Quiet Spots

Read Psalms 82:1–84:12

1. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
2. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
3. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
4. What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
5. What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
8. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer. Psalm 84:1-8

Do you enjoy browsing in the library, going to see a friend, relaxing on the sofa, or walking through the woods? Sometimes the world becomes a pressure cooker, and we need to go to a place that refreshes us. Where is that place for you?

Psalm 84 talks of the place to go when we need refreshment.

Other psalms in this section of Scripture speak of ways to turn the tables and affect the world by defending the weak against unfair people (Psalm 82) and praying for people who hate or oppose God (Psalm 83).

The writer of Psalm 84 had a deep desire to dwell in God’s presence (Psalm 84:1-4). In fact, he loved the Lord so much that he envied the sparrows because they could build nests near the altar (Psalm 84:3). He recognized that those who seek God are richly rewarded (Psalm 84:5-7). This was his cure for a meaningless and hectic existence.

We, like the psalmist, need to have a desire to know God intimately and a desire to dwell in his presence. Fortunately, we don’t have to visit the Temple to commune with God. Today, because of the death and resurrection of Christ, we can meet God anywhere, at any time. If we belong to him, his Holy Spirit lives within us, and his presence is always with us. We need only to go to God in prayer to enjoy being in his presence (see Hebrews 4:16).

When the busyness of this world catches up with you, get away and spend time alone with God. It will be well worth your time to do so.