Laugh With the Sinners?
Psalm 84:10 - 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.
Billy Joel once sang, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun." In our sinful world today this might often seem the case. It would be much more fun and easy to do what we want and not have to listen or care about what anyone else says.
David says in our Psalm verse for today that he would rather be a doorkeeper in God's house than dwell in the tents of the wicked. I do not know how many of us have worked as doorkeepers at a hotel or on an elevator. Nevertheless I cannot image it would be all that exciting of a job.
So the author is saying he would rather have a humble job in a place of God than give into the evil desires of this world. This might sound like a challenge to us and our sinful nature, but we can be confident and content that our sins are taken care of. Jesus paid for our sins with his life. Now how can we as Children of God show our thankfulness and reflect his love for us?
By working as doorkeepers? Well, maybe not literally. On the other hand, when we let our "Gospel Lights" shine in everything we do and say, we invite people in the door. This is where we as Christians can find joy and confidence as we look ahead to our eternal lives in the "tents of the Lord."
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How does God's presence everywhere affect your understanding of this passage? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; how is what you watch, read, and who you spend time with being a doorkeeper for the house of the Lord?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Ask God to forgive you for the many times you have "dwelled in the tents of the wicked" by the things you've thought, said, and done. Thank Him for sending his Son, who was perfect in our place, and for sending his Holy Spirit, who lives in you and enables you to choose what is good over what is evil.