Shalom,
In Psalm 84 the psalmist is speaking about his longing for the Temple in Jerusalem. He says this in verse 4:
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
If the person who traveled to the "house of the Lord" in those days was blessed, happy, fortunate and too be envied, HOW MUCH MORE blessed is it to BE the "house of the Lord"? As born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we are ALWAYS in His presence! In fact, He said this in Hebrews 13:5b:
5b For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Let's make sure we NEVER take this blessing for granted! Stay aware of His presence IN you every day! Then we can say, with the psalmist, in verse 10:
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.
Spending time in His presence is the very best thing you can ever do! You will begin to know Him better and, when you do, you will begin to think, speak and act JUST LIKE JESUS! Do you think the world will take notice then?
In Luke 5 we see this happening in verses 12:
12 While he was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, IF YOU ARE WILLING, You are able to cure me and make me clean.
That is a question that many believers think they have to ask or attach to every prayer that they pray: "if it be Thy will". We will see that it is not necessary for a born again believer to EVER ask that question of the Lord again! His response in verse 13 forever answered that one!
13 And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I AM WILLING; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy left him.
It was good that the leper asked that question of Jesus, so that it could be FOREVER answered for us! We say it this way at The Spoken Word Church: God is more willing than He is able. He is 100% able, so He is AT LEAST 100% willing! Don't ever tack that question on a prayer to God again! All that it accomplishes is to give a place of doubt, fear and worry for the enemy to enter in and steal your faith! If you need to find some direction for what He wants you to do in your life, then ask Him for that wisdom, but never ask that about something He has already promised in His Word! That tells Him that you don't believe Him and I'm sure He's not very pleased with THAT!
Hosea 8-10 speaks all the way through about the rebellion of God's people, Israel, and what the results of their rebellion and disobedience will be! All three chapters are filled with this. But our merciful God has always given the way back for His people, if they would only listen and obey Him! We can see that even here in Hosea 10:12:
12 Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.
Did they listen? No! Will you? We still, in our New and better Covenant, have daily choices to make concerning doing things God's way or not! Doing things His way brings blessings. Not doing things His way gives the enemy an entrance into our lives! Make RIGHT choices and be blessed!
Shalom in Him!
