PILGRIMAGE-Psalm 84

Powerpoint: Pilgrimage (Psalm 84).

Life as a Pilgrimage Longing for God: “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!” “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:1, 5).

Longing is written all over Psalm 84. This same longing is also found in Psalms 42, 43 and in the pilgrim psalms (120-134). It is the longing for God who resides in the Temple in Jerusalem.

“How lovely” (Ps 84:1) is more exactly “How dear” or “How beloved“; it is the language of love poetry. It conveys a virtually erotic intensity, as the word translated “lovely” is associated with “lover” and “lovemaking.” It poetically expresses the psalmist’s longing for the Temple on Mount Zion. It is the powerful longing to enjoy God‘s presence in the Temple.

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Ps 84:2; 42:2). His whole being physically longs for the existential experience of God’s presence. C.S. Lewis gives fine expression to this desire for God as the “apetite for God” rather than the love of God: The apetite for God “has all the cheeful spontaneity of a natural, even a physical, desire.

“Even the sparrow” (Ps 84:3) sounds like the language of love, where one may envy anyone or anthing that has access to the desired beloved.

“Blessed“ (Ps 84:5a, cf Ps 84:4a) takes a new direction: he refuses to settle in regret of being unable to be at Zion, for he can still be with God; if he cannot enjoy sweetness/loveliness (Ps 84:1), he can find strength (Ps 84:5, 7).

Turn your pain into pilgrimage. “…whose hearts are set on 

pilgrimage” (Ps 84:5b; Isa 35:8) expresses that their every thought is on the pilgrim higways leading to Jerusalem, with their resolute purpose strengthening them on their ardous trek. This may refer not only to those who make a literal pilgrimage, but also to those who must be content to make the journey in their hearts, treating the present hardships as counterparts of the ardous road to Zion. Also, the way to God’s presence is not as lonely or trackless as it may seem, but well prepared and well frequented (Heb 12:1a). The Psalms themselves are such a highway.

Weeping. Even passing through an arid valley [the Valley of Baka {weeping} (Ps 84:6)] do not deter them, as hope sustains them at every step [springs]. Those who trust and worship God should expect to pass through the valley of weeping. The operative words are “pass through.” The valley of weeping is a place through which we pass; it is not where God’s people permanently dwell. The focus of Psalm 84 is the delight of worship.

Strength to strength (Ps 84:7). Instead of being fatigued with the tediousness of their journey and the difficulties they met with, the nearer they came to Jerusalem the more lively and cheerful they were, and so went on stronger and stronger (Ps 84:7; Job 17:9; Isa 40:31). Even where they are weak, there they are strong. If you press forward in the Christian course (Phil 3:14) you will find God adding grace to grace (Jn 1:16). You will be changed from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18), from one degree of glorious grace to another, till you reach your destination and appear before God in the new Jerusalem.

Hear, listen, look (Ps 84:8-9). All his desire was, in his prayer, plainly before God, that his longing, groaning, was not hidden from Him.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God” (Ps 84:10; 73:25; Phil 3:8).

The “blessed,” used 3 times, is expressed wistfully (Ps 84:4), resolutely (Ps 84:5) and in deep contentment (Ps 94:12). The “blessed” are not only priests who dwell in the temple (Ps 84:4) or pilgrims who visit them (Ps 84:5), but all people who put their trust in God (Ps 84:12).

Where God dwells. As God dwells in the Temple in Jerusalem, what does the N.T. say about what the temple of God is? It is not only the church universal (Eph 2:21) but also local (1 Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 6:16), i.e., every company of believers. God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Ac 7:48) but among his people, for where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He is there in our midst (Mt 18:20).

Heaven, the new Jerusalem, is the final fulfilment of the Temple (Rev 21:22, 3).