Better Than 1,000 Good Days (Psalm 84:10-12)

[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. ¹¹For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. [¹²O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!]—Psalm 84:10-12

Solomon’s Temple in David's city was the hub of spiritual life when Psalm 84 was written. It was a spectacular structure, but what transformed this man-made building into a supernatural powerhouse was the glory of God that filled it (2 Chronicles 7:1).

As Psalm 84 opens, the sons of Korah are making their pilgrimage to Jerusalem with a song in their mouths: "My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God" (Psalm 84:2). The Temple was beautiful (Psalm 84:1), but experiencing that beauty was not the point of their journey or what caused them to sing.

Their longing, their soul-thirsting desire for the presence of God, was what sustained and even fueled their strength as they made their journey through the arid Valley of Baca. Whatever difficulties plagued their journey were insignificant compared to knowing that "a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere" (Psalm 84:10a).

One thousand—truly? Was that hyperbole? I grabbed my pen and listed a few of my top days: the days my wife said “I do;” the day my first son was born, and four wonderful adoption days after that. Then there are the precious days I spent with those I love who are in the presence of Jesus right now; joyful days growing up on a small farm in southern Minnesota with incredible parents; awe-filled nights soaking in the beauty and wonder of the galaxies above; and many days enjoying the beauty of creation—the majestic Rocky mountains, Glacier National Park, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and an amazing drive from Red Lodge, Montana through the Beartooth Pass into the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

I’ve had some great days and I'm thankful to God for them. Remarkably, this verse puts those days into perspective. All of my best days combined, and all of your best days combined, will not compare to one day in His presence. This "one day" is coming, followed by eternity where we will experience "…the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).

Consider the glorious past of God dwelling in Solomon’s Temple, and the mind-blowing future of God dwelling with His people forever (Revelation 21:3). Then marvel that we are the temple of God due to the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ. Upon His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, giving us direct access to the Father through Jesus, so we can boldly approach the throne of grace.

Oh believer, let us be among those of whom it can be said, “We trust in the Lord of hosts”!

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For Reflection

1. Reflect on the goodness of the Lord in your best days. Is God any less good in your not-so-good, or bad days?

2. Are you pursuing the throne of grace regularly?

3. Can you fathom what's in store for those trusting in the sufficiency of Jesus? Read and consider Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:4, and John 14:2-3.