Devotional Bible Study: Better Is One Day In Your Courts | Psalm 84:10.
Welcome to Day 9. for one of our short powerful devotions from the 31 Bible Verses About Practicing The Presence Of God. This short devotional is based on Psalm 84:10.
Read Psalm 84:10.
Psalm 84 was written by the “descendants of Korah,” also known as the Korahites. The Korahites were a family within the larger Levite family, who were in charge of taking care of the tabernacle and later the temple. The Korahites also had another job as 'doorkeepers' of the temple. This meant that they were responsible for “ministering in the temple of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 26:12).
God's courts are the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple in Jerusalem had a series of courts, an outer court for Gentile converts, a court for women, a court for Israelite men, and a court for priests. At the center of the Temple was the Holy of Holies, which is where the Ark of the Covenant was, and where once a year the sacrifice for atonement was made by the High Priest. The psalmist says that to be in the courts of the Lord is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. The one thing that this psalmist desired the most is to dwell in the house of the Lord .
Doorkeeper In The House Of The Lord
What is a doorkeeper?
A doorkeeper in the context of Psalm 84:10 is someone whose profession is to tend the temple gates, to open the doors to the temple, day and night. It was a responsible task. The doorkeepers received the tithes and gifts that the Israelites brought. They stood to watch over the storerooms and treasuries to make sure that nothing was stolen. To be a doorkeeper required faithfulness, trustworthiness, and devotion to God.
They would keep watch for hours, day and night. It wasn't a glamorous job but the psalmist says it is better to spend a day in God's courts than a thousand elsewhere.
Why would the psalmist say that 'better is one day in your courts'?
The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the temple in Jerusalem. It was the most sacred piece of furniture on earth and Israel’s most prized possession. It was a visible icon of the invisible God. The Ark represented God’s tangible presence among His people and was God’s throne on earth. To be a doorkeeper meant to be near God's presence constantly.
Join me for a short devotional below and discover that we are doorkeepers to the temple of the living God, and join me in prayer at the end of the post too!
Short Devotional
Psalm 84 celebrates the temple of God in Jerusalem. The psalmist says nothing compares to being in God's temple, to being in God's court.
Would you like to share the same passion as the psalmist, to be in God's court constantly throughout the day?
We actually are in a very privileged position to be able to enjoy the presence of the Lord every hour of every day. We don't need to go to Jerusalem to be near God's presence. Because God has made himself known to us in Christ, and because the Spirit of God dwells in us, we can be in God’s “courts” no matter where we are, as we open our minds and hearts to the Lord. We need to learn and remember to practice the presence of God always.
The psalmist is singing this song of Psalm 84 because he is humbled that he has been given the privilege to be a doorkeeper, opening the doors for the Israelites to come in and worship God, to be able to stand in close proximity to Yahweh's presence. He would rather be a lowly doorkeeper in God's tabernacle, in God's presence than in the tents of the wicked people. They understood that to yearn for God's presence was to trust that God would meet their needs, that they were safe in the light of His presence.
Do you desire to sing Psalm 84 yourself?
Do you yearn to be in God's presence?
We are doorkeepers for the living God! We have access to God's presence all the time. We also have the privilege of carrying God's presence to the hurting world around us. The apostle Paul tells us that we are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16)!
Remember that to be a doorkeeper in the temple of Jerusalem, you had to possess the qualities of faithfulness, trustworthiness, and devotion to God.
Do you have those qualities?
Ask God for a greater hunger for more of His presence in your life and for a desire to be His doorkeeper in the world around you. Ask Him to place in your path, people that need to know God and His life-changing presence.
Have you heard that wonderful worship song by Matt Redman, Better Is One Day? I have been singing that song over and over as I wrote this devotional! You can listen to it HERE
So, to help you unpack what God is saying to you about being His doorkeeper I have created a free printable with 31 scriptures on Practicing The Presence Of God, and a guided prayer journal.
Today's devotional is based on Psalm 84:10 which is from our Practicing The Presence Of God: 31 Presence Of God Scriptures Plan. You will find a free printable PDF of 31 scriptures about God's presence in the Resource Library. It has a bible reading plan, guided prayer, and gratitude journal. Download this free printable or grab a notebook.
What is God saying to you through this verse?