How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
(Psalm 84:1-3, KJV)
The words of the text encircle a hand-tinted woodblock image by American Print Maker Kreg Yingst of two birds hovering around their nests, symbolizing the loving care the Creator of the Universe extends toward all Creation. As we know from Jesus' words in Matthew 10:29, sparrows were not deemed of much value in biblical times, selling for two a penny, "yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care." From the divine perspective, the "fluttering sparrow" and "darting swallow" (Proverb 26:2) are worthy to build their nests by the holiest place in the temple of God. (John Kohan)