Psalm 84

In Psalm 84 we hear the psalmist’s passionate cry: “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” But what does that mean for us when our hearts often long for “a thousand elsewheres” — vacations, success, comfort — more than the presence of God? This sermon explores that tension honestly, naming how we can sometimes sing worship songs without fully meaning the words. The psalm reminds us that the Christian life isn’t just about avoiding sin or “sin management,” but about entering into the presence of the living God — the place where healing, wholeness, and true life are found. Like choosing between cities or destinations, what we think is “better” is shaped by the stories and songs that capture our imagination. Marketing trains us to long for other things, but Psalm 84 invites us to retrain our hearts to long for God through worship, community, and pilgrimage with Jesus. In him, we discover that God’s presence is the ultimate “stuff” our souls were made for. Recorded August 24, 2025.