Psalm 84 - Longing to Worship

Hello Lovelies,


Part of the devotional that I follow is a Psalm of the week... and I've decided as a feature on my blog that I'll be sharing one of those Psalms a month. For a long time now I've wanted to include a little more of my spiritual life on the blog... but didn't want it to come across as preachy or judgmental... but merely as something that I'm interested in and something that is very much a part of my life. The Psalms which were written to be songs expressing many of the emotions of the relationship between God and His people are a beautiful place to begin. They sometimes express joy, or sorrow, hope, or fear, or confidence that the Lord will deliver, they express a humble heart, and a willingness to change, and most of all they are written as an act of worship. So... if you desire... worship with me today. If you find this whole thing unappealing... just skip over this post, I promise you won't hurt my feelings! 


*One little note as you read this and many Psalms you'll see the word Selah, it's a Hebrew word that is sort of difficult to directly translate... some believe it is a musical annotation, some believe that it marks a break in the text (this is the translation that I am most drawn to).. a time to stop and listen, or reflect on what you've just read (or in the case of the Hebrew people it would have been what they just heard).

1 How lovely are Your dwelling places,
          O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD;
          My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 The bird also has found a house,
          And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,
          Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
          My King and my God.
4 How blessed are those who dwell in Your house!
          They are ever praising You. 

Selah.

5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
          In whose heart are the highways to Zion!
6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring;
          The early rain also covers it with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength,
          Every one of them appears before God in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
          Give ear, O God of Jacob! 

Selah.

9 Behold our shield, O God,
          And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.
          I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God
          Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
          The LORD gives grace and glory;
          No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
          How blessed is the man who trusts in You!