Psalms 84:1-3 (NASBStr)
How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
The bird also has found a house,
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.
As I wright this devotional I am on vacation. Each night we are sleeping away from our "home." When you reach the half-way point you begin to long for your own bed, your own coach, your own place. It is always fun to travel, but it is better to be home. That longing for "home" is what the Psalmist is writing in the above Psalm. He is telling us that he longs for his real home ... the dwelling place be God. He is speaking literally of the Temple and his desire to serve in it and minister. Figuratively he is talking about dwelling permanently with God and being in His presence. He tells us how he longs for "God's house" and to be in God's presence. He is ultimately telling us that we are travelers in this world and we are not at home until we are permanently in the presence of God. Until we reach that place and that point we are only travelers. We are living in temporary places right now. You might call that temporary place home but it is not. Don't get too comfortable. We are only here on a temporary basis. The writer gives us a great comparison in the above description. He envies the birds who, apparently, have actually made a home in the Temple. Perhaps they have made nest in the crevices of the Temple structure. He sees them and longs to have such a comfort level to make our home with God. They even lay their eggs in this place. So close to God ... so close to His care and watchful eye. Perhaps this is where Jesus took his description in Matthew 6 about God caring for the sparrows. To be permanently in God's presence is our desire. We can get close to Him on this journey but this is NOT our Home. Our home is with Him permanently.
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