Pastor Frank – At home with God (Psalm 84)

Verse: PSALM 84
Psalm 84 was written centuries before Jesus by “the sons of Korah.” They were assistants in the Temple in Jerusalem. They wrote eleven Psalms: Psalms 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
Psalm 84 describes how we are at home and blessed when we are close to God. We were made for God, and nothing else in our life will satisfy us as much as Him.

1. OUR REAL HOME IS WITH GOD (1-4)
Discussion Question: Where would you live if you could live anywhere?
Where is the house of God today? God is in us and with us if we are trusting in Him through Jesus. We meet with Him by calling on Him in praise and prayer and hearing His word the Bible and following Him. He wants to connect with us when we meet together as his people.
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Discussion Question: Have you ever felt a longing for God? When?
In Vs 2 the author speaks of his great desire for being with God.

Psalm 42:1 “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.”
2. OUR HOME WITH GOD IS SECURE (5-8)
Discussion Question: When is it most difficult for you to trust in God?
Valley of Baca = “valley of weeping.” This was a dry and barren place that people would pass through as they traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem (Zion). Even in this valley they could rejoice in God because they knew God was with them.

Whatever happens, we will be fine if we stay close to the Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. OUR HOME WITH GOD BRINGS US JOY (9-12)
If we are with God, we don’t need anything else.

John 14:1-3, 23 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many welling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” … “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”

Hebrews 11:8-11 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.