Better is one day in your courts
Psalms 84:10 - By trusting God, being reliant on His care, longing for Him, and persevering spiritually, we find strength and joy in Him.
Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
“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.”
Psalms 84:10 NIV
Not only are we studying a psalm today, but a psalm that is quite well known! When this showed up as God’s pick for me, my mind immediately began to hear a popular contemporary Christian song by musician Matt Redman. If you or your church worship with contemporary songs such as Better Is One Day, then you know this upbeat tune. I like it when hymns and songs get stuck in my brain, because then I’m praising God instead of having some annoying pop tune from the 70s on heavy repeat...
Psalm 84 is not a psalm of David; it’s one written and sung by “the Sons of Korah” who were not a 16th century BC rock group. Korah led a rebellion against Moses during the wilderness days in the desert, and God destroyed Korah and about 250 other community leaders for their actions. His sons learned the lesson (don’t mess with God!), and became noted in Israel for praising God.
The entire psalm is splendid. The “prince of preachers” Charles H. Spurgeon said that Psalm 84 was entitled:
“to be called The Pearl of Psalms. If the twenty-third be the most popular, the one-hundred-and-third the most joyful, the one-hundred-and-nineteenth the most deeply experiential, the fifty-first the most plaintive, this is one of the most sweet of the Psalms of Peace.” (cited on Enduring Word)
The psalm begins with words of longing and love for the house of the Lord. Psalm 84:2 says:
“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”
In today’s verse, the Sons of Korah return to this theme. With the words “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere,” they explain that even a short time spent at God’s house has more value than years somewhere else.
When modern Christians see the word “courts”, they might think of legal courthouses and courtrooms. Yet that is not the case; the ancient Hebrew word is חָצֵר (ḥāṣēr) which has the meaning of a courtyard, a place surrounded by a fence. Before the building of the temple in Jerusalem, the tabernacle (the movable earthly dwelling of God) was surrounded by a fence as depicted in today’s image. The psalmists are expressing their thanks for spending time within that fence, sharing space with God even if they would never have the privilege given to the High Priest of entering the Holy of Holies, the location of the Ark of the Covenant and God’s presence.
We also have another example of scriptural repetition within this verse. It’s not enough to simply point out that even a short amount of time in the presence of God is preferable to years in even the most beautiful of settings; the psalmists go on to proclaim that “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
What a wonderful statement! Any of the Sons of Korah would prefer being a humble doorkeeper at the tabernacle than live in a fancy tent with the wicked. From the Enduring Word commentary, we have these two quotes from the well-known preachers G. Campbell Morgan and Charles Spurgeon:
i. “We sometimes read this as though there were something heroic about the choice, some touch of sacrifice in the decision. There is nothing of the kind. The singer was a man of profoundest commonsense.” (Morgan)
ii. “To bear burdens and open doors for the Lord is more honour than to reign among the wicked. Every man has his choice, and this is ours. God’s worst is better than the devil’s best.” (Spurgeon)
Young’s Literal Translation is even more plaintive:
“I have chosen rather to be at the threshold, In the house of my God, Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.”
It was a personal choice for these men to be musicians and doorkeepers, and they would rather follow this life choice and be close to God than to do anything else or be any other place.
As Christians, we can learn from this psalm and particularly from this verse. By trusting God, being reliant on His care, longing for Him, and persevering spiritually, we find strength and joy in Him.
We should always praise God for His presence, provision, and protection, the blessings that are bestowed upon us when we trust and abide in Him.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I come before You filled with gratitude for Your love and presence in my life. I long to dwell in Your house, to feel Your grace surrounding me always. Help me to prioritize my time with You, since being in Your presence brings more fulfillment than anything that the world can offer. I pray that I can always find joy in serving You, with the thought that even being a lowly doorkeeper in Your house is a privilege beyond comparison. Help me to always reflect Your light and love to all I come in contact with, and to share the goodness that comes from being in Your presence. AMEN.