O Come Let Us Adore Him

Psalm 84

On our farm we had birds all around, but barn swallows would make it a point to build their nests usually above a light electrical junction box fastened to a 2x12 rafter holding up the ceiling (the floor of the hay barn above). When the outside doors were open they would swoop in and out of the barn in and out of their nests. More recently one barn swallow would build its nest outdoors above the house window of my mother's laundry area. Most birds do build their nests in trees or bushes, but barn swallows are not reluctant to build theirs in buildings occupied by men

.Today many church structures are set up with an indoor baptistry. At one church service a cattle water tank from a farm and ranch store was used. All services including baptisms are in one building. But when I was baptized as a believer we were at a lake, maybe one of the first outdoor church services I ever remember. We so often forget when we sit in our church sanctuaries that there was no indoor place for the people in the temple. The courtyard was standing room only Even the tabernacle with its tents had a spacious courtyard around it. Only God's priests went in the actual temple. The altars for most of the sacrifices were within the tabernacle courtyard in front of the temple. And birds would even build their nests in the structure of that altar always standing outdoors.

Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest for her, where she may lay her young: even by thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

Psalms 84:3 GNV

Before the children of Israel came to Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt individuals like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would build stone altars for sacrifices wherever they went for themselves or their families. With the instructions given to build the tabernacle and for offering grain and animal sacrifices most activity became centered in the tabernacle, later the temple after it was built. How special to know the tabernacle and its courtyard as we call it and later the temple with its courtyard, well, both were according to God's design. Moses built the tabernacle in the wilderness according to the pattern shown to him on Mount Sinai. God designed it the way it is with a purpose, a pattern of things to come.

It is even said:

For a day in thy courts is better then a thousand other where: I had rather be a door keeper in the House of my God, then to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickedness.

Psalms 84:10 GNV

A day in thy courts, what a thought. Location, location, location. I am wondering what Jesus thought after spending over thirty three years on this earth when He went to the temple? I wonder if He thought of the manger He was laid in as a baby, not the most luxurious of accomodations as we think of them, but safely within the design He had made. He himself may have seen the bird's nests in the altar there and thought that in their humble nests the swallows had safety. In His manger He had safety. While other children were slaughtered on His account He had safety.

The doorkeeper and the swallows alike had a great feedom to choose to come to these great courts to glorify the God of heaven. Oh to desire the courts of the presence of God than anywhere else.

After being told of the birth of the Christ the shepherds came wanting to be in His presence even when all he was is that tiny baby. Then the wise men came seeking to be in his presence. The Samaritan woman had a great question:

Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

Jesus said unto her, Woman, belieue me, the hour commeth, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem worship the Father.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit, and truth: for the Father requireth even such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and truth.

As we enter this time of Advent declare not the church, but its founder, not the season, but the Saviour, knowing assuredly that His desire has always been that we seek and desire His presence rather than the temples of wickedness, or the preaence of the wicked. He came safely into this world in the presence of livestock. He knew it was safe, safer than well known and wisespread. As a bird with it's nest in the altar He also safely was born with His resting place in a manger.

O Come Let Us A

dore Him.