Psalm 84 paints a beautiful picture of intimacy with God—and through this passage, we get a clear invitation to draw closer to Him. Whether you're standing on His front porch or living in the full joy of His presence, this Psalm shows us that there’s always a next step into deeper relationship.
Let’s walk through it together.
David starts off in Psalm 84 with a deep, desperate longing:
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.” (Psalm 84:1-2 NLT)
The “courts” here represent the outer area of God’s presence. Think of it like being on God’s front porch. You’re close—you’ve entered His gates—but you're not quite inside yet.
If your heart aches to be near God, you’re in the courts. And that’s a beautiful place to be. It means your spirit is alive, and you’re drawing near. Don’t overlook this stage—celebrate it. That longing is the first sign of a growing relationship.
David then talks about the joy of living in God’s house:
“What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.” (Psalm 84:4)
The house of God—the tabernacle—represents a deeper level of closeness. You’re not just longing anymore. You’re inside. And what’s the fruit? Constant praise. Joy that overflows. A heart that can’t help but lift up the name of the Lord.
So, how do you know if you’ve entered His house? If praise pours from your lips and joy bubbles in your soul, you’re there.
Here’s where things get powerful. Under the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. But Hebrews 10 tells us that Jesus changed everything:
“By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.” (Hebrews 10:20)
You and I now have unlimited access to the deepest level of intimacy with God. And what does that look like?
No guilt. No shame. Just freedom. Just peace.
When you truly understand what Christ has done for you—when you live free from the weight of sin—you’ve entered the Most Holy Place. And you don’t have to wait. You don’t have to get everything right first. The blood of Jesus already made the way. Just walk in.
Psalm 84 goes on to talk about strength and joy:
“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord… When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.” (Psalm 84:5-6)
Here’s a powerful truth: joy and strength are inseparable. If you’re sour and cranky, you’re not strong in the Lord—because the joy of the Lord is your strength. And as you walk with Him, you’ll bring that joy and refreshment to every place you go.
Imagine this: you walk into a gas station, and someone who was depressed leaves full of peace—just because you walked in. Why? Because the Spirit of the Lord is upon you. You carry His presence.
As you continue your journey, the promise is clear—you don’t go backward. You don’t have to live life taking two steps forward and one step back.
“They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God.” (Psalm 84:7)
As long as you’re seeking God’s Kingdom, He takes you from strength to strength, from glory to glory. If you feel like you’re slipping back, ask yourself: what are you seeking? Because when you seek Him, He always leads you forward.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and glory.” (Psalm 84:11 NKJV)
God gives you light and warmth (sun), and He gives you protection (shield). And when you dig into that word “shield,” it gets even more beautiful. In the original Hebrew, it's like the scales of a crocodile—tough, resilient, ever-growing. That’s how God covers you. You are protected from every hazard—physical, spiritual, emotional.
He also gives you grace (His power flowing through your life) and glory (His goodness being revealed through you). And the best part? He doesn’t withhold good from those who seek Him.
He’s not waiting for you to be perfect. He’s not withholding. He’s pouring out. All you have to do is receive.
Are you in the courts? Longing for Him? Are you in the house? Praising Him? Or have you entered the Most Holy Place—living free from guilt and shame?
No matter where you are, the invitation is the same: go deeper.
“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.” (Hebrews 10:22)
You don’t need to earn it. You don’t need to wait ten years. You just need faith. Believe Christ’s sacrifice was enough—and go in.
Because when you live from the Most Holy Place, you carry that joy and freedom everywhere you go. You bring life. You bring peace. You walk into a room and everything changes.
So today, make the decision. Don’t stay on the porch. Don’t settle in the hallway. Walk boldly into the Holy of Holies—because that’s where the freedom is.
