“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.”~ Psa. 84:3
Recently I ordered a large print hardback book of Psalms from Trinitarian Bible publishers ($8.00). I have been using it for my devotional time. Our text above has always caught my attention as I have read through His Word. Today I’d like to expound on this little gem.
We find first of all the sparrow and swallow were next-door neighbors, so to speak. One might say they were not only good neighbors, but close. As the adage says, “Birds of a feather flock together.” That is, they have the same nature, similar interests, and they're very much alike.
David was a great observer of both people and things. He was very much aware of what was going on around him. He no doubt noticed these two little common birds while he was worshiping. Rather than preferring the woods, barns, or houses, as other fowl, they chose God’s altar to make their abode with their young.… a good place to for our children.
It seems King David may have been envious of these two blessed creatures. He would rather live in a bird’s nest, close to God, than live in a palace; so says Mathew Henry. Solitude with God was more preferable to him than to be with the multitude of the world. Not as the wayfaring man, stopping at an inn for the night, but as one who compasses His altar continually. That was David’s desire. “So will I compass thine altar, O LORD.” ~ Psa. 26:6
How happy and content they were, living near His altar, along with their little ones.“Behold the fowls of the air.” “Ask now...and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee.” Matt. 6:26; Job 12:7
God forbid it ever be said of any of us, “As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.~ Prov. 27:8