HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE
Passage: Psalm 84:1~12  
Key verse: 10
Psalm 84[a]For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(C)
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,(D)
Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]
5 Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(J)
the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,(L)
till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)
8 Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.(C)
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,(D)
Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]
5 Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;(J)
the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,(L)
till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)
8 Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.
Footnotes
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
Cross references
- Psalm 84:1 : S Dt 33:27; Ps 27:4; 43:3; 90:1; 132:5
- Psalm 84:2 : S Job 19:27
- Psalm 84:2 : S Jos 3:10
- Psalm 84:3 : S Ps 43:4
- Psalm 84:3 : Jer 44:11
- Psalm 84:3 : Ps 2:6
- Psalm 84:3 : Ps 5:2
- Psalm 84:5 : Ps 81:1
- Psalm 84:5 : Jer 31:6
- Psalm 84:6 : S Job 38:26
- Psalm 84:6 : Joel 2:23
- Psalm 84:7 : S Job 17:9
- Psalm 84:7 : S Dt 16:16
- Psalm 84:7 : 1Ki 8:1
- Psalm 84:8 : Ps 4:1
- Psalm 84:9 : S Ps 59:11
- Psalm 84:9 : 1Sa 16:6; Ps 2:2; 18:50; 132:17
- Psalm 84:10 : 1Ch 23:5
- Psalm 84:11 : Isa 60:19; Jer 43:13; Rev 21:23
- Psalm 84:11 : S Ge 15:1
- Psalm 84:11 : Ps 34:10
- Psalm 84:12 : Ps 2:12
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Source:  BibleGateway
If we view our life as a pilgrimage to God’s house, we are most blessed. We will become a source of blessing wherever we go and grow continually stronger along the journey (5-7). Even the humblest role within God’s house is better than all earthly blessings or prestige (10). This is because God’s favor and honor are the most powerful, and they grant us everything good (11). When we have this value system and serve each other in the church, our fellowship becomes like God’s family living in God’s house.
Prayer: Father, thank you for inviting us into your heavenly kingdom, where we may be sheltered with eternal joy. Help me keep my eyes fixed on your dwelling place and live a life of pilgrimage.
One Word: Better is one day in your house than a thousand elsewhere.