#DailyDevotion Being In The LORD’s House Is Better Than Anything Else.
Psalm 84 5Blessed are those whose refuge is in You: their minds are on the pilgrim roads. 6As they pass through the valley of weeping they make it a place of springs. The early rains also cover it with blessings. 7They get stronger and stronger until each appears before God in Zion.
Truly those are blessed who take refuge in the LORD the God of Israel. It doesn’t mean everything is going well all the time. It does mean God will be with us and enable us to deal with whatever comes our way, because we will not be dealing with it by ourselves but the LORD fights for us. When the LORD Jesus is our refuge our minds are on the pilgrim roads, i.e. our path to reach the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem. Our minds are set on heavenly things and not earthly things.
The place of springs is made by us by our tears along the way, which tells us it isn’t going to be easy just because the LORD is with us. The early rains, what can this agricultural term mean for us? Perhaps it is our time when we are either young or when we are first converted to Christ and we are fed and strengthened by the Word and Sacraments. They prepare us for what is to come. They get us to set down roots and give quick growth spiritually.
Our pilgrim way, with the hardships that come along the way and have us shed tears, makes us stronger and stronger. As Paul says in 2 Cor. 4, “7The light trouble of this moment is preparing for us an everlasting weight of glory, greater than anything we can imagine.” When the LORD calls us to appear before Him at the resurrection in Zion, the New Jerusalem, our hardships that disciplined and strengthened us will come to end and we will rejoice in God our Savior.
8O LORD God of armies, hear me pray; listen, O God of Jacob. (Music)9O God, our Shield, look and see the face of Your anointed one. 10A day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. 11The LORD is a sun and a shield; God bestows grace and honor. The LORD doesn’t keep back anything good from those who live innocently. 12O LORD of armies, blessed is the person who trusts in You.
The LORD is thrice invoked again: LORD, God of armies; God of Jacob; God, our Shield. Is it a Trinitarian invocation? If you can see orthodox teaching, it is probably so. I think it is at least a witness to it. What are we invoking God to do? We’re asking Him to look and see the face of His anointed one. In the immediate context of the Psalm, the king of Judah. For us, it is the face of our LORD Jesus Christ, who is King, who sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.
To be in the presence of the LORD where He bestows upon us His word and sacraments is better than being anywhere else. There we are in the presence of One who truly loves us and calls us His children. No matter where you stand in the house of the LORD it is better than anywhere else with those who live in wickedness.
Let us then turn to the LORD Jesus Christ and God our Father. He is a sun and shield to all who trust in Him. God bestows grace and honor to those who put their trust in Him and depend upon Him for every good thing. God will not keep back from us anything good if we live innocently before Him. Not living innocently? Repent! Change your mind and trust in God. We are promised here, we will be blessed if our trust is in the LORD of armies, our LORD Jesus Christ.
Almighty God and Father, give us Your Spirit that we may trust in You and our LORD Jesus Christ for every good thing, be blessed by Your word and sacraments, and receive from Your hand daily, grace and honor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.