Psalms 84:1-12
I. Notice The Tabernacle.
a. See His Devotion To It.
"How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts !"
The word "amiable" means "loved". It is only translated "amiable" on this one time. Elsewhere it is translated "loves" and "beloved".
The tabernacle of the Lord was loved by the writer. It was "beloved". When he thought of the house of God, his heart was filled with afffection, and adoration. This love, this devotion that he had for this place was due to the presence of God that he experienced there.
The first sermon that I ever preached was at "Philadelphia Baptist Church" in Newnan. The church was started in a little bldg which once housed a grocery store. The bldg was rented, and walls removed so that there would be space for folding chairs for people to sit in. It didn’t look like a church.......it was not a spectacular bldg......it had no steeple, but how wonderful it was to worship in that place. When I go, and visit my mom, I pass by that bldg, and think of the fond memories of that place, and of the presence, and power of God that flowed.
This bldg that we meet in is nothing more than a bldg without the presence of God. This place is special because it is he house of the Lord, and because he is present among us !
How do you see the church ? What kind of devotion do you have in your heart towards this place ? Do you love it because it is the house of God, and because he is present here ?
b. See His Desire For It V2
"My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God."
Notice the strong language which he uses to describe his desire to be in the house of God, to enjoy his presence ! "My soul longeth" (to pine after, sore, to be greedy) he writes.........Think of this........It is a paradox........God has the ability to both satisfy us, and make us hunger for more ! The longing that the writer describes is a longing that can be satisfied only by the Lord !
"Yea even fainteth"(finished, wasted, determined) The desire to be in the house of the Lord, and sense his presence is so strong that he feels like he is wasting away, and yet he is determined to enter the courts of the LORD. "and my flesh cried out for the living God." The word "cried out" is translated elsewhere as "shout" and almost always means a "shout of joy". This intense longing that he was experiencing as he recalled the beauty of the tabernacle, and God’s presence made him shout with joy !
Do you long for the Lord’s presence ? Do you have a desire to being in God’s house, and worship ?
c. See His Description Of It. V3
The house of the Lord is a place where all should be received, and all should find rest.
The description that the writer gives is beautiful. He uses two birds to teach us about the house of God, and the presence of the Lord, and the rest that can be found in his presence.
The sparrow is a common bird. Christ spoke of it in Matt 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." Though the sparrow be perceived of having little value, the Father knows when it falls from the sky.
Though you may look at yourself, and feel worthless, and though we may see worthliness among some, they are all welcome in God’s presence, and in his place.
The swallow is a restless bird. It is constantly moving, not staying in one place for very long. Yet the writer says that even the swallow builds its nest in the altars at the house of the Lord.
Those who are always restless, and wandering find a resting place in the presence of God, and in his place !
They are all welcome. We are all welcome in the presence of God !
Notice the title that the writer uses in his approach to the Lord. "O LORD of hosts speaks to the fact that he is "LORD of the multitudes" He wants to be LORD in everyone’s life........yet he must become my King, and my God !
Wouldn’t it be nice to be everyone’s friend ? To be able to help everyone ? To meet the need’s of everyone ? I can’t do that, and neither can you, but he, The LORD of hosts can !
Can you say tonight that he is my King, and my God ?
II. Notice The Tears Vs 5-7
a. See the place encountered.
"Baca" means "weeping" It may have been a literal place, but is more than likely a figurative word used to describe the times of weeping in the life of the believer.
The writer of the Psalm had a great yearning for the house of God, and presence of the Lord.
Yet, in spite of his yearning, and his great love for the Lord, and his tabernacle........he encounters a place of tears.
It is so with all of us. No matter our spiritual condition. Regardless of our faith, we all come to the valley of tears.
It is a familiar place to all of us. We have all descended into this valley at one time or another, and we shall do so again before our journey is complete, and we at last dwell in his presence for eternity.
The loss of precious loved ones to death bring tears.
We descend into this valley when we have family problems.
We come to this place when we are disappointed or hurt by those that we love.
It may be financial issues or the loss of a job that bring us to the valley of tears.
Even tonight, right here in the house of God which you love so much.......you might be in the valley of weeping. Oh.....the tears may not flow, but on the inside your heart is weeping. It is important that we see...........
b. The passage that is experienced.
Here’s a great truth........you want stay in the valley. With the help of God, you will pass through it............"It came to pass......"
Saying.........Your ship want sink, and your storm want last !
That’s true of the believer. God will be with us.......even in the valley.
I thought of this old song while working on this message.......
ALL ALONE AND BROKEN HEARTED
TRYING TO CALM THE RAGING BATTLE IN MY MIND
IN SEARCH OF MANY ANSWERS THAT MY TROUBLED SOUL
JUST COULD NOT SEEM TO FIND
I SAW A FLOWER BLOOMING
WHERE THERE WAS NO RAIN OR SUNSHINE
AND I KNEW NOT THAT THIS FLOWER
WOULD CHANGE THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY CHORUS # 1 : I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY
I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY
I FOUND THE STRENGTH WHEN I WAS WORN
I FOUND A PLACE TO LEAVE MY BURDENS
I FOUND A REFUGE FROM THE STORM
A PLACE WHERE I TRADED MY DARK SKIED
TO BEAMING RAYS OF SUNSHINE
I FOUND A LILY IN MY VALLEY
AND HE BLOOMS ALL THE TIME.
I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY Verse 2 I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY
SO IF YOU’RE DOWN AND BROKEN HEARTED
AND YOU JUST CAN’T SEEM TO FIND PEACE OF MIND
YOU’RE SEARCHIN FOR YOUR ANSWERS
BUT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE GETTIN’ WORSE ALL THE TIME
JUST REACH YOUR HAND TO JESUS
HE’LL TAKE YOU IN AND BREAK THE TIES THAT BIND
HE’LL BE YOUR LILY IN YOUR VALLEY
AND YOU WATCH HIM BLOOM ALL THE TIME
I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY Verse 3 I FOUND THE LILY IN MY VALLEY
HE’LL BE YOUR LILY IN YOUR VALLEY
HE’LL BE YOUR STRENGTH WHEN YOU ARE WORN
HE’LL BE A PLACE TO LEAVE YOUR BURDENS
HE’LL GIVE YOU REFUGE FROM THE STORM
A PLACE WHERE YOU TRADE YOUR DARK SKIES
TO BEAMING RAYS OF SUNSHINE
HE’LL BE YOUR LILY IN YOUR VALLEY
AND HE’LL BLOOM ALL THE TIME
c. The Plan That Is Exemplified.
"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools"
When you’re in a valley........make a well ! Dig deep, and find the refreshment that you need when the Lord fills the holes.
This week I was reading the story of a man named Worral. He had been stricken with rheumatoid arthritis at age 15 ... by middle age he was totally paralyzed except for 1 finger, could barely speak and was totally blind. But he had a string tied to that one mobile finger that could turn on a tape recorder. By that means he wrote for national magazines, authored books and led a happy and influential life from his bed. It all started because after initial prayers brought no healing, he accepted his lot graciously and said, "Well Lord! If this is the size plot in life you’ve staked out for me, let’s you and me together show the world what we can grow on it."
III. Notice The Trust V7-12
a. He trusts God in prayer V 8
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
b. He trusts God as protector. V 9
Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
c. He trusts God for provision. V11
......."no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly"
