“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalm 84:1-2). That’s a powerful expression of eagerness to be present with God.

The psalm offers the audacious statement that “No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly” (84:11). Yet surely the psalmist knew of instances – don’t we all? – where faithful people asked for something good from God’s hand, and did not receive it. Well then: why make such a claim?

It’s hyperbole, of course, rather than an exact denotative statement. That is, it’s a purposeful exaggeration in strong and vivid language, to help us exult in the wonder of living in the presence of the Lord. If you’ve got that, it implies, you’ve got everything, because compared to the presence of the Lord, everything else is small potatoes. And so the psalmist can declare that “a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness” (84:10).

Wait, what was that again? Did we really just read that spending a whole day reveling in worship is preferable to spending three years doing whatever you happen to feel like? That’s good to know, because I had the impression that some people get quite anxious if church lasts longer than sixty minutes …

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Ah Lord God! What would it be like, if we really longed that much for your presence? What would it be like, for us to sing out to you for joy from the depths of our being? Heal us, inspire us, change our hearts, that we may run eagerly to meet with you, and revel in your deep and steadfast love!