the gathering

Day 47 | Austin Davis

In Psalms Study

Psalm 84

I have this thing that happens to me each time I read the Psalms, and it sometimes gets on my nerves. I was raised in a church-going family that always found a way to be involved with the worship team, no matter what church we were at. That being said, I have a lot of old outdated worship music flowing through my brain almost 24/7. It’s terrific.

When I read Psalm 84, I get a flashbacks to a song called “Better is One Day,” which is one of those outdated worship songs. As outdated as the song is, the words in it come straight from Psalm 84, and couldn’t be any more beautiful.

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)
This verse shows the beauty and pureness of the Trinity. One day in the presence of God is better than a thousand anywhere else.

Psalm 83

“O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.” (Psalm 83:1-2)
God’s silence is very real. In times we feel that we need him the most, we get crickets in response. Even David, a man after God’s own heart, experiences this holy silence.

There is a deep purpose to this silence, and I believe it is different per person. For David, maybe it is for him to contemplate what action he should take as a king while faced with God-denying enemies. And maybe God wants him to make that decision in the likeness of himself.

Whenever you feel that silence, whenever you are desperately asking for light to be spoken into you, know that God is intentional. This is not to say that we don’t make distance between us and God sometimes; it is to say that it is important to reassess and see if you are striving to be in a loving relationship with God.

June 17, 2017

Day 87 | Cameron Garrett

Day 86 | Gabriele Hickman

Day 85 | Troi Buchanan