In David's time there was no temple yet. There was a tabernacle. It was a kind of elaborate pitched tent. The tabernacle, unlike the temple, could be moved from place to place.
At the time this Psalm was written David was troubled and he went to go visit the tabernacle to find God. Once there he sees that birds have made their nest in the tabernacle and they are singing and enjoying themselves in simplicity.
"To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah" - Psalm 84:1-8 ESV
David is going through a valley but this demonstration of nature finding a refuge in God's house showed him a picture of the refuge we can find in His house.
The valley of weeping is a real place that we face as individuals. Locations can come to represent valleys. Places can have a spirit of defeat and sadness.
David went to find God and found God's place to be a place of birds singing.
The doctrine of God's grace is a place where our mind can go and find birds nesting. Jesus came as the embodiment of grace and truth. He healed all that he came in contact with... rich or poor... young or old... good or bad. He died on a cross and opened the doors of Heaven and gave men and women citizenship. He gives favor apart from merit. We can fail a thousand times and He will receive us as freely and openly as He did the first time we came to Him. Grace. Our mind can make a nest there and find shelter there.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
The thing about the tabernacle is that it can move. It isn't a fixed temple or mountain. The tabernacle can come to the valley and represent the mountain there. When grace teaching comes pools form from the springs of living water. Birds find the tabernacle and make their nest.
Oh, People need the tabernacle. Places need the tabernacle of fellowship. There are plenty of dead buildings in these valleys. No one needs another dead building but people need the refuge of grace. They need to retrace the steps of Christ and explore His mind. They need a safe place to come to on the Earth. A place free of judgement. A place to grow and raise their young.
Our valleys are real valleys. The tabernacle is the answer. Learning and remembering grace is the answer. Drawing near to people who live in grace is a real provision.
God help us. We can get so self absorbed that we abandon our provision. There is a whole world of places that need tabernacles out there. Help us God. Give us a vision and a provision to go out and sow the seed you have given us.
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