“The sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God”— Psalms 84:33Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. (Psalm 84:3).
THE sparrow, the most worthless of birds, and the swallow, the most restless, picture us in our natural estate as utterly unprofitable in ourselves and unable to find rest in anything that earth can offer. Yet we may go to the altars of the Lord and there find all our hearts crave. Notice there are two altars—that of sacrifice in the court of the sanctuary, where the Victim was slain and offered up on the sinner’s behalf, and the golden incense-altar in the holy place, which speaks of Christ’s intercession in heaven. We find rest for the conscience in the work of the cross and rest for our hearts in our Lord’s gracious ministry in heaven and on our behalf.
“Like the worthless little sparrow,
I have found my peace with Thee,
Since upon that brazen altar
Thou wast sacrificed for me.
As the restless, flitting swallow
In Thy golden altar nests,
In Thy constant intercession
Now my soul completely rests.
Oh, the perfect peace of dwelling
In Thine altars, O my King,
Where the swallow and the sparrow—
Yea, and even I may sing.”
—Mary Helen Anderson.