Playlist: Worship Songs — Tuesday
Psalm 84:10
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere... (NIV)
Today’s verse inspired another classic Matt Redman song, “Better Is One Day”: Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, than a thousand elsewhere.
But… do we really think that?
A thousand days at a white sand beach in Figi sounds pretty nice. A thousand days in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland? I could get used to that! Think of the coolest place on Earth you can, and then imagine spending a thousand days there (that’s a little over 2.5 years). Now compare that to ONE day with God.
Obviously the Psalm is not meant for us to get fixated on 1000 versus 1—it’s an exaggerated comparison, but it is meant for you to think. He’s saying, “There’s a thousand places I could be, but there’s only one place I want to be.” That’s the heart of a true worshiper. I want to be more like that.
Do you view worship as a privilege? To me, that’s the underlying takeaway as you read Psalm 84. The author longs for, even faints, to worship God. He craves to be near to God. He’d do anything, even hold the doors at the Temple (verse 10) just to be in his Creator’s presence. He’d rather have the lowest position in the Temple than be in the most prominent place in society. To him, it is a privilege, and he’s grateful.
I know I don’t always feel that way… but I want to.
That’s how I read through Psalm 84 this week. I turned it into a prayer: “God, I don’t always long to enter your courts or think that one day in your courts is better than thousands elsewhere, but I want to. Can you help me desire You more?”
I need Psalms like this to remind me. I need to sing corporately on a Sunday morning with other believers to remember the privilege that it is to worship—a privilege I take far too lightly. Like Jon talked about Sunday, a true worshiper is one who is full of gratitude for all God has done and will do.
Tuesday’s Reflection
Pray through Psalm 84 today. Let it be a guide for how you should long to worship God and the privilege we have because of Jesus.
