Introduction

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We are gathered here today, not just as individuals, but as a family, a community, a congregation united by our shared faith and love for our Lord Almighty. Today, we are going to embark on a journey, a spiritual expedition, not into the unknown, but into the known, the familiar, the comforting embrace of our Lord's joy. We are going to immerse ourselves in the divine joy that is our strength, our shield, our refuge in times of trouble.

Our guide for this journey is the Word of God, specifically Psalms 84:1-12. These verses are not just words on a page, but a roadmap, a compass, a beacon of light that will guide us towards the joy of the Lord. They are a testament to the enduring love and grace of our Lord, a love and grace that fills our hearts with joy, a joy that is our strength.

Before we embark on this journey, let us prepare our hearts and minds through prayer. Let us bow our heads and close our eyes as we come before the Lord in prayer.

Outside Looking In At Joy - Psalms 84:1-12

Friends, let's take a moment to soak in the beauty of Psalms 84. This psalm is a love song to God's dwelling place. It's a song of longing, a song of yearning, a song of joy. The psalmist is not just looking at joy from the outside. He is living it, breathing it, experiencing it in the presence of the Lord.

The first thing we notice in this psalm is the psalmist's intense desire for God's presence. "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." This is not a casual longing. It's a deep, intense, passionate yearning. It's a yearning that comes from the very core of his being. His soul is fainting with longing. His heart and flesh are crying out. This is not a desire that can be easily satisfied. It's a desire that can only be fulfilled in the presence of the living God.

Now, let's look at the word "yearns" in the original Hebrew. The word is "kasaph," which means to long for, to desire passionately. It's a strong word, a powerful word. It's a word that conveys a deep, intense, burning desire. This is the kind of desire the psalmist has for God's presence. It's a desire that consumes him, that drives him, that motivates him. It's a desire that can only be satisfied in the presence of the living God.

As Augustine of Hippo, a well-known Christian theologian, once said, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." This is the kind of restlessness the psalmist is experiencing. It's a restlessness that can only be calmed in the presence of the Lord.

The second thing we notice in this psalm is the psalmist's joy in God's presence. "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you." The psalmist finds joy in the presence of the Lord. He finds joy in dwelling in God's house. He finds joy in praising God. This is not a fleeting joy. It's a lasting joy, a deep joy, a joy that comes from being in the presence of the Lord.

The third thing we notice in this psalm is the psalmist's trust in God's goodness. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." The psalmist trusts in God's goodness. He trusts that God will not withhold any good thing from him. He trusts that God will bestow favor and honor upon him. This is not a blind trust. It's a trust that is based on the psalmist's personal experience of God's goodness. It's a trust that is rooted in the psalmist's relationship with God.

So, friends, let's learn from the psalmist. Let's yearn for God's presence. Let's find joy in God's presence. Let's trust in God's goodness. And as we do, we will not just be looking at joy from the outside. We will be living it, breathing it, experiencing it in the presence of the Lord.

The Experience of Joy (Psalms 84:5-9)

Friends, let's turn our hearts to Psalms 84:1-12. This passage is a song of joy. It's a song of longing. It's a song of hope. It's a song of a heart set on pilgrimage, a heart set on God.

First, let's look at the joy of those whose strength is in the Lord. "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage" (Psalms 84:5). These are the people who find joy in the journey, not just the destination. They find joy in the process, not just the product. They find joy in the struggle, not just the success. They find joy in the Lord, not just in what the Lord gives.

Second, let's look at the joy of those who turn their trials into triumphs. "As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools" (Psalms 84:6). These are the people who find joy in the midst of their sorrows. They find joy in the midst of their suffering. They find joy in the midst of their setbacks. They find joy in the Lord, not just in what the Lord removes.

Third, let's look at the joy of those who go from strength to strength. "They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion" (Psalms 84:7). These are the people who find joy in their growth. They find joy in their progress. They find joy in their development. They find joy in the Lord, not just in what the Lord does.

Now, let's turn our hearts to Philippians 4:4-7. This passage is a command to rejoice. It's a command to be gentle. It's a command to not be anxious. It's a command to pray. It's a command to give thanks. It's a command to experience the peace of God.

First, let's look at the joy of those who rejoice in the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). These are the people who find joy in the Lord, not just in the Lord's blessings. They find joy in the Lord, not just in the Lord's benefits. They find joy in the Lord, not just in the Lord's bounty.

Second, let's look at the joy of those who experience the peace of God. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). These are the people who find joy in the peace of God, not just in the absence of conflict. They find joy in the peace of God, not just in the absence of chaos. They find joy in the peace of God, not just in the absence of crisis.

Friends, let's be those people. Let's be those people who find joy in the Lord. Let's be those people who turn their trials into triumphs. Let's be those people who go from strength to strength. Let's be those people who rejoice in the Lord. Let's be those people who experience the peace of God. Let's be those people who help the congregation experience the joy of the Lord.

The Blessings of Joy (Psalms 84:10-12)

When we consider the words of the psalmist in Psalms 84:10-12, we are invited to imagine the joy that comes from being in the presence of the Lord. The psalmist paints a vivid picture of what it means to experience the joy of the Lord. He says, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

This is a striking statement. It's not just a comparison between good and bad, or between pleasant and unpleasant. It's a comparison between the best the world has to offer and the least that God's presence has to offer. The psalmist is saying that even the lowest position in God's house is better than the highest position in the world. This is a radical statement about the value of God's presence.

The psalmist goes on to say, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." Here, the psalmist is not just talking about physical blessings. He's talking about spiritual blessings. He's talking about the joy that comes from knowing that you are in the presence of the Lord, that you are under His protection, that you are the recipient of His favor and honor.

This joy is not dependent on our circumstances. It's not dependent on our achievements or our possessions. It's dependent on our relationship with the Lord. It's dependent on our trust in Him. The psalmist says, "Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you." This is the key to experiencing the joy of the Lord. It's not about what we have. It's about who we have. It's about our relationship with the Lord.

A.W. Tozer, a well-known pastor and author, once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." This quote is a powerful reminder that our perception of God shapes our experience of Him. If we see God as a distant, impersonal force, we will feel distant and impersonal towards Him. But if we see God as a loving, personal God who desires to be in relationship with us, we will experience the joy of His presence.

The psalmist understood this. He knew that the joy of the Lord comes from being in His presence, from knowing Him, from trusting Him. He knew that this joy is not something that can be earned or achieved. It's a gift that is freely given to those who trust in the Lord.

So, let's take a moment to reflect on this. Are we experiencing the joy of the Lord? Are we spending time in His presence? Are we trusting in Him? Are we seeing Him as a loving, personal God who desires to be in relationship with us?

If not, let's make a commitment to do so. Let's make a commitment to spend time in God's presence, to trust in Him, to see Him as He truly is. Let's make a commitment to experience the joy of the Lord. Because as the psalmist reminds us, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

Conclusion

Beloved congregation, as we draw to a close on this beautiful day of worship, let's take a moment to reflect on the message we've shared together. We've been journeying through the words of Psalm 84, a Psalm that paints a vivid picture of the joy of the Lord. It's a joy that is not fleeting or temporary, but rather a joy that is steadfast and enduring. It's a joy that comes from a deep, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.

As we've journeyed through this Psalm, we've seen the Psalmist's longing to be in the presence of the Lord, to be in His courts, to be near to Him. This longing is a reflection of the joy that comes from being in the presence of the Lord. It's a joy that is not dependent on our circumstances, but rather on our relationship with God.

In the coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to be people who seek the presence of the Lord, who long to be in His courts, who find joy in being near to Him. Let's strive to be people who, like the Psalmist, can say, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

As we go forth from this place, let's carry this message with us. Let's carry the joy of the Lord in our hearts. Let's carry the longing for His presence in our souls. Let's carry the desire to be more like Jesus in our actions. Let's be people who seek the Lord, who find joy in His presence, who strive to be more like Jesus each and every day.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the joy that comes from knowing You. We thank You for the longing for Your presence that You have placed in our hearts. We ask that You would fill us with Your joy, that You would satisfy our longing with Your presence. Help us, Lord, to seek You each and every day. Help us to be more like Jesus, to carry Your joy in our hearts, to long for Your presence in our souls. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, as we go forth from this place, may the joy of the Lord be your strength. May His presence be your constant source of joy. May you find delight in seeking Him, in being near to Him, in striving to be more like Jesus. Go forth in the joy of the Lord, sharing His love and grace with all you encounter. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

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