By Shirley Mitchell
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
Psalm 84:10
My youngest daughter Victoria is adopted from China. In efforts to teach her about her birth country and her heritage, she is enrolled in our city’s Chinese school. Every Saturday, she attends language class for two hours and a dance class for an hour. This past weekend was Chinese New Year. This is one of the largest Chinese holidays. They celebrate with great parties, food, music, and dance. Victoria’s school holds an elaborate Chinese New Year party with some of the finest food while children and adults sing, dance, act, and play some beautiful Chinese instruments.
This year is the year of the Rabbit. Now, the bunny rabbit happens to be Victoria’s favorite animal. I think the reason for that is her favorite young lady Lindsey gave her a bunny stuffed animal. In honor of the year of the rabbit, Victoria’s language teacher decided to do a play about a bunny for the big Chinese New Year performance. When Victoria came home, she showed me the sheet her teacher gave her and told me the story of a little bunny, her mother, and the wolf. Then, she told me sadly that she was just the doorkeeper. She didn’t want to go to perform because she thought her role was so insignificant and that she was not needed. Of course, I encouraged her that this would still be fun and told her she needed to do this play because it was a class assignment.
When I saw them perform their dress rehearsal, I realized why she was not excited about being the doorkeeper. It was not just because she was not a bunny. It was because she remained hidden behind the cardboard box the entire play. She opened and shut the door while the other characters came in and out of it. No one would know that she was on stage until she came out at the end and bowed. Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought to my heart Psalm 84:10. It was the perfect time to teach her the deep meaning of this verse.
Psalm 84 was written by the sons of Korah. They were quite different than their forefather Korah. After the exodus from Egypt, Korah became insolent and rose up against Moses and Aaron. He led a group against them who angrily yelled at them for going too far. They shouted that the LORD was with the whole assembly and how dare they set themselves above the others. Moses went to knees. Then he said tomorrow we will let the LORD decide who should lead the people of Israel. In the morning they were to take their censors and put burning coal and incense in it and stand before the tent of meeting.
Korah and his followers foolishly agreed to the showdown. They didn’t realize they had exalted themselves in their own eyes, and it was not God who exalted them. In the morning, as Moses finished saying that this is how you will know that the LORD anointed him and sent him to be their leader, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and all of those who disobeyed God and had come against God’s chosen leaders for Israel. Shocking, isn’t it? They had forgotten their God was a holy God. They had forgotten that He is the one who assigns tasks to His people and He architects the organizational structure. Their hearts were hard and not for God. So God punished them and showed all of Israel to not dare to question Him in such an insolent way or His choice of leaders.
Many years later, the sons of Korah wrote this Psalm 84. Their attitude was completely different than their forefather Korah. They learned from his mistake and his sin of pride. They learned to worship God and led others to worship Him, too. They no longer struggled with their importance in the kingdom. They realized that one day in the presence of God was better than having 1,000 other days without Him. They didn’t care what assignment God gave them. They just wanted to be with Him and be a part of His family. They just wanted to worship and serve God. If God chose for them to be His doorkeeper, then they rejoiced! They knew that merely being God’s doorkeeper which was one of the lowest positions was better than ever living in the tent of the wicked.
So my friend, have you been given a role that you think seems like the doorkeeper role? Do you think that you are somehow less important than your preacher, priest, or worship leader? Have you learned that whatever He has for you is exactly what you want? Do you know what you mean to God? Do you know your significance? Have you learned that one day with Him surpasses all other days? I hope so. My friend, that is true living. Seek Him first. May He be your first love. May you find fulfillment, joy, peace and love just by being on God’s team and with Him.
Pray with me: Almighty God, better is one day in Your courts than a 1,000 elsewhere. We would rather be a doorkeeper in Your house than to ever dwell in the tent of the wicked. We long to be in Your presence and to be filled with Your Spirit. You are our truest heart’s desire. We cry out for You! We don’t care what role You assign us. Don’t let our hearts betray us and for our pride to mislead us. We want YOU! It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
Psalm 84:10
My youngest daughter Victoria is adopted from China. In efforts to teach her about her birth country and her heritage, she is enrolled in our city’s Chinese school. Every Saturday, she attends language class for two hours and a dance class for an hour. This past weekend was Chinese New Year. This is one of the largest Chinese holidays. They celebrate with great parties, food, music, and dance. Victoria’s school holds an elaborate Chinese New Year party with some of the finest food while children and adults sing, dance, act, and play some beautiful Chinese instruments.
This year is the year of the Rabbit. Now, the bunny rabbit happens to be Victoria’s favorite animal. I think the reason for that is her favorite young lady Lindsey gave her a bunny stuffed animal. In honor of the year of the rabbit, Victoria’s language teacher decided to do a play about a bunny for the big Chinese New Year performance. When Victoria came home, she showed me the sheet her teacher gave her and told me the story of a little bunny, her mother, and the wolf. Then, she told me sadly that she was just the doorkeeper. She didn’t want to go to perform because she thought her role was so insignificant and that she was not needed. Of course, I encouraged her that this would still be fun and told her she needed to do this play because it was a class assignment.
When I saw them perform their dress rehearsal, I realized why she was not excited about being the doorkeeper. It was not just because she was not a bunny. It was because she remained hidden behind the cardboard box the entire play. She opened and shut the door while the other characters came in and out of it. No one would know that she was on stage until she came out at the end and bowed. Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought to my heart Psalm 84:10. It was the perfect time to teach her the deep meaning of this verse.
Psalm 84 was written by the sons of Korah. They were quite different than their forefather Korah. After the exodus from Egypt, Korah became insolent and rose up against Moses and Aaron. He led a group against them who angrily yelled at them for going too far. They shouted that the LORD was with the whole assembly and how dare they set themselves above the others. Moses went to knees. Then he said tomorrow we will let the LORD decide who should lead the people of Israel. In the morning they were to take their censors and put burning coal and incense in it and stand before the tent of meeting.
Korah and his followers foolishly agreed to the showdown. They didn’t realize they had exalted themselves in their own eyes, and it was not God who exalted them. In the morning, as Moses finished saying that this is how you will know that the LORD anointed him and sent him to be their leader, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and all of those who disobeyed God and had come against God’s chosen leaders for Israel. Shocking, isn’t it? They had forgotten their God was a holy God. They had forgotten that He is the one who assigns tasks to His people and He architects the organizational structure. Their hearts were hard and not for God. So God punished them and showed all of Israel to not dare to question Him in such an insolent way or His choice of leaders.
Many years later, the sons of Korah wrote this Psalm 84. Their attitude was completely different than their forefather Korah. They learned from his mistake and his sin of pride. They learned to worship God and led others to worship Him, too. They no longer struggled with their importance in the kingdom. They realized that one day in the presence of God was better than having 1,000 other days without Him. They didn’t care what assignment God gave them. They just wanted to be with Him and be a part of His family. They just wanted to worship and serve God. If God chose for them to be His doorkeeper, then they rejoiced! They knew that merely being God’s doorkeeper which was one of the lowest positions was better than ever living in the tent of the wicked.
So my friend, have you been given a role that you think seems like the doorkeeper role? Do you think that you are somehow less important than your preacher, priest, or worship leader? Have you learned that whatever He has for you is exactly what you want? Do you know what you mean to God? Do you know your significance? Have you learned that one day with Him surpasses all other days? I hope so. My friend, that is true living. Seek Him first. May He be your first love. May you find fulfillment, joy, peace and love just by being on God’s team and with Him.
Pray with me: Almighty God, better is one day in Your courts than a 1,000 elsewhere. We would rather be a doorkeeper in Your house than to ever dwell in the tent of the wicked. We long to be in Your presence and to be filled with Your Spirit. You are our truest heart’s desire. We cry out for You! We don’t care what role You assign us. Don’t let our hearts betray us and for our pride to mislead us. We want YOU! It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry
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