Psalm 84 (NIV) 1 How lovely is your dwelling-place, O 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, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. 9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favour 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 favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

God’s Presence /Distant Home 1 How lovely [dear/loved] is your dwelling-place, O LORD Almighty! [How I love your temple] 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts [gathering spaces] of the LORD; [How I long to be there] my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. [whole being] The Christian equivalent [1 Cors 3v16, 6v19] 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, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed [Happy/What joy for] are those who dwell [live/work/staff/choir] in your house; they are ever [regularly] praising you. [highlights tender hospitality of God for birds & servants]

Gods Pathway/Eager Journey 5 Blessed are those whose strength [refuge] is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage [literal or visualised]. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca [weeping/hard/dry times], they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools [blessings/green growth - same consonants ]. 7 They go from strength to strength [as get nearer/crowd grows], till each appears before [sees/meets] God in Zion. [p 305] 8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. 9 Look upon [the king] our shield, O God; look with favour on your anointed one.

God’s pleasure/Radiant presence 10 Better is one day in your courts [mod songs] than a thousand elsewhere [at home]; I would rather be a doorkeeper [not role but waiting in entrance] in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked [homes of godless]. 11 For the LORD God is a sun [positive/provision –only time] and shield [protective] ; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold [Roms 8v32] from those whose walk is blameless [upright/undivided heart/lives in accord with Gods will]. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. [How happy are those who trust in you!] p567

Psalm 84 (GNB) 1 How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty! 2 How I want to be there! I long to be in the Lord's Temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrows have built a nest, and the swallows have their own home; they keep their young near your altars, Lord Almighty, my king and my God. 4 How happy are those who live in your Temple, always singing praise to you. 5 How happy are those whose strength comes from you, who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion. 6 As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, it becomes a place of springs; the autumn rain fills it with pools.

7 They grow stronger as they go; they will see the God of gods on Zion. 8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty. Listen, O God of Jacob! 9 Bless our king, O God, the king you have chosen. 10 One day spent in your Temple is better than a thousand anywhere else; I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God than live in the homes of the wicked. 11 The Lord is our protector and glorious king, blessing us with kindness and honour. He does not refuse any good thing to those who do what is right. 12 Lord Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you!

How lovely are thy dwelling places My soul longs for the courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the Living God You are my King and my God (SOP 171)