Longing for God's House
Study note
The psalmist's soul longs and even faints for the courts of the Lord. Even the sparrow has found a home near God's altar. Blessed are those who dwell in God's house.
1 How beautiful is the place where you live, Lord who commands heaven's armies! How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
2 Everything inside me aches to be in your courtyards. My heart and my whole body cry out with joy to the living God. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Even a tiny sparrow finds a home near you. A swallow builds her nest by your altars. She raises her young there. You are my King and my God. You rule the armies of heaven. 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.
4 How happy are the people who get to live in your house! They are always singing your praises. Selah. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
The Journey to Zion
Study note
Blessed are those whose strength is in God and whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through dry valleys, they find springs. They go from strength to strength until each one appears before God in Zion.
5 How blessed are those who draw their strength from you, who have set their hearts on traveling to your presence. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 When they walk through the driest valley, they turn it into a place full of springs. The early rains fill it with pools of blessing. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They keep getting stronger and stronger until each one stands before God in Zion. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 Lord God who commands heaven's armies, please hear what I am asking. Listen to me, God of Jacob. Selah. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
One Day in Your Courts
Study note
The psalmist declares that one day in God's courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. He would rather stand at the door of God's house than live in the tents of the wicked. God is a sun and shield who gives grace and glory.
9 God, look at the king you have chosen. Show kindness to the one you anointed. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 A single day spent in your courtyards beats a thousand days anywhere else. I would rather stand at the entrance of my God's house than feel at home among people who do evil. 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.
11 The Lord God is like the sun that gives light and the shield that gives protection. The Lord pours out grace and honor. He holds nothing good back from people who live the right way. 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.
12 Lord who commands heaven's armies, the person who puts their trust in you is truly blessed! O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.