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Seeking and Enjoying God's Presence
Posted : 21 Aug, 2020 09:35 PM
Scripture: Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
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.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
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.
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.
Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you
Observation: -The writer of this psalm has great awe and yearning for the presence of God represented by the ‘altar/courts of God’.
-In the presence of God, there is safety even for the most vulnerable (baby swallows)
-Even trials and difficult times can be a place of blessing because of the presence of God:
-The Hebrew word baca is related to bakah, which means “to weep.” Baca refers to a type of “weeping” tree; that is, one that drips resin or gum-like tears, such as a balsam, mulberry, or aspen tree. (https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Valley-of-Baca-in-Psalm-84)
-Trials and difficulties are meant to make us grow stronger in our faith and closer to the Lord
-In the Lord’s presence there is favor and honor
-There is blessing in trusting the Lord
Application: The benefits of seeking the Lord’s presence is great, therefore,
-I will spend time seeking Him in His Word and through prayer;
-I will not be discouraged by trials and difficulties but will turn them over to God and let Him mold and grow my faith through them;
-I will not be afraid to weep before the Lord and tell Him about my hurts and disappointments because when I am honest about how I fee, God will give me the strength to overcome them.
Prayer:
Lord,
Forgive me for not always seeking your presence. Give me the awe and yearning for your presence because you have said in your Word that you are found by those who earnestly seek you.
You alone know everything that is in my heart: my hurts, longings, disappointments. I lift them all up to you. Heal my heart and fill it with your love.
Give me a praise-ful heart that focuses on you – your greatness, your lovingkindness – instead of the things around me. Let me be overwhelmed by your love instead of the circumstances around me.
Today, I choose to dwell in your promise that you are always with me. I trust in you.
Amen.
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