Psalm 84 - The joy of worhsip in the temple

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.

In ancient time, the only place where Israelites could find God was to go to the tabernacle or temple. The temple is where the Lord dwells, particularly the holy of holies. No one can enter the holy of holies besides the high priest. This is the place where the deity makes His presence known to His people Israelites.

Pillar of cloud stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle were visible to the people.

How to maintain the presence of God in the tabernacle or temple is by sacrificing animal. All the animal sacrifice at burnt offering is not just for the atonement of Israel’s sins however. It is also for the purification of the tabernacle–the dwelling place of God. If the tabernacle was defiled, God would leave the people.

How nice it is that we can now have access to God and pray to him anytime and at anywhere through Christ Jesus. Amen.