If the psalmist were living today, he would no doubt, write that a day in God's house is better than a million, yea, even perhaps better than a trillion days in this world of sin. But when he did in Psalm 14:10write, "For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness," he was speaking of what in that day was a great percentage. One day in a thousand is an overwhelming percentage. Even today, who would prefer to work for a dollar a day rather than one thousand, if he could get it? Who would want to live one more day, if he could be healed to live a thousand more days?
By his statement the psalmist underscores what he stated previously in the Psalm, namely that to him God's house is lovely, and that he would be happy, if he could be just inside the door of that house. That is what he wrote. Indeed, he is willing to serve God there as the doorkeeper: but what he wrote is better translated as "sit at the threshold." Even then he makes an awesome contrast! So rich, so full of spiritual joy, and of such transcendent blessedness is that house that, if we are just inside the door, we are overwhelmed with blessedness.
Consider how far the sun is from us, yet brings us precious light and warmth. How delightful it makes life for us even from such a distance! Much more is God's house filled with His love, mercy, grace, and covenant fellowship. Easy it is to understand our versification which says:
Upon us look, O God our shield,
The face of Thy anointed see;
A thousand other days can yield
No gladness like one day with Thee;
Though only at Thy door I wait.
No tents of sin give joy so great.
Do you agree? You want to see the sun arise again tomorrow; but do you, as the psalmist did, want to pray that God will look upon you and send down upon you the rays of His love in Christ? Transcendent blessedness awaits God's church. Do you want it?
Read: Revelation 21
Psalter versification: 229:5
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
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Song for Meditation: Psalter number 382
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Isaiah 15 ; Isaiah 16 ; Isaiah 17 ; Isaiah 18:1-7
Galatians 1:1-24
Psalm 58:1-11
Proverbs 23:12
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Quote for Reflection:
How can we convince our children that God is important, if we never give Him any of our time? How can we pretend to love Him, when we scarcely spend a minute with Him alone? Our children may dutifully learn their rituals, and chant their mealtime grace, “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for this food”. But down in the heart, where the real attitudes are formed, our prayerless lives have taught another message: “God is great but He can wait; gotta hurry or I’ll be late.” L. Christenson
