There Is No Place Better Than the Presence of God

Note from today’s Bible reading: Psalm 84-85; 89; 1 Chronicles 3-5

In the eighty-fourth psalm, the psalmist acknowledged the great blessing it was to dwell in the house of the Lord (Psalm 84:4). Therefore, he desired to be in the Lord’s presence.

In order to show that dwelling in the Lord’s presence was far better than any other place, the psalmist wrote, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psalm 84:10).

The blessings that come from being one with God are without comparison. Merely standing at the threshold of His house was better than enjoying the company of the wicked. The psalmist knew that God was “a sun and shield,” that He “gives grace and glory,” and that “no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

The psalmist ended with the exclamation: “O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!” (Psalm 84:12). It would take faith to look ahead to the blessings and rewards that come from following God rather than enjoy the pleasure of sin and the acceptance of the wicked. Yet those who put their trust in God and were willing to forsake the sinful ways of the world could enjoy the blessings that God gives His people.

So remember that there is no place better than the presence of God. Sin is desirable at the moment, but the wages are eternally terrible. Let us trust God and do all we can to reach His dwelling place.