Last Sunday was a good day at the Lord’s house. Our public Bible reading for the morning came from Psalm 84 and the message I preached used 84:3 concerning the “sparrow” and the “swallow.” During the past few days, I have thought much about this little Psalm. So today I want us to revisit it once again. I believe that the key verse in this song is probably the last one, verse 12. It speaks about the blessed man that has trusted in the Lord. It is his way of life. Let me give you some thoughts for you to mull over today and through the weekend.

  1. The writer Distinguished the Lord. The Psalmist tells us at least five things about the Lord in this song: 1) He calls God the “Almighty.” Notice the words “Lord of hosts.” This means He is in charge of the hosts of heaven and earth. That phrase is used in verses 1,3,8, and 12. The path to blessing begins with understanding that God is supreme and there is none other like Him. 2) He’s called the “living God” (v. 2). 3) He’s called “my King and my God” (v. 3). 4) The writer refers to the Lord as the “God of Jacob” (v. 8). 5) He says, “God our shield” (9, 11). The more you read the Bible and the more you observe, the more you realize that there is none like our God. He is distinguished.
  2. The writer had a Desire for the Lord. Verses 84:2-3 speaks of him longing to the point of fainting in his desire for the Lord. How bad do you want God in your life? Do you want Him only in bad times? At times of tragedy or death? This man was jealous of the birds that lived in the Lord’s house. Those birds were always in God’s presence. I hope you realize that we too can always be in the Lord’s presence. The veil was torn in half and now because of Jesus we have access to the Throne room of Heaven. On the desire meter, what’s your number?
  3. The writer wished for a Daily relationship with God. Look at verses 6-7. The valley of Baca is a desolate place, yet with God the dry wells are filled with fresh water. Every day we have strength to get us to the next day. That next day we get strength for the next one.
  4. The writer wished to Dialogue with the Lord. “O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah” (v. 8). If you read verse 10 you will see that he tells the Lord how wonderful it is to be at His house. I’d rather be a servant that opens the doors for the congregation than to be living a life in the tents (dwellings) of the wicked. Talking with the Lord is refreshing to the soul.
  5. The psalmist was Dependent on the Lord. We get to live on a beautiful planet, breathing in God’s air, eating food that He provides, and yet, how many days a week do we commit the sin of ingratitude by commission and omission. Often we forget, but some remember and stiffen their necks saying, “I did this. I made it myself.” Without God and His goodness, we’d all be condemned for eternity. Every morning when I awake I acknowledge my dependence on the Lord and my intentions to trust Him throughout the day.

The path to a blessed life is made up of many little decisions every day. I think the Psalmist understood this when he began verse 10 with the little phrase “For a day in thy courts…” Every day with Jesus, that’s the path to blessing.