Living in God’s house

The sons of Korah are identified as the writer(s) of this psalm. They were some of the Levites involved in the worship in the temple. This psalm is said to be “according to the gittith”. This word is derived from Gath, the name of a Philistine town. It is thought that this might refer to a tune or instrument which took its name from Gath. In this psalm the writer is longing to be in God’s temple in Jerusalem.

“How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, 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 have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” (Psalms 84:1-4 NIV)

The temple in Jerusalem was unique among temples and even church buildings and other places of worship. It was not only a place to gather to worship YHVH but he actually lived there (if any building could contain God – see Acts 7:47-50). Not only is the writer longing to be involved in the worship of God but he longs to be in the presence of God: to him this is home, even as the birds made it their home. His goal in life was to live in God’s house praising him.

Many might feel this way about a place where they worship but we need to realise that God does not dwell in our church buildings. It is not the building but the people who are important. As Christians, God lives in us (1 John 4:12)! Although we may long to be with our brothers and sisters in worship, we can always be where God dwells because he lives in us.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” (Psalms 84:10-12)

The writer could think of no place he would rather be that in God’s courts – a day in there was better than a thousand spent anywhere else. What better place could there be than to spend time with God, singing his praises and worshipping him? In fact, he reckoned, the lowest position in God’s house was better than the best place a person could have anywhere else. He would rather be a lowly doorkeeper than to live among the best of the best among those who are wicked.

Why did he feel this way? He understood the blessings of being with and following God. “God is a sun and shield” – he gives protection from anything that could harm us. If it is applause and honours we are wanting, you can find both in God – “the Lord bestows favour and honour”.

So often the picture people have of God is that he is just looking for us to do something wrong. This is not the image the writer has. His experience is that God wants to bless: “no good thing does he withhold from those whose way of life is blameless”. Did you notice the condition that was placed on receiving these blessings? We need to be living our lives following God. We need to be “blameless” – not that we are ever going to be sinlessly perfect but that God has removed our sin; God sees us as blameless!

This is why the writer could trust in God and wanted to spend time with him. This is also why we can trust in God. All are blessed who trust in him.

Image of Solomon’s Temple, photographed by Jon Galloway.

Readings for next week: Psalms 83–93