Doorkeeper: Dwelling in the Presence of GodSample

“I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord, than anywhere else.” - CXMMXNS, Doorkeeper

Today, we are diving right into scripture with Psalm 84 - the place where the name of the CXMMXNS song “Doorkeeper” comes from. And it is indeed a beautiful scripture.

“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.” (verse 10).

What does it truly mean to be a doorkeeper as the Psalmist discusses? Historical context has a few thoughts on this word - but to start, in Psalm 84, the word translated as “doorkeeper” is סָפַף or “saphaph” and it comes from action of standing at the threshold, or guarding a door. In this time period, the threshold of any place was significant. It was a place of transition or protection from the outside world.

Doorkeepers had a variety of roles from being the first to open the door to the temple in the morning, sometimes accepting sacrifices, and then closing it again in the evening. It was an important and trusted position - but not necessarily glamorous with hours on end of standing.

And yet, the Psalmist declares that he would rather stand outside the door - serving the Lord, even at a distance - rather than dwelling in the tents of the wicked (which very well may have been much more comfortable).

While this is a humility and faith that we wish to have deeply grow in ourselves - we would be mistaken to not inspect our hearts first with the question, “Where in my life is there a temptation to choose the easier road of dwelling in the tents of the wicked over the hard, sometimes unnoticed, work of a doorkeeper?”

The lyrics of CXMMXNS song “Doorkeeper” say: “I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than anywhere else. I’d rather be in the courts of my God.”

It’s incredibly hard sometimes to dedicate ourselves to pray and worship and show up to commune with the Lord day after day, especially in seasons of business, numbness, or grief. And yet, how much more do we need the courts of the Lord in those rather difficult moments?

Our prayer today is for this song and scripture to encourage you to dwell with Jesus and take just a few moments in His presence. If you can, set a timer on your phone or watch for 2 minutes (only 120 seconds!) and just tell Him thank you. Ask Him if there’s anything He is asking of you today. And let Him know that you are there and listening.

Let’s be doorkeepers together.

Amen. Amen. Amen.