Psalms 84:1

Psalms 84:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  Once more we have the introduction, then verse one says, How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  God's tabernacles should always be amiable, since we as followers of Christ are the tabernacles of the Holy Spirit.  Of course, the buildings where we meet as a congregation of believers should also be amiable.  Verse two adds, My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Asaph said that his soul longed for the LORD, and his heart and soul cried out for the living God.  We should feel the same way today, and not just at times, but all the time.  Verse three states, Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  Asaph said that the birds had found a home in God's house.  Of course, even if they were there, they were not there to worship God.  Verse four adds, Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.  Asaph then says that those who dwell in God's house are blessed and praising God.  We are blessed as Christians today and should praise God for it every day, but especially when we are gathered in His name.  Verse five declares, Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  This applies to us today as followers of Christ.  Our strength comes from God as we follow the way He leads us.  Verse six adds, Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  Asaph said those who waited on God in difficult times were blessed by having their needs met, and we still are today as followers of Christ.  Verse seven continues, They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  If we put our faith in God, we go from our strength to His, and no matter how strong we may be, without God's strength we are powerless.  Verse eight says, O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.  Asaph asked God to hear his prayers, acknowledging Him as the only God, Who was the God of Jacob.  If we expect God to hear our prayers, we mist first acknowledge Who He is, the only God.  Verse nine adds, Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.  Asaph acknowledged God as the shield of Israel and asked Him to look upon His anointed.   God is our shield in the world today if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, and He always looks upon us.  Verse ten declares, For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  Like Asaph, we should know that one day with God is worth more than a thousand without Him.  It is better to be a doorkeeper in God's house than to live in any place without Him.  Verse eleven adds, For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  God is indeed the source of all good things, and He has not withheld the greatest gift of all, everlasting life with Him, from those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.  The only way for someone to be truly blessed is to put their faith in God.