Slices
Prepare
‘Come near to God and he will come near to you’ (James 4:8). Remind yourself that the sovereign Lord, the creator of the universe, welcomes us into his presence. Invite him to come close to you now.
Bible passage
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling-place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3 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,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield, O God;
look with favour on your anointed one.
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.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favour and honour;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose way of life is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Explore
The Sons of Korah delighted to be in the Temple because that was the dwelling place of God (v 1). In this psalm they give words to the yearning of every human, the desire to be with God (v 2). Do you act in such a way as to satisfy this longing in your heart? Recognising your soul’s cry to be with your creator? Remembering that while there are days we will long to be in the new Jerusalem, our forever home with God, we also have the privilege to be in the presence of God in our earthly lives? Or do you believe the lie that giving time to simply be with God is too big a sacrifice? That there are worldly pleasures you could be experiencing.
Read through the psalm slowly and remind yourself that spending time in God’s presence is the very best way of spending your time (v 10). It’s a place where we feel safe and protected (v 3) and a place where we are strengthened on our journey through life (vs 5–7). It’s a place where we are listened to (v 8) and a place where we experience abundant blessings (vs 4,11).
Respond
Look at your diary for the week ahead and answer the question asked by the Sons of Korah in Psalm 42:2: ‘When can I go and meet with God?’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 25,26; Psalm 49
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that God will give SU Malaysia Sarawak clear vision and divine guidance as they plan to establish five new ministry stations by 2030. Pray that God will provide the needed resources, open the right doors, and fill the team with faith to enter into all that he has planned.
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