Longing To Be In The House Of The LORD
With the continuous spread of the Covid-19 virus, I was saddened by the news that Bethany suspended all Sunday School, weekday ministries and worship services. Attending and serving in church on the weekends had become such a big part of my life that when these were removed, I naturally felt uneasy. As days turned into weeks, I started to miss Bethany very much. While I appreciate the web ministry’s labour of uploading each week’s messages, the experience of worshipping through a laptop screen is just not the same as being with God’s people in His house physically.
I’m inspired by the zeal and love expressed by the sons of Korah, who wrote Psalm 84, to express their longing and deep desire to be in the house of the Lord.
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
Psalm 84:1-2
Even though their ministry was limited to the courts of the tabernacle (not the Holy Place or Holy of Holies), they still had high regard and admiration for the Lord. They humbly addressed God as “Lord of hosts” and expressed full love for Him and His “lovely” house – with their heart and soul.
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.”
Psalm 84:10
Their desire was so strong and genuine that they compared spending one day in His courts as a humble doorkeeper, to a thousand days elsewhere. To them, there was still nothing that surpassed the joy of being in the Lord’s house! The word “blessed” is also repeated thrice throughout the Psalm to emphasise the goodness of being in the house of the Lord, even if it was for humble service as a doorkeeper.
Although there is uncertainty around how long more we will be absent from His house because of the Covid-19 situation, I’m challenged to “cry out for the living God” as did the sons of Korah, to sustain and deepen my love for the Lord and His house yet more amidst this period of absence from His house.
Written by Leanne Chua