A Thousand Elsewhere
Scripture
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
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.
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.
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.
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.” (Psalm 84).
Reflection
Have you ever longed to get back home after an extended trip? Maybe your host’s bed had a sagging mattress, and you couldn’t wait to sleep on your comfortable bed at home. Or perhaps you missed your television when the hotel’s tv had no channels except for home renovation, cooking, and the weather. Your destination location may have been beautiful, but oh, you wished that you had more of the familiar things at home that give you comfort—you might have even missed the pesky dog who needs to be taken for a walk twice a day, rain or shine.
Without the things familiar and dear to us, we are reminded that, at the end of the day, there’s no place like home. This is especially true in our spiritual journey. Our homes may be our current residence, but heaven is the eternal dwelling place our souls long for. Korah’s sons expressed their yearning for God’s dwelling place in Psalm 84:1–2: “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.”
The author yearned for God’s house, not because it was beautiful (although it was); he longed for the living God. He wanted to be with the God of the house, where the lowly swallow nested—a safe place was there even for her. A thousand days anywhere else could not compare to just one day in the house of his God, for it was there he would find blessing, protection, favor, and honor—there, no good thing would be withheld.
Beloved, if during this Lenten season your soul yearns for your eternal dwelling place, know that you are deeply loved by your Creator, who knows your every longing and desire. While this earth isn’t your eternal home, God has a meaningful purpose for you right here, right now. You may pass through valleys of weeping or desert places, but he will provide all you need and give you strength as you journey, and every step is one step closer—every day is one day closer to the day we all will be restored as we meet our Savior face to face.
Prayer
God Almighty, our souls echo the cries of Korah’s sons as we, too, long for your dwelling place. Help us to find our strength in you as we journey through this life and look forward to the heavenly home prepared for us by our Savior. In his name we pray. Amen
2024 Lenten Journey
Adrian Brown