A Journey Through The Psalms Wisdom From God A Journey Through The Psalms

Psalm 84– Yearning To Worship Are you glad you’re here today? What makes you glad? Or not? Where else would you be right now? Are you here because you feel you have to be? Or because you truly want to be here? Is how you feel about being here on Sunday morning the same way as you feel about Sunday night and Wednesday night?

A Psalm About The Joy Of Worship Psalm 84: Attributed to the sons of Korah A beautiful tribute to the worship of God in His sanctuary. Three divisions which relate the deepest joys of a worshiper who is filled with love for God How does our worship enthusiasm compare?

Longing For God’s Courts – v.1-4 “How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and My God How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.”

Enthusiasm For God’s Sanctuary “How lovely are Your TABERNACLES Recognizing God as the God of Hosts “My soul longed and…yearned…My heart and my flesh sing for joy….” Even envious of sparrows and swallows who nest in the temple environs.

Does Your Heart And Flesh Rejoice? Psalm 42:1-4 – “As the deer pants…so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God…These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me….”

First Of Three Blessings – v. 4 “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Rich Blessings For the Faithful –v. 5-8 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring. The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob!

Second Of Three Blessings V. 5: “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!” “To Zion” is added to modern texts by the translators. Was not in the originals. Some have decided this is a pilgrimage song.

Not About A Pilgrimage Thought is more like: “How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways that seek for and yearn for the presence of God” This is a blessing pronounced upon those who love God and His way.

God’s Blessing In Hardships V. 6 – “Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring.” Valley of Baca unknown – but means the “valley of weeping” or “sorrow”. For those who love God all weeping valleys are turned to flowing springs. “Where Could I Go But To The Lord?”

Promised Blessings In Hardships Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me….” Isaiah 35:7 – “The scorched land will become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water….”

Numberless Blessings The early rain – more promised blessings from God Strength to strength: The promise that by faith we will find the strength to be victorious day after day. And the avenue of prayer: “O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer….” Prayer is its own great blessing!

Blessings Upon Blessings: v. 9-12 “Behold our shield, O God, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Living As God’s Anointed God Himself is our Shield – He is protector and savior. Psalmist beseeches God to look upon our faces – as His anointed ones. 2 Corinthians 1:21 – “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

The Better And The Best A day in God’s courts is better than a thousand outside of them. Better to stand at the threshold – just outside the door – than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Best, obviously, to be inside God’s house. Just so happens we ARE the household of God.

God Gives Grace and Glory What more could we desire? Missing lyrics from “Where He Leads Me I Will Follow” by Ernest Blandy – “He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, He will give me grace and glory, And go with me, with me all the way.”

God Gives All Good Gifts V 11 – “…No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly….” James 1:17 -- Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Final Of Three Blessings “How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” How cursed is the man who doesn’t!