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Church history has much to teach us about the spiritual discipline of simplicity. William of St. Thierry, a twelfth-century monk, wrote: “Holy simplicity is an unchanging will in the pursuit of a changeless good. . . . Simplicity, in fact, is properly the will fundamentally turned toward God, asking of the Lord only one thing, seeking it with fervor, with no ambition to multiply itself by becoming dispersed in this world. Simplicity is also, in the conduct of life, the true humility which has the virtue of attaching more importance to the evidence of the conscience than to reputation.”
What “one thing” did William mean? God's presence. “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Ps. 27:4; cf. Phil. 3:13-14). Psalm 84 celebrates this same desire to be near God. Like the readings for the past two days, it shows us simplicity, this time from a more relational or contemplative angle.
The psalmist longed to be in God's presence. He used strong verbs, including “yearns,” “faints,” and “cry out” (v. 2). He gave a memorable metaphor of a bird seeking her nest to describe his heart finding a home in worship (v. 3). He employed hyperboles or literary exaggerations—one day compared to a thousand, a lowly job in the right place compared to a home in the wrong place—to make the point that God's presence outweighs all other considerations (v. 10).
The simple-hearted who
dwell in God's presence are richly blessed
(v. 4). Specifically, they find their strength
for pilgrimage in Him, and He turns the
difficulties (Valley of Baca) they encounter
into benefits (springs, pools) (vv.
5-7). God is a “sun and shield” to them
and withholds no good thing from them
(v. 11). “O Lord Almighty, blessed is the
man who trusts in you” (v. 12). Do your
words and actions lead others to the conclusion
that you have this kind of heart?
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A powerful modern worship chorus has been written from this psalm, “Better Is One Day,” which says in part: “My heart and flesh cry out / For you, the Living God / Your Spirit's water to my soul.” Written by Matt Redman in 1995, this song has been recorded by a number of Christian musical artists and groups—perhaps you have it on one of your CDs. Read through the lyrics or sing it to the Lord today to close your personal devotional time.
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