The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold

Psalm 84:1-12

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 

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. 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold. from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

The pilgrim comes to Jerusalem for one of the great annual festivals. His heart sings for joy at the prospect of worshipping God in his Temple. The happiest people in the world - it seems to him - are those who can be there always.

Why?

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, those whose strength is in you. 

Better is one day in God's courts than a thousand elsewhere. 

Blessed is people of the Lord, for the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold.

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1-4 神的殿令人安心：全人全心都嚮往神。我們主日去教會前是抱著什麼樣的心情去呢?養育雛鳥要在高枕無憂的地方，只有在神的祭壇那裏。即使在最外圍也安心，祭壇又代表奉獻，代表我跟著神走。 

v5-9 往聖殿的過程：成為基督徒的過程。我們常常心裏願意，卻軟弱了。往天國的路是辛苦的，不是依靠自己而是靠神，以親近神為目標，以討主喜悅為目標。若是為了掌聲、不是為了神，會耗盡自己，力不從心。經過流淚谷是艱難的，踏入之後變成泉源之地！只要一走上去就有秋雨之福！

 v10-12 在神的殿中：住在聖殿中是何等美好。在神的家中，即使是最卑微的也勝過在惡人屋內。神是日頭，使我們永遠在光中，盾牌是保護我們。我們是否期待神的帶領?

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How?

Praise the Lord, God is my sun and my shield!