the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:11 NASB).
Many Jewish chatunot (marriages) are celebrated at this time of year. The one person no one wants to be around is the aveyl beyn chatanim ("mourner among bridegrooms," the wet blanket). The opposite is a lirkod beshtey chatunot (one who likes "to dance simultaneously at two weddings," a joyful person). In family and congregational settings there are wet blanket believers and joyful believers. Messiah prefers that we be full of joy. How can we be?
In the above Scripture, bacharti ("I would rather") is best translated "I choose." Joyful believers choose the place of God's dwelling. David chose to dwell where God dwelt. Abraham did, too.
Let us also choose to live in the place where the Lord dwells rather than in "the tents of wickedness." There we will find joy enough to dance at two weddings!
...spend time in the courts of the Lord, who is the source of my joy.
JR
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
