Longing For God Series

SLIDE29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Those aren’t mere words. It isn’t just beautiful language designed to stir your spirit on Sunday mornings, then leave you empty during the week. Those words are designed for life. If you’re restless, this message is for you. God’s speaking to you. God wants to give you rest. You won't find it in circumstances, you won't find it in adventure. These things pale in comparison to what God offers. You’ll find it only, as the Psalmist tells us, "at the altars, of the Lord of hosts, my king and my God."

The psalmist wished he could live that close to the temple, there would be no better place to be than in the house of the Lord. The church is also supposed to be a place of security, a shelter from the storm, place to hide from every evil, a protection from all that can harm, “a place to rest in, to nestle in, to rejoice in.”

But there is one thing these highly privileged birds lacked - they did not know who delivered this kindness. They didn’t know God’s heart, and yet they enjoyed the provisions of His tender care. God thought of everything, yet there was no relationship between them and the great Giver. We however, are able to enjoy fellowship and intimacy with God. We are able to worship and sing with joy to the Lord our God. We may never live in the church, but this is a place that should be a place of security for us and our loved ones.

SLIDEVerse 6 is an interesting verse. We read, “When they walk through the Valley of Baca, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains.”

What is Baca? On their journey to the temple the people would often go through the Valley of Baca, or the valley of weeping and tears.

The Valley of Baca was part of the desert country. The valley was filled with thorns, wild animals, pitfalls, vipers and all sorts of danger. In addition, there were wells of water but they were often far apart and hard to get to. It was nearly impossible to travel this valley without facing extreme hardship and suffering.

Somewhere in our journey, every one of us goes through the valley of Baca. We experience job challenges, marital struggles, family disputes, illnesses, hopes not realized, frustrations, loss and more.

We all experience them in life. For the poet the valley times were endurable because of the Temple times. Hard chapters of life could be handled because there were also the times of refreshment, when a dry and thirsty soul could be refreshed in God’s presence.

And the refreshing springs and pools of blessings are the result of enduring our hardships, sicknesses, trials as one body. As we count on the Lord to be with us, and the prayers and community of the people of God. It happens through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The early rain is a picture of the Holy Spirit.