Sunday, January 26, 2014

Psalm 84:1-12

Message Version Below
84 1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
    I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
    where I could sing for joy to God-alive!
3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
    sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
    singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
    How blessed they are to live and sing there!
5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,
    whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
    discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
    at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!
8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
    O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
    our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.
10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
    beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
    than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
    generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
    It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
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Psalm 84

New International Version (NIV)

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,
    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.[c]
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.[d]
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,[e] 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.











Above we have Psalm 84:1-12 listed in two versions: the Message version and the New International Version. This is because, although I have grown to believe that NIV is the more accurately written than the Message, the Message version often presents a wonderful perception of the Bible- same exact stories, just different words. Sometimes all we need to understand something better, and even more visually, is word change. I am going to break down certain verses in the NIV version, and certain verses in the Message version.

"How lovely is your dwelling place O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God." (NIV)

So much passion, so much intimacy and radical love. So much love and passion that we might so even faint. There is so much beautiful imagery in this Psalm, so much passion and emotion. And this just sets the tone right away.

"And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel; they wind through lonesome valleys,come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and the last turn- Zion! God in full view!" (verses 5-7 the Message version)

To think my life is a road that God travels, blows my mind and totally changes gears and perspective. So often we imagine us walking through our own life, God guiding us, maybe. In reality, isn't it God the one who is walking on the road? I just absolutely love this perspective and thinking of a relationship with God in this way. I am a road He travels and loves. I also love that the author describes dark places God travels through in our lives, but at the end of the road He is there, waiting for us, in full view. This part of the passage is so hard to write about and explain because it is too rich and to delicate to touch! It is something we just simply understand and live.

"O God of Jacob, open your ears- I'm praying! Look at our shields, glistening in the sun, our faces, shining with your gracious anointing." (verses 8-9, the Message version) more vividly beautiful imagery! The first time I read these verses in the Message version I automatically pictured someone holding up a shield, the sunlight glistening on the metal... the shimmering being God's glory and blessing. *M<3M

This whole passage is ultimately what worship is all about, living in everything with relation to God. And I love the conclusion: Blessed is the one who trusts in You (NIV). This passage is what worship is. What desperation for God's love is. What looking forward to heaven is.

Lord, I thank You so much for the author of this Psalm and the God-breathed words it rings. They are so beautiful and enlightening, and truly bring who reads it back to hearts of worship. Thank You, Lord. We look forward to the day we are in Your courts. Until then we live our lives for You and to glorify You! In Jesus name, Amen.

<3Chrissy
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