Better One Day in God's Court; Psalm 84, Proverbs 1

May the mumbling commence!

The world has many attractions that can divert us, but they are only fragile imitations and substitutions of the only real life that is both quantitatively and qualitatively immaculate.  There is nothing better than being in the Lord’s presence and in rightful relationship with God and all creation.  Read from Psalm eighty-four:

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

The Lord will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold

From those who walk uprightly. (Verses 10-11)

I read these words and think of the song “Better is One Day in Your Courts”, which is based on this passage.  To dwell upon the doorstep of the Lord’s presence is better than having the full coverage of the tents of the wicked.  That is a remarkable thing!  To look upon the wicked and the pleasures they enjoy makes many of us think their life is dream-like in quality.  Read from Proverbs chapter one:

My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent. 

If they say, "Come with us,

Let us lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,

And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 

We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil; 

Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse" –   

My son, do not walk in the way with them,

Keep your foot from their path; 

For their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood. 

Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird; 

But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives. 

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners. (Verses 10-19)

Sinners may appear to be living the life of ease and luxury – with ill-gotten gain.  They think nothing of the lives of other people so that they might increase their bottom line – profit.  But, listen to the words of the wise prophet:

They lie in wait for their own blood.  Though they think they live the high life, their own lives are at stake.  Their evil ways make their lives ebb away.  Their riches and wealth and influence are deceptive.  Their dream is more like a nightmare.  Easy is not always good.

In fact, the difficult way is more often the way of the Lord.  But, if we choose the narrow path that our Lord and Savior Jesus trod, we will find eternal life – the best of quantity and quality.  Let us choose wisely – not based on immediate gains but on eternal ones. 

Help us to see, O Lord! 

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out