THIS PILGRIM WAY.
Psalm 84:1-12.
At the end of the celebration of Passover, in Jewish homes scattered throughout the world, the parting toast is, ‘Next year in Jerusalem!’ The sentiment echoes a common consciousness, a restlessness if you will, which is forever drawing God’s people back towards their roots in the land of their fathers.
The Psalmist was one of those who had been familiar with the days of worship in the tabernacle in the holy land. Immediately prior to the building of the Temple by Solomon, the tabernacle had been situated in the City of David, just below the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It has been suggested that Psalm 84 was written by King David when he left Jerusalem during the rebellion led by his son Absalom.
“How lovely is your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts,” he intoned (Psalm 84:1). Not that God dwells in tents or buildings: but nevertheless our soul is only ever satisfied (as Augustine of Hippo is often quoted as saying) when it finds its rest in the LORD (Psalm 84:2). In fact, our ultimate rest is only found in Jesus, the Word who became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled!) among us (John 1:14).
The Psalmist compares his soul to the sparrow, and to the swallow, little birds that are forever flitting around seeking a home (Psalm 84:3). Not that either of these could ever safely nest on the altar of sacrifice (!) - but his soul has found its rest in the altars (plural) of the LORD of hosts. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22), and his rest and ours is found first in the altar of burnt offering, where the sacrifice is presented (representing to us the Cross of Calvary) and next in the altar of incense, where the risen Lord Jesus lifts our prayers, mingled with His, up to the LORD.
The Psalmist calls the LORD of hosts, “my King and my God” (Psalm 84:3). The Christian faith is deeply personal, a relationship rather than a religion. Blessed are those who abide in Christ, and He in them (John 15:4; John 15:7): THEY “shall ever be praising Him” (Psalm 84:4), and ‘shall have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming’ (1 John 2:28). “Selah.” Think on this.
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways” (Psalm 84:5). So reads the Hebrew, without adding any extra words into the translation. The word for “ways” here speaks of a prepared way, as for when a ruling monarch is approaching on their royal tour (cf. Isaiah 40:3-4; Matthew 3:1-3).
So what kind of person is able to say, ‘my strength is in the LORD’ (cf. Psalm 84:5) or ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13)? It is a person whose heart has been prepared by the Holy Spirit, that they may ‘repent’ (meaning ‘change their mind about God’)! The light of God has shined into their hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6), and they are made new people in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Not only are we made new people, but now we are enabled to “walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11) upon the path of righteousness. We have a new purpose, a new direction in our lives. ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ says the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 30:21).
When we are walking in God’s way, it is the LORD who leads us (Genesis 24:27). When we face trials in “the valley of tears” (Psalm 84:6), we can be assured that the LORD knows our way, and will not only bring us through, but will bring us out better (Psalm 23:4; Job 23:10). In all these things we are made ‘more than conquerors through Him that loved us’ (Romans 8:37-39).
The pilgrimage of this life may well be for us a vale of tears, but nevertheless we go on from strength to strength, and will at last appear before God (Psalm 84:7; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18). ‘In this world you shall have tribulation,’ said Jesus, ‘but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33).
The Psalmist’s second “Selah” separates between two prayer petitions. The first is that the “LORD God of hosts… the God of Jacob” would “hear” his prayer, and “give ear” (Psalm 84:8). The Psalmist is in no doubt that our God is a prayer hearing, prayer answering God. “Selah.” Think on this!
Then he prays, “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed” (Psalm 84:9). Now David was God’s anointed, and if he was the author of this Psalm then he was praying for himself. But the ultimate ‘Anointed One’ is Jesus, great David’s greater Son, and Christian people are anointed in Him. When we pray, ‘in Jesus’ Name,’ we are asking the Father to behold us only inasmuch as we are found in Him.
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand” (Psalm 84:10). The superscription of this Psalm includes the words, “to the sons of Korah.” This particular clan were “doorkeepers in the house of God” (Psalm 84:10). This is a time-honoured and honourable job, and much to be preferred than “dwelling in the tents of wickedness.”
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). In the words of John Newton’s ‘Amazing Grace’: ‘It is ‘grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will bring me home.’ Not only to the earthly tabernacle or Temple, but to the heavenly glory.
No wonder the Psalmist can conclude with one final beatitude (cf. the two around the first “Selah”, Psalm 84:4-5). “O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in thee” (Psalm 84:12).
