God’s Gracious Condescension
The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a new for herself, where she may lay her young, even your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Psalm 84:3
The psalmist so desired the presence of God that here he expressed a level of envy of the birds who can come and go as they will from near the altars of Yahweh. The emphasis on a house and nest for her young points to the security and stability that is found in the presence of and in communion with God. Similar to when a child who wants to know that mom and dad as he runs and plays, those in the presence of God are free to enjoy the life God has given, but they return time and again to the security of God’s watchful gaze. This security was felt in a unique way by Old Testament saints at the physical space of the temple, but now, with Christ’s death tearing down the curtain that separated God from man, we can come and go in God’s presence like a bird that flies here and there from her nest. We need only to desire Him and take steps back to His presence throughout our lives.
What is most striking about this verse is God’s gracious condescension. The lowly bird and the humble sparrow find rest and a home in the presence of God, near His altars. “If God cares about the sparrow,” Jesus said, “Surely He cares about us.” The problem isn’t that we cannot dwell near God like the birds, but that we lack the faith to come and draw near. I find myself distracted by the lures of the world which advertise themselves to be much more fulfilling than God. Paul quoted Deuteronomy 30:11 in Romans 10:6 to remind us that God is not far out of reach, but near us. Again, the problem isn’t God; it’s us. He has graciously condescended to us, now we must draw near in a full heart of assurance.
