Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere, oh God!
“Better is One Day” is one of those songs who’s lyrics are taken almost directly from a verse or chapter of the Bible. In this case Matt Redman used the 84th psalm for his inspiration.
This psalm was written by the sons of Korah who served as gatekeepers in the temple. (I Chron 9:17-19) These “Korahites” were the great-grandsons of the Korah who rebelled against God and Moses in the wilderness and started a destructive earthquake and a plague of death. (Numbers chapter 16)
They knew the joys of serving the Lord and living daily in the presence of the Lord. And they also knew the pain of rebelling against the Lord because of the destruction caused by their great-grandfather’s rebellion. In this psalm they testify of the joy of serving the Lord and how they would rather live for only one day serving the lord as lowly door keepers in the temple than live for a thousand days anywhere else.
In those days the Holy Spirit did not live in people like He does today. So in order to enjoy the presence of the Lord they had to go to the temple in Jerusalem. Today we can enjoy fellowship with God anytime and anywhere because He dwells in us who believe in the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.
The Holy Spirit dwells in us and wants to live through us and be strong in us but He will never take over against our wills. The question is, are you dwelling in the courts of the Lord through continual Praise and Worship and Thanksgiving to Him or are you living in your own little world day after day?
The Korahites knew it is better to live one day in the presence of the Lord than to live for a thousand days apart from His presence as the chorus of the song says:
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere!
You are the temple of the Lord and you can take the presence of the Lord with you throughout your day!
I invite you to practice the presence of the Lord today. Carry Him with you. Enter His gates with thanksgiving in your heart and enter His courts with praise. Make sacrifices of praise (praise Him even when you don’t feel like it) throughout your day today and He will satisfy your heart within His presence.
Lyrics:
How lovely is Your dwelling place
Oh, Lord Almighty
For my soul longs and even faints for You
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings
Chorus:
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place Your glory dwells
Chorus
My heart and flesh cry out
For You, the living God
Your Spirit’s water for my soul
(My thirsty soul)
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You
Better is one day,
better is one day,
better is one day
Than thousands elsewhere
