Hungry For Heaven

Introduction
The Psalms remind me of a radio because they both receive and broadcast the many frequencies of human emotion and experience. Just as a radio tunes into different stations, the Psalms tune into the varied feelings and circumstances that people face every day. Many of the Psalms reflect the emotions the writer was experiencing at the moment they were composed. The comparison to a radio is especially fitting because the Psalms are songs, prayers, and poems offered to God, expressing a broad spectrum of human emotions. Within their pages, we find joy and sadness, faith and doubt, gratitude and grief, confidence and fear, peace and turmoil. The list goes on and on. The Psalms encompass the full range of human experience, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, all united by a single focus—the one true God.

John Calvin captured the essence of the Psalms when he wrote, “I may truly call this book an anatomy of all the parts of the soul, for no one can feel a moment of the spirit which is not reflected in this mirror. All sorrows, troubles, fears, doubts, hopes, pain, perplexities and stormy outbreaks by which the hearts of men are tossed have been depicted here to the very life.” Likewise, C. S. Lewis observed, “Most emphatically the Psalms must be read as poems; as lyrics, with all the hyperboles and emotional rather than logical connections which are proper to lyric poetry.”

What both men understood is that the Psalms are intended to speak primarily to the heart. While they certainly contain theological truth, they are not merely intellectual observations to be analyzed. They are deeply personal expressions of real people encountering a real God amid life's joys, struggles, victories, and failures. As we read them, we are invited not only to understand the emotions being expressed but also to bring our own emotions before God. In many cases, the Psalms leave little doubt about how the writer is feeling, and in doing so, they give voice to the emotions we often struggle to express ourselves.
 
Today, I have chosen Psalm 84 as my topic for my message.  This is a Psalm of anticipation and celebration.  Many Bible teachers believe that this Psalm was originally one that celebrated the pilgrimage of the Jew as they travelled to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple.  It was intended to encourage people to prepare for the delight, joy, and privilege of being a special guest in the House of God.  It was a Psalm of anticipation.  As the traveler journeyed to their destination, they would think about the awesomeness of worshiping God in the temple and the joy of dwelling in the presence of God.
 
Psalm 84
Vs 1:  The dwelling place of the Lord referred to the Temple in Jerusalem.  The Psalmist declares that it is lovely, not because of the beautiful architecture or the size of the building, but because it was the place that represented where God dwelt.  The presence of God was present in the Temple, and the Psalmist longed to be in this place, to worship in the presence of Almighty God.
             
Vs 2: “I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.” These are words spoken by a man who has no other desire but to be in the presence of the Lord most High.  Every part of his being cries out for God’s presence in his life.  The true object of the Psalmist’s devotion is not the actual Temple, but it is the God of the Temple.

Vs. 3:  "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself..." One can almost hear the envy in the psalmist's voice. He looks at the small birds that have built nests near the Temple and observes that they seem to enjoy a constant proximity to God's altar.
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While the birds may not understand the significance of where they dwell, the psalmist certainly does. He wishes he could remain in God's presence as continually as they do. This verse reveals the depth of his longing. He is not satisfied with occasional visits to worship; he desires uninterrupted fellowship with God.

Vs. 4 – 5:  "What joy for those who can live in your house... What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord." The psalmist identifies two kinds of people who experience this blessing.

First, joyful are those who dwell in God's presence. Their lives are marked by worship and praise.

Second, joyful are those whose strength comes from God. They do not rely on their own wisdom, abilities, or resources. Their confidence rests in the Lord.

Our culture often views dependence as weakness, but Scripture presents dependence upon God as the source of true strength. The more we rely upon Him, the more we discover His faithfulness. Dependence on God is not a crutch—it is the pathway to blessing.

Vs 6 – 7: "When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs." The Valley of Weeping likely refers to a dry and difficult place. Whether it was a literal location or a symbolic picture of suffering, the message is clear.

The pilgrims still encountered hardship on their journey. Their destination did not eliminate the difficulties of travel. Yet because God was their strength, they transformed places of sorrow into places of blessing.

This is one of the most encouraging truths in the psalm. Faith does not exempt us from valleys, but it changes how we walk through them. God's presence can bring refreshment in the driest seasons of life. Those who trust Him move "from strength to strength" until they finally arrive before Him.

Vs. 8 – 9:  The psalm now shifts into prayer. The traveler cries out to God on behalf of Israel and her king. He understands that the welfare of God's people depends entirely upon God's favor and protection.

These verses remind us that worship and prayer are always meant to be together. Those who truly love God will naturally seek Him in prayer.

Vs 10: “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.”

The Psalmist continues his prayer.  He declares that if given the choice in life, he would choose to spend one day in the presence of God than to spend 1,000 days anyplace else.  He would gladly be a servant in the presence of God than to be confined by the shackles of sin and evil.  This verse is just another way of saying there is nothing more in heaven or earth that can compare to being in the presence of God.  Imagine that!  This man is soooooo excited to enter into the presence of God that he can’t imagine being any other place on earth than in the place where he can meet with God.  
 
Vs. 11:  “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” The psalmist describes God as both a sun and a shield.

As the sun, God provides light, warmth, guidance, life, and joy. He illuminates our path and sustains us through every season.

As a shield, God protects His people from dangers seen and unseen. He surrounds them with His care and watches over them in times of trouble.

The psalmist goes on to declare that God gives grace and glory and withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. This does not mean God gives us everything we want. Rather, it means He faithfully provides everything we truly need. A loving Father never withholds what is good for His children.

Vs. 12:  “What joy for those who trust in you.” The psalm concludes where true blessing begins—with trust.

The happy and fulfilled person is not the wealthy person, the successful person, or even the religious person. The truly blessed person is the one who places his confidence completely in God.

Psalm 84 (For us today)
Psalm 84 is a beautiful portrait of the Psalmist’s longing to worship the Lord in His Temple. Yet it also speaks powerfully to Christians today.

In many ways, this psalm mirrors our own longing for heaven. Like the pilgrims journeying toward Jerusalem, we too are pilgrims journeying toward our eternal home. We know that one day we will stand in the presence of God in the heavenly sanctuary not made with human hands.

There is a sense of homesickness that every believer experiences from time to time. We know we belong somewhere else. We live in this world, but our citizenship is in heaven. Deep within our hearts is a longing to see our King face to face.

When we think about heaven, our minds often focus on its beauty. Revelation describes streets of gold, gates of pearl, the river of life, and the tree of life. Jesus spoke of preparing a place for us. Paul wrote of glorified bodies free from weakness and decay. Revelation promises there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Yet none of these things is what makes heaven truly glorious.

Heaven is glorious because God is there.

The greatest treasure of heaven is not the golden streets. It is not the mansions. It is not even the absence of suffering. The greatest treasure of heaven is the presence of God Himself.
What place could be more lovely than the dwelling place of God? It is a place of unparalleled beauty, incomparable splendor, and unimaginable glory because it is where the Creator of the universe dwells.

Does thinking about heaven stir your heart? Does it excite you to think that one day you will see Christ face to face? Does your soul long for that day?

If so, then you understand something of what the psalmist was feeling.
Yet there is another truth we must remember.

While we eagerly anticipate heaven, God is already present with us today.
Through Jesus Christ, we no longer need to travel to a temple to encounter God. Through the Holy Spirit, God's presence dwells within every believer. He is with us in this sanctuary. He is with us when we return home. He is with us at work, in our cars, in our living rooms, and in the quiet moments of life.

We do not need to make a pilgrimage to find God because God has come to us.
Therefore, let us not spend all our time waiting for heaven while neglecting the privilege of enjoying God's presence today. We can dwell with Him through prayer, worship, Scripture reading, meditation, journaling, and quiet reflection.

Some people meet God early in the morning. Others find Him while driving down the road. Some experience His presence while walking, fishing, gardening, or sitting quietly in a chair.
The method is not nearly as important as the reality.

The question is simple:

Are you spending time in the presence of God?

Conclusion
I get excited when I think about the day I will spend eternity in the presence of Almighty God. Like the psalmist, I can say, "My soul longs and even faints" for that day. My heart cries out to the living God who has prepared a place for His children.

Yet until that day arrives, I choose to live in hope-filled anticipation. I will look forward to heaven while learning to enjoy God's presence here and now. For the same God who awaits me in glory walks beside me today.

And because of that, I can confidently say with the psalmist:
"Blessed is the one who trusts in You."