Thankful Pilgrims - Psalm 84

 

Thankful Pilgrims: Psalm 84

Introduction: One blessing of living in NJ, so close to our daughter’s family, is that we get to share a meal with them occasionally. When we had the grandkids with us up in Maine for a time as they had to transition to online learning, it was good to see the children growing in their willingness to pray before meals and give thanks. Their parents are teaching them the way of God. Being thankful to God isn’t only for Thanksgiving! Remember the story of a family that was gathered around the table for Thanksgiving dinner, when the dad asked his young son if he would give thanks for the meal. The boy eyed every dish on the table and then bowed his head and prayed, “Lord, I don’t like the looks of it, but I thank you for it, and I’ll eat it anyway!” Come to think of it, our grandson said something like that last week when Mary Ann made a meal at their house. “Grammy, are there tomatoes in that?” Yes Hunter, there are. “That’s ok, I’ll eat it anyway!” Do you ever feel that way? You are not sure what to make of circumstances in your life, you may not “like the looks of it,” but you choose to be thankful because you know the One who has set the table? God is good, and he does good, and He gives good things to his own. Somehow, he even causes the hard things and the difficult things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called, according to His purpose.  

       At Thanksgiving we often think back to the Pilgrims at Plymouth as they gave thanks for their first harvest in 1621. “Pilgrim” can refer to a foreigner, someone traveling in a land that is not his own. That is true of us, since we are called citizens of heaven (see Philippians 3:20). It can also refer to someone traveling to a cherished destination out of religious devotion. There were three “pilgrim feasts” in Israel for which the people were to travel to Jerusalem for worship. This psalm is reflecting on such a pilgrimage. We are homeward bound, but not yet home. I have used the story at funerals of a little girl who was seen skipping through a cemetery at dusk. Someone asked her, “Aren’t you afraid of this place?” She answered, “Oh no, my house is just over there, beyond the trees. I just pass through here on my way home!” We are pilgrims! We are passing through, heading homeward. We’ll look at a psalm for pilgrims today, a song for the journey, that can encourage us on the way.

The Big Idea: Give thanks! Until we are home in His presence, we can know that He is with us and will give us strength for the journey.

I. Presence: Give thanks for the Presence of the Lord (1-4)! How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!  ² My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  ³ Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young -- Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.  ⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah.

       We long for home, because that is where our Father is present (1,2)!   The psalmist talks about the tabernacle, and the house of God, his longing for the courts of the Lord (1,2). Do you feel that way about coming together with God’s people?  It may be that the current limitations have stirred that longing even more in our hearts! Do you come expecting to meet with God and to be blessed as we join together in worship? If we aren’t coming with that attitude, maybe part of the reason is that we’re starting to take things for granted instead of being grateful for the privilege we have to meet together, in the name of Jesus, without fear. It is not so everywhere, and it may not always be so here. It hasn’t been easy for a generation for the underground churches in China that meet in homes, under threats from the authorities. Or for believers in Islamic countries. Yet they gather with joy and thanksgiving because they understand that God is in their midst.

       Before the Fall, God was present with the first humans in Eden. He walked with them in the garden, He spoke to them face to face. No sin, no separation, no shame or guilt. Love. Joy. Peace. It is for that, that we were created! And then sin entered the picture, and a dark cloud separated humans from God. By grace, God didn’t forget us, He reached down, and continued to speak, to give hope, and to promise that a day would come when humans could again walk with God. Get this: Because of Jesus we have the promise of His presence here and now!

       Hints about the future are revealed in the “House of God” motif that runs through the Bible. Jacob was running from his brother Esau when he laid his head on a rock in Genesis 28. As he slept, he had a vision of a ladder going to heaven, with God’s angels ascending and descending, and the Lord himself stood above the ladder and spoke, reiterating the promises made to Abraham. There was hope in that vision, the gap between fallen humans and God was not insurmountable. Jacob called that place Bethel when he awoke, literally, “House of God.”

       God’s promises were reiterated by Jacob to his sons. God overcame barrenness and he preserved his people through famine. Finally, one descendant, Moses, would lead the people out of Egypt, back toward the land. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was the place of God’s presence in the midst of the camp. It was called the “dwelling place” where God was present, “the tent of meeting,” a place where the priests would offer sacrifices for themselves and the people, and it was the “holy place” because of the One who sanctified it by His presence. God dwelt among His people!

       It would be over 400 years before the Temple would be built by Solomon in Jerusalem. It was the place where God chose for His name to dwell, a place for offering and for worship. But all those sacrifices, and the building itself, were only shadows of what God would do in the fullness of time.  [Over the next month, during Advent, we will focus on the fulfillment of the promise of the coming of Messiah].

       In the fullness of time he came: Jesus, Emmanuel.  John makes the connection with the “house of God” and the coming of the messiah when he said in his first chapter, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...” (Jn 1:14). That word translated “dwelt,” is used only by John in the New Testament, this is the only place in his gospel (it also appears four times in Revelation).  It is the verbal form of the root that describes the “Tabernacle” in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament that was in common use in John’s day). The final use of the word in Revelation points ahead to a culmination of the theme:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God... (Rev 21:3).

       Until that day, the Church is described as God’s “temple.” Paul said, “Do you not know that you [are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Cor 3:16). The church, the people, not the building, are God’s temple!  But what makes home, home?  As missionaries and in pastoral ministry, we have learned that it is where we are, as a family, is home. But in another sense, we’re not home yet. Here the psalmist doesn’t merely long for God’s courts as a place he’d like to visit, he longs for God’s presence. We long for heaven and home because that is where our Father is present!  Home at last!

       The nesting birds (v.3) – God cares even for the sparrows...  God’s common grace underscores the greatness of His saving grace... If God cares for even birds, how much more does He love us who were created in His image! As the song says, “Why should I be discouraged? Why should the sorrows come? Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home... [and the chorus] ...His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!” Jesus is my portion, my constant friend. He is with us and in us if we know Him. That is a promise! N.B. vv.4,5, God’s blessing comes to those who dwell in His presence, to those who praise Him with their whole hearts! Give thanks! If His eye is even on the sparrows, we can know that until we are home in His presence He is with us and will give us strength for the journey!

II. Power: Be thankful for strength on the journey (5-8)! Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.  ⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools.  ⁷ They go from strength to strength; Each one appears before God in Zion.  ⁸ O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.

       God gives us the strength to live with joy on the journey. My personal “mission” is “To know God intimately, to love Him passionately, and to serve Him joyfully as a part of His church, and to use my S.H.A.P.E. [spiritual gifts, heart’s desire, abilities, personality, and experiences; i.e. the person God has made me to be] to help others grow as his disciples.”  Joyful service is a key part of that. With Jesus, there is joy on the journey. “Pilgrimage” here is not simply living as a ­­foreigner in a strange land – it implies a journey, movement toward “home.” If our heart is set on home, we can be happy, even in the midst of hardship. Remember the words of John in 1 Jn 2:15-17,  

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him… all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The more we are in love with God, the more we long for His presence above all else and trust in His Word, the more we’ll avoid the entrapments and idols of this present age. None of it will last.

       Even in the hard times we can find refreshment and life in His presence (6). The Valley of Baca was a place of tears, weeping. Life in the world has been described as a “vale of tears.” I was surprised to learn that that expression probably comes from the Latin translation of this verse, “The Valley of Tears.” Some believe it refers to an arid valley the pilgrims passed through on their way to the Feasts in Jerusalem. We live in a fallen world, and all the consequences of the fall – “thorns and thistles,” evil, sin, sickness, and death – surround us every day and every way. We are truly passing through the Valley of Baca. My heart breaks when I think of the sickness and suffering, the violence and the evil that so many experience and struggle with. We are passing through this “Vale of tears,” but we can make a well, we can uncover a spring of living water, even in the midst of suffering.  Jesus said in John 16:20,  

“Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”

He was speaking in the context of His impending passion, and the pain that would bring to His disciples, and the resurrection, which would bring unspeakable joy. But it seems to me, as He was preparing them to live in this fallen world without His physical presence, He was also speaking about the tribulation through which His disciples would pass, and the assurance that one day they would overcome (see John 16:33). The idea is not unique to the New Testament.  Psalm 30:5 says,  “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!” That promise gives hope, and it gives us reason to be thankful, even if we are passing through a valley. In a Sunday School video series our church in Maine did on the question of suffering, the “Big Idea” for the series was,

“You will get through this.  It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime, don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With God’s help, you will get through this.” [Max Lucado].    

       Though we pass through valleys, God strengthens and matures us on the way (7)! That is part of the “good” that God will do during our times of trial. That is no guarantee that we will always experience healing or justice or prosperity in this life. We may when it serves God’s purpose and brings Him the greatest glory. But the future He has in store for us is a certainty, and it is better than we could possibly imagine. As Paul said, “The suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us...” (Rom 8:18).

       We have the privilege of praying to the Lord of all creation (8).  The psalmist looks up, in the midst of his crisis he cries out to Yahweh, the Divine Warrior, the King of Creation who knows us and defends us and promises to keep us. God is our strength. We can do all things through Him who strengthens us. So give thanks! Until we are home in His presence He is with us and will give us strength for the journey. So we see His presence and power as a motive for thanksgiving. We are also promised His…

 

III.  Protection: Be grateful for our security in Christ (9-12)! ⁹ O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed.  ¹⁰ For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  ¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.  ¹² O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

       We stand before God not naked and afraid, with our sin and guilt exposed, but clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. Clean. Forgiven! He is our mediator, He is our shield, our righteousness. “Oh God, behold our shield! Look on the face of your anointed!” (Ps 84:9). We come boldly into his presence because of His amazing grace.  We are His. The world loses its attractiveness the more we look at Jesus. It’s all passing away. Home is where we are going, it is what we have been longing for all of our lives, even when we didn’t know it. Just standing at the door of God’s house is better than living in mansions for the few years of our pilgrimage.

       He is our shield (v.9,11). The metaphor is obvious, he protects us when we are under attack. He fends off the fiery darts of the Evil One. The psalmist could reflect on those moments when he experienced the protection of God. Think about the image of Satan, as a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He is a powerful creature. He is an expert on our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. But greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world! Like David said, the battle is the Lords! And Paul in Romans asks,  If God is for us, who can stand against us? GOD is our shield!

       He is a sun (11). He is light! Light exposes what is hidden in darkness, in the context it would seem to be for our benefit, so that we can see our sin, our need to repent. He is also a lamp to our feet, a light to our path. He shows the way. The Israelites were led by the pillar of fire in the wilderness. He still leads his people.

       Look upon the face of your anointed (messiah)! This seems to refer to the king, as the leader of the people, but from our perspective we look to the King of Kings. It strikes me that God turned His face from Jesus on the cross as he bore our sins. Jesus cried in that dark moment, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps 22:1). He was forsaken, so that we could be brought near. When God looks at us, what does He see?  In terms of our righteousness, if we have trusted Christ, He sees Jesus. Not that we are righteous practically. Rather, the righteousness of Christ has been reckoned to our account. He took our sin, we received His righteousness. Because that is true we can find joy on the journey! Be grateful that we are secure in Him.

What is God saying to me in this passage?  Sometimes, we might look around at all the dishes on the table and feel like, “I don’t like the looks of this!” But think of the love of the One who set the table. We have reason to be grateful! He is present with us, He gives us strength for the journey, and He will keep us, we are secure in His arms if we know Him. Give thanks! Until we are home in His presence He is with us and will give us what we need to live as pilgrims in a fallen world. We have His presence, His power, His protection…

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?  Holidays can be a time of celebration, but they can also be a time when people struggle with loneliness, regrets, and even depression. You might look at this psalm and think, “I am in the valley, that is for sure!” Notice that the psalmist is not a slave of his circumstances. He doesn’t just look for an oasis, but rather even in the Valley of Baca, he makes a well.  He starts digging, in faith, knowing that he’ll find water.

       In John 4 the Samaritan woman came out to the well in the heat of the day... It was a divine appointment. Jesus turned the discussion about water into a discussion about quenching the deepest longing of her soul. The point is He knows us, He knows our circumstances, He knows our need, and we can trust Him to meet us at the point of our need. Whatever you are facing, if you know Him, you are not alone. Will you trust Him? “Blessed are all who put their trust in Him...” Because of His grace toward us, we can be thankful regardless of our circumstances—we are His! Thankfulness should be our heart attitude, not something we express once a year on a Thursday in November. If you know Him, if you have experienced His grace and mercy, you have reason to be thankful!    Think about that, AMEN.