Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ~Psalm 84:2
A friend of mine just moved into her recently built dream house. It is a house where the dimensions, layout, décor, furnishing, and location meet or exceed all of her expectations. It is a place where she will always look forward to being and have a great sense of security at all times. It will be a place she will call “home.” The psalmist speaks elaborately about a house that should equally be the dream house of every believer: the house of God.
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God” (vv. 2-3). The psalmist had an earnest craving to be in God’s house. He speaks of longing and fainting to be in the house of God. It is the place where God meets with His people. It is a place of supreme preference. Even the swallow found God’s house to be the most suitable place to build her nest. Do you love coming to God’s house like the psalmist? Do you look forward to being in church and under God’s Word? Do you see God’s house as a suitable place to lay your young, even at God’s altars?
“Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah” (v. 4). God’s house was the place where he enjoyed spending his days and nights. He slept in his tent, but he lived in the house of God! He enjoyed being where he could praise the Lord. He enjoyed singing hymns of worship. He enjoyed participating in the supplications and prayers for all saints. Do you enjoy being in God’s house? Are you one of the first to leave or one of the last who sticks around? Do you arrive early and stay late? He was happy to spend maximum time in the house of God!
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God” (vv. 5-7). The psalmist found his strength by being in God’s house. He likens being in God’s house to passing through the valley of weeping and making that place a well. Being in God’s house when we go through valleys gives us needed strength. It is a well of satisfaction in a dry and thirsty land. People who make God’s house their desire go from strength to strength: they don’t get weaker, they stay strong. What is your source of spiritual strength?
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” (v. 10). When we desire to be in God’s house, we find spiritual protection by participating and involving ourselves in productive service. Instead of dwelling in places of sin, we are productive and fruitful as servants in the house of God. It’s not enough to be in God’s house: we should desire to be involved in any kind of serving capacity in God’s house.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (vv. 11-12). People who love God’s house equally have a great love for God. They possess strong faith and have the blessing of God upon their life. God’s face shines upon them in favor and fullness. They are enriched and blessed!
Is God’s house your dream house? There are blessings that await those who desire and faint for the courts of the living God!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 18-21
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