June 27, 2018 (Wednesday)
I recall a children’s song, often presented in children’s programs at church: “I love to go to church. I love to go to church. I love the happy songs they sing, I love to go to church.” The children’s song about church expressed similar emotions that the Psalmist is feeling in his longing to be in the Temple of the Lord. He would rather have menial tasks in the Temple of the Lord than to be the richest, most prestigious person in a wicked palace.
Psalm 84
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music.
According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
I. I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN YOUR TEMPLE, LORD (1-2)
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
II. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LIVE IN YOUR TEMPLE, LORD (3-4)
3 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.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
III. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ANTICIPATE BEING IN YOUR TEMPLE ((5-8)
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
IV. I WOULD RATHER BE IN YOUR TEMPLE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE (9-12)
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 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.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Compare three translations side by side. Click here.
New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music.
According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
I. I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN YOUR TEMPLE, LORD (1-2)
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
II. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LIVE IN YOUR TEMPLE, LORD (3-4)
3 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.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
III. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ANTICIPATE BEING IN YOUR TEMPLE ((5-8)
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
IV. I WOULD RATHER BE IN YOUR TEMPLE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE (9-12)
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 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.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.