It is frigidly cold outside and I do not feel like going out into it for even a second! I would've been such a wimp in the frontier days. Thinking back to reading Little House on the Prairie - feels sometimes like a fairytale.
Psalm 84
One of my favorite Psalms. I was wondering what it must be like to have serving the Lord as your job AND dwelling place. I think about the Levitical priests who owned nothing but served the Lord in the temple as his priests... the monks and nuns who lived and worked in monasteries and abbeys... the priests and preachers who live at the churches where they serve.
I guess technically, ALL of us live serving the Lord as our job and our dwelling place - but I feel like there must be something really different to have your whole life surrounded by reminders of the Lord - from the place you work to the place you live, eat, sleep... Your whole life wrapped around and centered on serving the Lord.
Part me is a little envious. I feel like it would be freer of so many distractions - but maybe there are the same distractions in a different form...
Still... I can imagine the sons of Korah walking around in the temple - maybe as it was being built by Solomon - or in the Temple Mount - seeing the sparrow and being reminded of your greatness and provision. I love how much of creation and the buildings dedicated to You bring to mind Your kingdom where we are meant to dwell with you forever. I think sometimes we need those physical reminders of an eternal, invisible God.
"Blessed are those whose strength is in You
in whose hearts are the highways.
As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs,
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion."
- The "High Ways" - makes me think of "the Way of the Old Ones" in Susan Cooper's series... also of Christ being "The Way" - also the "Path of Enlightenment" - roads have always been a symbol of the way to reach a destination - a place of movement, safety, and adventure --> Christ is The Way - we need to make sure we are standing in the Way and traveling by it.
- Valley of Baca - literally - the Valley of Tears... Some scholars think it was the same Valley that lead to Israel's city of refuge- including Jerusalem. Kinda interesting that you have to go through the Valley of Tears to reach the city of Zion/refuge.
- They go from strength to strength - with no waning in between.
Father, I pray that I would make You my dwelling place - surrounded by and centered on Your presence and serving You. May my strength and my Way be in You.
Amen.
