Beloved, I have the joy of sharing with you today the above theme from Ps 84:1 et seq. Indeed, in creation, every living being has found a lodging or a nest. But the believer, like his Lord, knows no true rest here on earth (Mat 8:18-22). His affections are elsewhere: in those heavenly abodes where his place is prepared (John 14:1-3). The ellipsis in verse 4 seems to reflect the emotion of the heart; it overflows with what fills it: “… your altars, O Lord of hosts! The brass altar and the golden altar speak to us of Christ in his sacrifice and in his intercession, He whose presence makes for us all the price of the House of the Father. But the path that leads to this House of the Father passes through a world that is a valley of Baca (or of weeping; and the sons of Core, authors of the psalm, had experienced this: see Psalm 42:1-5). It doesn’t matter; if this path is forged in our hearts, if nothing separates us from the One to whom we are going, then the very tears will be transformed into beneficent experiences; we will walk from force to strength and no longer from fall to fall. Finally, the excellent promises of verse 12 will be our part. But let us remember from verse 10 that the precious secret of answering our prayers is to present them in the name of the Lord Jesus, who is the Anointed of God.
For this psalm was the fitting expression of David’s feelings when he was away from the house of God (2 Sam 15). It can also be seen as the expression of the desire of a saint who, through the Spirit, sighs after heaven. And it will also be the language of the patience of the waiting residue. There are three orders of blessing, according to the estimation of this soul. First, to dwell continuously in the house of God: praise is uninterrupted activity. Secondly, to be on your way to this house, tasting here and there, some refreshments of spirit. Third, to put one’s trust in God, while this house is distant, still out of sight. Notice that for Jesus, the whole earth was a place of exile away from God’s tabernacles—an altered land, without water (Ps. 63). His soul was thirsty everywhere, except when he encountered the faith of a poor sinner. So even here on earth he had meat to eat and water to drink. But God’s presence was everything to Him. And to restore this presence of God to this apostate land was in a sense the purpose of his coming here on earth. The beginning and end of his ministry express this, for then he purified the temple (John 2; Matt. 21) – an act that showed that he would remove the defilement of this earth, so that God could dwell there again and receive its praise.
The psalmist seems to dwell, with divine joy, on the thought that the passerine and swallow (which somehow represent all his creatures) find their rest in the sanctuary of God. For so it will be in the kingdom to come. The creation that now sighs, will be freed to enjoy freedom and glory. The spirit of this precious psalm has a very wide scope. All saints, with Jesus as their leader, can make their language heard. He gives expression to the feelings of the hearts of all God’s people. May he continue to be at all times the happy companion of our meditations! What a blessed moment when, all together, we arrive at this house where praise will rise again and again! ForPs 84 considers the blessing of going now to the forecourt of the Lord; but it alludes in a figurative way to the path that leads to these forecourts and to the path of tears that the people had to follow in their walk to blessing. This Psalm therefore has a great moral significance, instructive for Christians as well as for Jews. In Ps. 63, the hunted residue thirsted for God himself and found in him, in spite of everything, a satiation as of marrow and fat; in it, the soul is occupied with the joys of its house, for it enters into the enjoyment of the blessings of the covenant: not that it sighs ardently after the living God; but it is in its forecourt.
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they will praise you shortly.” To be introduced there, – such is the blessing! They will have nothing more to do but rent. This is the first great subject of blessing: the perfect and complete blessing in its very nature. It is at the end of the race; but there is also the path that leads to it: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, and those in whose hearts are the paths forged” (those who lead home). These traits characterize the state of the soul that is before us: its strength is in the Lord; his heart is in the paths that lead to him. This path of blessing passes through trial; that is why we need strength; and, whatever it may be, one loves and takes the path that leads to God. The saints pass through the valley of tears: it becomes for them a fountain; for by these things one has life, and in all these things consists the life of the spirit (Esa 38:16).
In addition, the rain comes from above to fill the reservoirs of this altered earth. The saints use their strength: no doubt this force is put to the test: but they renew it; they go from force to force until they all appear before God in Zion. They are a people who pray, dwell in dependence, and entrust themselves in grace. The covenant name: the Lord of hosts – the God of Jacob, is again introduced here; he is the shield of his people and the latter asks him to look to his Anointed. This is now the bond between Jehovah and His people, not the law that the people had broken. They appear before God in Zion, the place of royal deliverance in grace. From now on the interests of the people and the Anointed can no longer be separated; for the blessing rests on him, and on them because of him.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Songs of pilgrims arriving in Jerusalem:
· The Living God
Joshua 3:10 Says: “By this you will recognize that the living God is in your midst, and that He will cast out before you the Canaanites, the Hethians, the Hevians, the Herezians, the Guirgasians, the Amorites, and the Jebusians: Ps 42:3 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: When will I go and appear before the face of God? Ps 94:3 Until when shall the wicked, O Lord! How long will the wicked triumph? Isa 37:17 Eternal, bow your ear, and listen! Eternal, open your eyes, and look! Hear all the words that Sancherib sent to insult the living God! Mt 26:63 Jesus remained silent. And the high priest, speaking to him, said to him: I adjure you, through the living God, to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. Hb 10:31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
· Praise, examples
2 Ch 5:13 For Solomon had made a brass tribune, and put it in the middle of the forecourt; it was five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high; he placed himself there, knelt down in front of the whole assembly of Israel, and stretched out his hands to heaven. And he said: Ps 35:28 And my tongue will celebrate your righteousness, She will say your praise every day. Isaiah 61:3 To grant the afflicted of Zion, To give them a tiara instead of ashes, An oil of joy instead of mourning, A garment of praise instead of a dejected spirit, So that they may be called terebinths of righteousness, A plantation of the Lord, to serve for his glory. Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, and which was in accordance with what had been announced to them. Luke 19:37 And when he was already approaching Jerusalem, towards the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples, seized with joy, began to praise God aloud for all the miracles they had seen.
· Renewed Heart
Dt 5:29 Oh! if they always had that same heart to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that they and their children might be happy forever! Ps 57:8 My heart is strengthened, O God! my heart is strengthened; I will sing, I will make my instruments sound. Ez 11:19 I will give them one heart, and I will put in you a new spirit; I will remove from their bodies the heart of stone, and I will give them a heart of flesh, Luke 8:15 What has fallen into the good earth are those who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold it back, and bear fruit with perseverance.
· God a light
Ps 27:1 of David. Jehovah is my light and salvation: Who would I fear? Jehovah is the support of my life: Who would I be afraid of? Ps 84:12 For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield, Jehovah gives grace and glory, He does not deny any good to those who walk in integrity. Ps 118:27 Jehovah is God, and He enlightens us. Tie the victim with ties, Bring her to the horns of the altar! 1 John 1:5 The news that we have learned from Him, and that we are announcing to you, is that God is light, and that there is no darkness in Him. Rev 22:5 There will be no more night; and they will need neither a lamp nor a light, because the Lord God will enlighten them. And they will reign in centuries of centuries.
From all the above, we note that the heart’s interest in this special blessing is then expressed in a manner full of gentleness and strength; the psalmist summarizes what Jehovah is, who gives this blessing: he is light and protection; he gives grace and glory and does not deny any good to those who walk in integrity. The thought of what Jehovah is leads the psalmist to summarize himself in one word, of which he is deeply aware: “Eternal of hosts! Blessed is the man who trusts in you! ». It is very beautiful to see the Saints celebrate again, from the bottom of their hearts, on various occasions, Jehovah, their God according to the covenant, now that the way, though passing through affliction, is open to them even in his known presence. Ps. 63 was the expression of joy in God, in the wilderness, when one had nothing but him; the character of the desert bringing out the depth and sweetness of the blessing of the sanctuary. Thus Ps. 84 expresses the joy of which God is the source for the heart when one has been brought to him, or is on one’s way to him; the way in which one enjoys him in the midst of what surrounds him. The following Psalm deals with the blessing of the country and the delivered people. In those who come next we find Christ himself, as associated with the people, but always in relation to the relationship that exists according to the covenant between Jehovah and his people. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Ghost. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterhole to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and for centuries of ages. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the protection of the Most High is fully sufficient.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of Hosts.