When King David was in exile having been temporally dethroned by his own son, he wrote a psalm that spoke about his situation and his desires.
Psalm 84:1-4, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 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. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you."
I love that psalm for it is right from the heart of a man who knew God. First he speaks of the beauty of the dwelling place of God. As you read those words you might be thinking of the great cathedrals around the world, beautiful edifices built to the glory of God. Yet the Bible reminds us in Acts 7:48 that God does not dwell in buildings built by men. So David must be thinking about the presence of God in the life of a man or a woman of faith.
Still David knows that it is the gathering together of believers where the presence of God is manifest. David's very soul is crying out for fellowship with God and with like-minded believers. He thinks of a little bird who has a nest, so the king of Israel views the place where God is worshiped as home.
Psalm 84:10, "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."
The king continues, that he would rather live a short life and open the doors for worship than live around those who mock God.
What about you? Do you desire to be in the place where God is worshiped? Do you love to come together with believers and praise God, hear his word, and minister to others? Or is corporate worship low on your priority list? I believe when fellowship is about hearing from God, he will speak to you from his word and by his spirit.
Still, as the king winds down this wonderful psalm he concludes that this place of worship is more than going to church, it is more than service to God, the ultimate place of worship is - trust in the Lord.
Psalm 84:12, "O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."
The Bible says that when a woman or a man surrenders to the lordship of Jesus Christ, that is to trust God. That is to recognize God, that God's plan is right, and God is to be worshiped.
Have you trusted in the Lord? There is blessings for those who do.
Rich Lammay is pastor at High Sierra Fellowship and a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
