Refreshed and Blessed
Psalm 84
SUNDAY MEDITATION

This pilgrimage psalm, while not included with the Psalms of Ascent, reflects the heart attitude of the pilgrim traveling to the Temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem:

PSALM 84

How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

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.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;

Rain produces cascading falls in Jerusalem

The rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

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.

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.

O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

In highlighting the consequent refreshment and blessing for the pilgrim who seeks God, the 84^th Psalm also creates a beautiful picture of those who come together to worship corporately. As you worship with fellow Believers today, focus your heart on trusting the Lord of Hosts—you will be refreshed and blessed!

Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. Rev. McCracken is known for authenticity in communicating biblical truth that makes his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.

© Charles E. McCracken 2016, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author via contact form. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Emphasis added.)

IMAGE:
1) Rain produces cascading falls, Jerusalem, May 16, 2007. By Yair Aronshtam, Israel [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons – Enhancement: MKM Portfolios

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