Church is for the birds

Psalm 84 starts this way:

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

 1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
       O LORD Almighty!

 2 My soul yearns, even faints,
       for the courts of the LORD;
       my heart and my flesh cry out
       for the living God.

 3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
       and the swallow a nest for herself,
       where she may have her young--
       a place near your altar,
       O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
       they are ever praising you.           Selah     (NIV)

The Sons of Korah were stewards of God's tabernacle in the early part of the Old Testament. They were among the few who stayed true to God while many other groups and tribes within Isreal fell away.

I just love the connection the writer makes here between birds and people and God's house of worship. Can't you just picture a sparrow or swallow ending up in the corner of the tabernacle? It's nest was apparently up near the altar for a couple months, long enough for a clutch of eggs to hatch.

Seeing that little bird and its tiny family securely at home in God's presence, and hearing the pleasant peeps and chirps in tune with the gittith (guitar), the psalmist couldn't help but make them an example to us: People who make God's presence their home are joyful, blessed, and full of praise.

Been a while since you or your family have been to church? Need to spend more time with our Father in prayer?

A little bird is trying to tell you something.