“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!”
— Psalm 84:1-4
Known by Name vs. Known by Character
There is a profound difference between knowing someone’s name and knowing their character. I know the names of many presidents, actors, authors, and influencers, but they all have one thing in common: I don't actually know them.
We have never had a conversation. They don’t know my name. I have only ever seen them through a formal or virtual platform. In their world, I am unknown.
Sadly, this is how many people "know" God. They know His name, they’ve heard the stories, and they may have even seen the movies—but formal knowledge cannot compare to a personal relationship. God reveals Himself in His Word because He wants to be deeply known. Unlike with celebrities, you are fully known by God.
The Lord of Armies
Psalm 84 is rich with descriptions of God's nature. He is the self-existent, supreme God of power and victory. Throughout this passage, He is called the "Lord of Hosts" (or Lord of Armies) four times.
This military imagery reveals God as a leader who:
- Protects and advocates for His people.
- Guides and strengthens the weary.
- Cares deeply for those under His command.
While God constantly appears as a victorious leader, the first person recorded in Scripture to call God by this specific name was not a soldier—it was a woman named Hannah.
Hannah: The Sparrow at the Altar
In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah enters God’s house and calls upon the Lord of Armies to take away her disgrace and bless her with a child. Hannah beautifully mirrors the sparrow mentioned in Psalm 84:3; she builds her "home" near the altar of God long before her prayer is answered.
4 Ways Hannah Built Her Life Before God
- She found her personal home in Him. A sparrow does not fill her nest with eggs until she has first secured a dwelling place. Hannah settled her soul in God’s presence before she ever had a family.
- She asked God to build her biological home. Hannah recognized that God alone has the power to fill a womb with children or a nest with eggs. A home is not only filled with biological children. God has called all women to be spiritual mothers. As we build our homes in God we should also ask him to build spiritual legacies.
- She surrendered her child to God. Just as a sparrow raises her young to eventually fly, Hannah committed to weaning her son and then give him back to the Lord.
- She was counted as "Blessed." Hannah is remembered for her faithfulness to find strength in God, making the pilgrimage to His house every year to offer praise.
The Modern Dwelling Place: The Local Church
God desires for each of us to be like Hannah and the sparrow. He wants our "heart and flesh" to long for Him. While we no longer travel to a physical temple in Jerusalem, God has provided a tangible way for us to live in His "courts" today.
According to 1 Corinthians 3:9-17, the Church—the body of believers—makes up the temple of God. Ephesians 2:22 tells us that we are “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Living Stones
God has called each believer to be a "living stone" built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5). It is impossible for a single stone to function as a temple by itself.
If we want to build our homes in the dwelling place of the Lord, we must be committed to the local church. A "blessed" person makes being with the Body of Christ a priority.
Conclusion: Examining Our Longing
The cross is our altar (Hebrews 13:10-16), and Jesus is our High Priest. Today, the Church is the cohesive temple of God on earth. We must examine our lives and ask: What does it look like for me to make my home near the altar of the Lord?
God is our King and our defender. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk with integrity. He placed a longing in every human heart to be known—and He provided the fulfillment of that longing through Christ and the community of the local church.
Does your heart and flesh long for communion with God?
How are you building your nest in God's dwelling place?
