Psalm 84 "Even the Sparrow"

Psalm for Today = 84:3-4

Photo by Benjamin LECOMTE on Unsplash

"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! Selah"

Comment: 
In this psalm, a Song of Zion, we see the longing of the psalmist for the courts of the Lord. It was written by the Sons of Korah who were gatekeepers at the Temple and their psalms show a great affinity for being in the presence of the Lord.

“Even the sparrow”…in Old Testament imagery, often the birds of the air represented the Gentile nations. Is it possible that the psalmist, observing the simple nesting of birds in the temple precinct, is capturing the longing of the nations and the availability of God to meet them at the temple of the Lord? I suppose I may be reading more into these two verses than was intended, but it seems to foreshadow a conversation between Jesus and a gentile woman in Matthew 15:27-28 where with a different metaphor we hear a phrase similar in meaning, “...even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 

No matter who we are (sparrows or dogs), where we are from, or what our need is, mercy and grace are available to us all in the presence of the Lord. 
Blessed indeed!