When I was a kid, I used to hate going on road trips. I would get really bored, and even when there were things like books I wanted to read or video games I wanted to play, I used to have fairly significant motion sickness, so those options weren’t usually viable for more than a few minutes. So whenever we were going on a trip, my mom would take some steps and make preparations to try and make it as bearable as possible.

The result was, after a certain point in time, while I probably wouldn’t say I loved road trips, I at least stopped actively hating them so much. They were more bearable when we prepared for the journey.

Whether we’re on a literal road trip, or just on the journey that is life, it can be helpful to know where we’re going, and to be prepared for the voyage. But often what is most important is having an idea of what to expect when we get there. Well, like the Psalms of Ascents that we looked at a few weeks ago, today we’re going to look at a psalm that was sung on journeys or pilgrimages.

As we work our way through this psalm, we are going to see the people of God, fueled by their expectations, joyfully anticipating their time of praise in God’s presence, filled with strength for the journey, and confident in the blessings that are sure to be waiting for them.

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When I was a kid, I used to hate going on road trips, which at the time, I considered anything more than maybe an hour or two in the car. I would get really bored, and even when there were things like books I wanted to read or video games I wanted to play, I used to have fairly significant motion sickness, so those options weren’t usually viable for more than a few minutes. So whenever we were going on a trip, my mom would take some steps and make preparations to try and make it as bearable as possible. She’d pack easy to digest snacks and drinks like crackers and gingerale and give me gravol to settle my stomach; she’d plan activities that I could do like visual scavenger hunts or the alphabet game that involved looking out the windows rather than down at a book in my lap; and I always knew where that old empty plastic ice cream tub was under my seat just in case all of that failed.

The result was, after a certain point in time, while I probably wouldn’t say I loved road trips, I at least stopped actively hating them so much. They were more bearable when we prepared for the journey.

But arguably the most important preparation involved building up the excitement and anticipation for what was waiting at the end of the long drive: Maybe it was visiting my cousins, or a new campground full of bike trails to explore, or a “fancy” hotel on those special occasions. On the flip side, my mom could do all the preparation in the world, yummy snacks and fun games, but if I knew we were driving somewhere I didn’t care about or thought would be boring or unenjoyable, that drive would in turn be not very fun for anyone.

That’s because often our expectations affect our enjoyment and also our endurance.

No one likes standing in line. But if there’s a roller coaster at the end, and you’re excited to ride it, you endure! Perhaps you have certain restaurants that if there is a line to get in, you turn right around, but for others you stand and wait because you know it’s going to be worth it. I know many of you here have cottages, or maybe there are some watching this live from their cottage right now! You know the pain it is to sit on highway 400 for hours in traffic amongst hundreds of other people just trying to make their way to their own weekend bliss for some relaxation! But you do it because you know what is waiting for you!

Whether we’re on a literal road trip, or just on the journey that is life, it can be helpful to know where we’re going, and to be prepared for the voyage. But often what is most important is having an idea of what to expect when we get there.

Well, like the Psalms of Ascents that we looked at a few weeks ago, today we’re going to look at a psalm that was sung on journeys or pilgrimages. In fact, many scholars believe this psalm in particular was commonly sung as God’s people made the long trek to Jerusalem every fall for the Feast of Tabernacles, which interestingly enough, starts tomorrow. As we work our way through this psalm, we are going to see the people of God, fueled by their expectations, joyfully anticipating their time of praise in God’s presence, filled with strength for the journey, and confident in the blessings that are sure to be waiting for them.

The Build-Up

There’s a lot here in these short 12 verses, and we’ll break it down into smaller sections in just a moment. But before we do that, I want to draw our attention to the God whose presence is being anticipated. I mentioned already that this was a psalm that would’ve been sung during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for a feast and festival, and to worship God at the temple where his presence dwelled. And what we see throughout the text is numerous titles and descriptions of the God they are going to worship, which can give us insight into who he is, and also why they are so excited to go worship him.

Let’s start with the titles, and I’m going to go through these fairly quick just so we can get an idea of the bigger picture.

• Verse 1: LORD of armies
• Verse 2: LORD, and the living God
• Verse 3: LORD of armies, and my King and my God
• Verse 8: LORD God of armies, God of Jacob
• Verse 12: LORD of armies.

We often talk about looking for repetition in Scripture. Here, the same title is repeated and used for God in a third of the verses of this psalm: LORD of armies or LORD of hosts. This title is often used as a reminder of God’s authority. His capability. He is the God that is deserving of their worship because he’s in charge. He is the commander, the overseer, in leader of hosts of angels and the armies of humanity. All of creation is within his hand. Think of all the times in the Old Testament God’s people have a nearly impossible success on the battlefield, because the LORD was with them. That is the LORD of armies to whom the psalmist is referring.

Let’s move on to the descriptions, again, quite quickly.

• Verse 4: They are ever praising You (deserving of praise)
• Verse 5: Blessed is the person whose strength is in You (offers and provides strength)
• Verse 8: Hear my prayer (He’s listening)
• Verse 11: the LORD God is a sun and a shield (omnipresent defender), gives grace and glory (forgiving, generous), withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity (giver of good gifts, rewards)
• Verse 12: blessed in the person who trusts in you (trustworthy).

What I notice here is not just a God that is capable, but one who is caring. He’s gracious and merciful. He wants to hear the prayers of his people, and they can trust that he is the one with the authority to do something about them. He is kind and generous, giver of good gifts to those who are obedient and faithful. He is the God who sees all, their defender and the source of their strength.

We’re starting to get a clearer picture of why these people were so excited to visit the temple and be in God’s presence. It’s because of what they know about him: the God who is capable and caring. Let’s go back through these first 4 verses and follow the build-up of their anticipation.

How lovely are Your dwelling places,

Lord of armies!

Psalm 84:1 NASB

They know the temple and its beauty.

My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Psalm 84:2 NASB

Their very soul is longing and yearning just to be in the courtyards of the temple. Remember, only the priests were allowed inside the actual temple building, but the psalmist here isn’t complaining! The courtyards are good enough, because just being in that place means an opportunity to praise God where his presence is. They ache to be there! Their heart and their flesh sing for joy, every part of them rejoices at the idea of being there: physical, mental, spiritual; body, mind, and soul.

This a visceral, emotional longing. The closest thing I can picture here is the feeling you get when you are going to be seeing your dearest loved-one after time apart, but even that illustration pales in comparison!

The bird also has found a house,

And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may put her young:

Your altars, Lord of armies,

My King and my God.

Psalm 84:3 NASB

This is the psalmist picturing the birds who make their nests in the walls of the temple, and around the altar. The idea is sort of “Wow! How great it must be to be the birds that get to nest in the temple and be near God’s presence always!” Even the little swallows get to be in the presence of the almighty. Yet we also remember from Matthew 6 and 10 how much more valuable people are to God than the birds of the air.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house!

They are ever praising You.  Selah

Psalm 84:4 NASB

This verse starts with a beatitude: From the tiny birds to the chosen priests, how blessed it must be to dwell in the house of the LORD, ever praising Him. How great it must be to get to stay there, in God’s presence, all the time. Now, things are obviously different for us now. We don’t have to travel to a specific city or place to experience God’s presence. We don’t need priests or a temple to be able to worship the same almighty, capable, caring God that this psalmist is writing about.

In fact, in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Paul writes,

“do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NASB

This passage is Paul warning believers of the danger of sinning against their own bodies, but the picture still stands. We no longer need to journey across the wilderness to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God and be in his presence. As believers, the Spirit of God dwells within us, and we can (and ought to) worship him any time and any place. But even though our circumstances are different, this opening section of Psalm 84 invites us to ask some questions about ourselves, and the way that we value or anticipate God’s praise and presence.

I don’t know about you, but the picture these verses paint doesn’t often sound like me, particularly verse 2. Sometimes it’s more like “My soul longed and even yearned to sleep in on a Sunday. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to a reasonably timed brunch reservation.” I know if nothing else, this past year and a half has showed many of us how easy it is to take spiritual things for granted: corporate worship gatherings, spiritual growth, even our very relationship with God. This text invites me to ask myself: what would it take for this joyous expectation to apply to me? For these verses to be a description of what it’s like for me to anticipate the presence of God and the praise I will give him? Whether it’s our individual prayer and devotional life, or the times when we gather together with other believers and praise him together.

Let me never take it for granted to praise you or be in your presence, God.

The Journey

In the next section of verses, we see the psalmist finding strength for the journey ahead. As I mentioned before, our expectations can fuel our endurance, and here the anticipation of worshiping in the presence of God at the temple gives the psalmist the motivation to endure whatever might come along the way.

Blessed is the person whose strength is in You,

In whose heart are the roads to Zion!

Psalm 84:5 NASB

Here we find the second “beatitude” in this psalm, as the author acknowledges that blessing isn’t just for those who dwell in the house of the Lord, but also for those who find their strength in God. There’s some mixed discussion about what it means when it says “In whose heart are the roads to Zion”. We know that Zion is Jerusalem, which fits the theme so far. And we know, particularly in the Old Testament, “heart” was often used to refer to one’s emotions and mindset. So in this case, blessed are those who find strength in God, as their hearts and minds are focused on the journey to Jerusalem.

One author explains,

The reference to their hearts being set on [the roads] also suggests a figurative nuance, as their hearts are attuned to the worship of the Lord as they proceed toward the temple. In this sense, worship is more than just fulfilling their prescribed religious obligations. It is the attitude of the heart that is oriented toward the Lord as it worships.

Daniel J. Estes, “Psalm 84: The Pulse of Worship”, 40

It’s the mindset that suggests there’s value, blessings, and strength to be found not just in the destination, but along the way.

Passing through the Valley of Baca they make it a spring;

The early rain also covers it with blessings.

Psalm 84:6 NASB

The Valley of Baca could be referring to a so-called “Valley of Weeping”. But given the context of the rest of the verse, many think that Baca, which can also refer to a type of shrub which grow in dry environments, is here alluding to a dry and arid place along the journey. This would make a bit more sense when the psalmist talks about the Valley being made into a spring, a picture of a refreshing oasis in the harsh desert landscape. “Early rains” would remind readers and singers of the fall rains required to soften the earth for planting after a dry summer.

So the symbolic picture here is one of the rejuvenating strength offered by God. That their anticipation of worshipping in the temple is like refreshing water that brings life in the midst of dryness: physical, spiritual, or otherwise.

They go from strength to strength,

Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

Psalm 84:7 NASB

This is a statement of confidence, empowered by the strength that God has provided. Whatever dry valleys or harsh conditions may come along the way; the psalmist is certain that those who trust in the Lord for their strength will make it to their destination. Again, we return to the image of what we are willing to endure when we know that the result is worth it. For Christians, every one of us is going to have to answer that question at one point or another, with regards to the suffering we are told we will face for the sake of Christ. What are we willing to endure to finish our race well? To stand before God one day and hear him say “Well done my good and faithful servant”? Remember, this endurance is not through our own strength, but through the strength of God himself. Thank the Lord for that!

In the next two verses, the tone shifts slightly as, empowered by confidence in God, the author turns to putting forth a prayer

Lord God of armies, hear my prayer;

Listen, God of Jacob! Selah

See our shield, God,

And look at the face of Your anointed.

Psalm 84:8–9 NASB

The words here refer to the king, the one chosen and anointed by God. You’ll notice that the psalmist uses the imagery of a shield, meaning protection and defense, here referring to the earthly king, and later referring to God himself as the ultimate protector. Natasha and I have been reading through 1 Samuel recently, when God’s people tell God they want a king to be like the other nations around them, thus rejecting Him as their true King. It’s interesting how quickly it shifts from trying to be like everyone else to: “we need a king to protect us and deliver us” when they have access to God, the one who has already, time and time again, protected and delivered them.

In contrast, when the psalmist here prays for the king, that God would “look at the face of [His] anointed”, it is a prayer that God would care for and bless and strengthen the king. It’s a reminder of how necessary it is for the king to have God’s favour to be of any significance.

Again, at the end of this section I’m left asking myself questions. What does it look like to trust God for strength in any situation? Particularly in circumstances beyond my control? I’m reminded that the psalmist doesn’t refer to being taken out of the difficult situation, but being refreshed and empowered by the strength of God in the midst of it all. Do I pray for that kind of strength or endurance? Or does my trust waver when I’m left in the midst of the desert.

The Result

Still fueled by the confidence that the end result of this journey will be worth it, in the final section of verses the psalmist emphasizes a number of truth claims and blessed realities that are expected with certainty. First there’s enjoyment in verse 10, which is probably the most well-known verse in the chapter.

For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God

Than live in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:10 NASB

Just in case it was not already clear that the author is looking forward to getting to the temple. I love this comparison: I would rather stand on the edge of the doorstep to the gates of the temple than live in the comfort of the lavish luxury of the wicked. Again it’s a statement about what the author is willing to endure for the sake of doing what is right. Even if I can just get to the doorsteps, that’s better than not getting here at all. Because being here is better than being anywhere else. We want to remember at this point that it wasn’t so much about the place as it was the presence of God and the opportunity to praise him publicly and corporately. To worship him the way he wanted to be worshipped.

There’s that classic Christian statement that “the church isn’t the building, it’s the people.” And that’s absolutely true. But no one talks about being excited to go to church because they just love the building. We know what we mean when we talk about loving the church or going to church. Unlike the temple, which housed God’s presence on earth, there is nothing inherently sacred or spiritual or mystical or special about this building. Except that this is where we most commonly gather. Where we can be alongside our brothers and sisters of all walks of life, to celebrate our common uniting bond in Christ. To worship side-by-side. To encourage one another and challenge one another and support one another. We’re still the church when we go from here and when we can’t gather, whether due to injury or illness or restrictions. But when we have a proper understanding of the God we worship, we can’t wait to praise him together, corporately, with our church family! To take communion together. To sit under the reading and preaching of God’s word together.

There are people within our own church family, who may be watching from home right now, that haven’t been able to attend an in-person service for years, even before covid. And I know many of them grieve that, and long for the day when they might be healthy enough to return. And we weep and pray with them and for them, for health and healing so that that might become a reality. Not because this building is special or salvific in any way, but because we know in our hearts, whether we always appreciate it or not, that it is good to worship God in the presence of others. It is a refreshing spring in the desert of our weeks, and we want that for our beloved church family.

Sorry, bit of a tangent there. But if there’s anything I’m thankful for after a year and a half in a pandemic, it’s that I’m learning how much I miss this when I don’t have it. There are people around the globe literally dying for what we have here, and yet there are still days when I find myself taking it for granted, feeling inconvenienced by it.

Let God break that part of me.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

The Lord gives grace and glory;

He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.

Psalm 84:11 NASB

We talked about most of this verse already. God is our omniscient protector. Forgiving and merciful. One who rewards faithfulness and obedience. Maybe not always in this life, but certainly in eternity.

Lord of armies,

Blessed is the person who trusts in You!

Psalm 84:12 NASB

Once again, “Lord of Armies”, the one who is capable. And it ends with the third beatitude: blessed is the person who trusts in you. We may remember from our time in Matthew 5 that this word “blessed” used in this way is really an expression of divine congratulations or approval, or even happiness. One author I read phrased it as “O how happy…” (Daniel J. Estes, “Psalm 84: The Pulse of Worship”, 39)

Oh how happy are those who dwell in your house! Oh how happy is the person whose strength is in You! Oh how happy is the person who trusts in You! Not because they’re necessarily removed from negative situations, or because the journey gets easier. They are blessed, approved of, happy because they trust. They are given peace and strength in the midst of life’s difficult roads.

Praise God and Be Blessed!

The question I’m left asking as I finish these verses, is “Who wouldn’t want this?” “Who would pass this up?” The God of the universe, creator of heaven and earth, omniscient protector, the gracious, merciful, gift-giving, capable, caring God wants his people to be in his presence and to praise him. And in return, he offers joy, strength, blessing and more! It’s like: Here, I want you to come and do this incredible, once in a lifetime, shouldn’t even be possible experience. The greatest experience on the planet. And I’m going to pay you to do it!

I tried to think of a specific illustration or analogy here, but nothing I could come up with was good enough. The invitation in front of us is too good to ignore! To put it simply, this text invites us to “Praise God and Be Blessed!”

And in some ways, we have it so much easier than the one who penned this psalm. We don’t need to trek across the country multiple times a year, we don’t need to go to the temple, we don’t need the priests to intercede on our behalf. When God sent his Son Jesus to live a perfect life and die a sinner’s death for us, offering the forgiving of sins, and the certainty of eternal life, the veil in the temple was torn. God’s presence is available to all of us. His Spirit indwells us when we believed in Christ. And that God, the one who loved us enough to make a way for us, wants us to praise him, and he’ll throw in a plethora of blessing to go along with it. Who wouldn’t take that deal?

As we end our time today, I want to give us two practical ways that we can do this: one in our individual lives, and one corporately. Most people in here or watching this have access to a cell phone. If you don’t that’s totally okay; a sticky note or piece of paper or anything you can put in a place you’ll see it regularly will work just fine. Most phones nowadays have a function built in called Reminders. Essentially, it’s a way for you to set a reminder for something at a specific time, and a notification should pop up on your screen, and it won’t disappear until you erase it or mark it completed. My suggestion is today, right after the service, set a reminder in your phone for a few minutes away that just says “Praise Him”. Then when it pops up on your screen, don’t swipe it away. Just leave it there in the background throughout your week, then any time you check your phone, you’ll see the little notification and be reminded to praise God, and receive the blessings that come along with that.

The corporate one, that we can do together, is really simple, because we’re going to give you an opportunity to do it in just a moment. I want you to sing. Sing like you mean it. Sing like you understand what the psalmist is longing for and singing about. Sing like you’re worshipping the capable and caring God. Sing like you don’t care who’s listening, because honestly, no one cares what your voice sounds like, we just want to hear it together.

I’m going to pray and then let’s invite the joy, strength, and blessing our God offers as we praise Him together!

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