any other, what is the attitude of our hearts in going?  Would we rather be there than anywhere else?  Do we bring praise for what He has done in our lives.  Do we see Him as our sun and our shield?

Today, this week as we head towards Easter, and for the rest of our lives, may our hearts be "set on pilgrimage" to follow Him, to give thanks, to praise, to shout hosanna! and to realize in our hearts that to spend time in worship, in His courts, in His presence is better than a thousand elsewhere.

Matthew 21:9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'^[a]
Hosanna in the highest!"    New King James Version (NKJV)

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Psalm 84New King James Version (NKJV)

The Blessedness of Dwelling in the House of God

To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath.^[a] A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

84 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
² My soul longs, yes, 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 lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.^[b]

⁸ O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
⁹ O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

¹⁰ 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.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

¹² O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!