Do you really want to be a swallow?

Psalm 84 A Bird’s Eye View

God created the birds to fly above the earth and across the expanse of the sky. The timid swallow feeds upon the wing across the expanse of the sky to catch insects. It prefers the habitats of men, where insects are plentiful, and often chooses the most extraordinary places for its nests. The psalmist reflects that in the Temple, this wee bird found a protected refuge high above in the sheltered eaves, where it had the privilege of a ‘bird’s eye view.’ He can see the comings and goings and hear the words spoken at the altar and the songs of the choirs as they echo across the courtyard. What a view! It must be marvelous, notes the psalmist! While the priest has the “dog’s eye view” or ground-level view, the swallow has it all! For a moment, he wonders what it would be like to reside as the swallow in the courts of the Lord’s Temple.

We do not have to settle for the bird’s eye view; we can enter the very presence of God because of the sacrifice of Christ. He tore the veil asunder top to bottom opening. Indeed “we can now without hesitation-walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” because Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God.”[Heb 10:19 [MSG] He tore the “curtain” into God’s presence by his sacrificed body so now we can say: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” [Eph 1:3] We can walk right into the very presence of God.