For the Shut-ins

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.

-Psalm 84:1-4 NASB

The dwelling places of the Lord are truly lovely. During the time of the old covenant, there were many places where God’s presence was found. For the psalmist, however, we must center our minds upon the temple, the place where the people of Israel gathered to present themselves to the Lord. It was the place where they gathered to worship, praise, and pray to their God. The psalmist longed and even yearned to be there. His heart and flesh, that is, his body and mind, his physical being along with his spiritual being desperately wanted to sing to the living God. He recognizes that even the birds have found a place to rest and rejoice in the Lord’s house. There is an unmistakeable blessing in being in the presence of God as a gathered people.

I am writing to you from this psalm because it is speaking your language. As those who aren’t able to enter the places where God’s people gather together, your souls must be longing and even yearning for that day when you enter God’s courts again. You long and yearn for the right thing! It must be that your heart and flesh nearly fail because you are not encouraged by the many voices of your brothers and sisters in Christ who often lift you up by their singing. It must also be that you recognize the missing blessing of gathering with those who love God. Do you hear your own voice united with the psalmist?

You are not able to attend the public gatherings for worship, now what?

• Recognize that you are experiencing a bit of trial. Embrace what God has for you, even when it isn’t what you would choose for yourself.

• Recognize that you are not limited in your worship of God by your location. The exiles were cast out of Jerusalem and yet God was with them, even in Babylon. This means you are able to sing to the Lord at home. You must find a hymnal and sing! If you need one, let me know and I will bring you one.

• Recognize that you are still very blessed to live at a time after the revelation of Jesus Christ. While you miss out on the blessing of gathered worship, you do not miss out on the blessing of a vibrant life in Christ.

• Recognize that the Holy Spirit is not limited by your location. He is sent by the Father and the Son, in order to make Christ known to your heart and mind. It is through His presence and ministry that you are able to sing for joy with a renewed heart and mind to the living God. May God bless you as you seek Him where you are and sing your praise with all your strength.