April 29, 2009
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How deeply loved are your dwelling-places
Psalms 84:1-12 For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of the sons of Korach: How deeply loved are your dwelling-places, ADONAI-Tzva’ot! (2) My soul yearns, yes, faints with longing for the courtyards of ADONAI; my heart and body cry for joy to the living God. (3) As the sparrow finds herself a home and the swallow her nest, where she lays her young, [so my resting-place is] by your altars, ADONAI-Tzva’ot, my king and my God. (4) How happy are those who live in your house; they never cease to praise you! (Selah) (5) How happy the man whose strength is in you, in whose heart are [pilgrim] highways. (6) Passing through the [dry] Baka Valley, they make it a place of springs, and the early rain clothes it with blessings. (7) They go from strength to strength and appear before God in Tziyon. (8) ADONAI, God of armies, hear my prayer; listen, God of Ya’akov. (Selah) (9) God, see our shield [the king]; look at the face of your anointed. (10) Better a day in your courtyards than a thousand [days elsewhere]. Better just standing at the door of my God’s house than living in the tents of the wicked. (11) For ADONAI, God, is a sun and a shield; ADONAI bestows favor and honor; he will not withhold anything good from those whose lives are pure. (12) ADONAI-Tzva’ot, how happy is anyone who trusts in you!
ADONAI-Tzva’ot — Lord G-d of Hosts
At least 3 times a year every male was to make a pilgrimage to the temple, (Deuteronomy 16:16). The Psalmist is saying that true happiness is found in the person who sets his life on a pilgrimage, one that is set on Adonai. You see, we are called pilgrims because this is not our home, our home is in heaven and we are just passing through this world. We are not to get caught up in the things of this world because it is not our home.
At the Feast of Tabernacles, the people were all making their way to Adonai’s Tabernacle. They didn’t travel alone, they traveled in groups and when they all got to the place of worship, it was a group, a “congregation”. As the people got further along on their journey, they found more strength.
Adonai is protecting us in this journey, watching over us. And grace speaks of this journey we are on, for without it, we would be in trouble. But one day, as we finish this journey, we will enter into glory, and spend eternity with our Messiah.
For those who trust in Adonai, they are blessed, they are happy. As opposed to those who walk after their own wisdom, which they will only find emptiness, sadness.
Shalom
