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We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 84  Listen to Psalm 84 Here is a prayer of longing to worship in the presence of the living God. The author might be a Levite in a type of lockdown during the time Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah (2 Kings 18:13-16). The cry is similar in Psalm 42 that we visited on June 21st 2020. In Psalm 42 the themes of desire and despair through our 21st Century lockdown by the Covid-19 virus resonated with us. The common line is the blessings from meeting for worship and intimacy with God (verse 5-7). The poetry of verses 1 to 4 paints the picture of a physical yearning to worship in the temple with others - including the bird life that lives there. The blessings that follow are heartfelt praise, knowing God’s favour, honour and his strength. No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless (verse 11). As we leave our gathering we are enabled to walk with God through the dry and steep paths that we meet on our pilgrimage life travelling towards the New Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit goes with us so we can experience his refreshing rain. And in adversity we find the Lord God is our sun and shield. Blessed are those whose trust is in you. So, how important is communal worship of God on your Sunday? The Message translates verse 10: “One day spent in your house, the beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek Island beaches” (verse 10). Lord, help me to make time to worship you today. Help me to keep trusting you and worshipping your Holy Name.