The Pilgrimage

Psalms 84 The pilgrimage

This is a very well-known and well-loved Psalm; a beautiful Psalm. It’s a “psalm of pilgrimage”. Every year crowds would flock to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. They would make the journey from every part of the territories occupied by Israel. They would make their pilgrimage to the Holy City to worship at the Temple.

Jews were required to go to Jerusalem three times each year to celebrate Passover, Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacle.

The psalmist is either on his way or he is unable to go to Jerusalem. So he writes this poem.

Other possible occasion of this psalm is David had to flee the palace because of his son Absalom rebellion. So he remembers the temple.

Life is a journey, for us it is a pilgrimage

We are in the journey to Zion.

This Psalm expresses the yearnings and the prayers of a pilgrim approaching the dwelling place of God in Jerusalem. His entire being yearns for the courts of God; his soul, his heart and his flesh "cry out for the living God.

The passion of the Psalmist’s heart is fueled by his desire to come into God’s presence.

With this passionate flame burning in his heart and the clarity of his objective in mind, he now must face the journey to his desired goal, the presence of God.

1. The passion of the pilgrim v.1-4

The whole person is caught up in a consuming longing for God’s house and for God Himself….

Worship is focusing our attention to God…

Worship is celebrating the relationship with God…

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.Mathew22.37

DO YOU HAVE A LOVE LIKE THIS - A LONGING FOR GOD’S HOUSE? A passionate desire to be in His presence night and day; to LIVE there?!

Psalm 42.1

He is hungry for god’s presence.

V.3 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..

a] the birds have security in the altar …So do we

We have security in the altar

b] He would rather live in a bird’s nest near God’s altar than in a palace distance from them …

c] Some people even suggest that they used singing birds in the worship, the psalmist is jealous about them. How fortunate they are, they can be in god’s house...

Abiding in the Lord’s house is not a matter of geography, for you can worship him and love him where ever you are...

Paul and Silas in prison

John in the island of Patmos

David in the wilderness

Abraham built altar where ever he goes….

True worship involves the pursuit of God….

Our journeys must start with this passion

If we have such passionate love for God and for his presence, we can always praise Him

We will receive His strength.

2. The path of the pilgrim v.6

Since we have the passion that doesn’t mean that everything is going to be the way we want.

PILGRIM WILL GO THROUGH VALLEYS

Even the most devout saints go through valleys. Valleys are those places where our metal is tested. It’s the place where quitters quit and doubters doubt. It’s the location where our faith is proven. It’s here that "blessed men" are separated from those who are merely religious.

THEY PASS THROUGH - The Christian life is an ongoing pilgrimage or journey, of which "Valleys" are part.

A. VALLEYS OF WEEPING - Places where hope is defied and failure looms large. (Example: David at Ziglag--I Samuel 30) The severity of this valley is seen in the fact that it is called the "Valley of Baca" or "Valley of Weeping." Tears were an integral part of the Psalmist life.

• Psalms 42: KJV - My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, where is thy God?

• Psalms 56:8 KJV - Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

B. VALLEYS OF ACCUSATION - It is here that Satan accuses.

1. With Past Failure - "You’re here because of past sin."

2. With Injustice - "God’s treating you like your enemies ought to be treated. You haven’t done anything to deserve this. God is unfair and unjust."

VALLEY OF SHADOW OF DEATH

VALLEY OF LONLINESS

3.THE PROGRESS OF THE PILGRIM V.7

PILGRIM GO THROUGH

They don’t camp out. They don’t quit. They don’t have pity parties. They get up and they go on. It is here that we learn that their blessedness is not dependent upon the cause or the circumstance, but upon their response.

PILGRIM TRANSFORM THE VALLEY

Blessed men make the valley a fruitful place.