BLESSED ARE THE FAITHFUL
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Father, for your Word, for those things it teaches me, for the ways it encourages me, and for the means of grace it offers me in Christ.
Read PSALM 84
Psalm 84[a]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, 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 have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Footnotes
- Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
- Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
- Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
- Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Deliberately put aside the worries and concerns of the world and of your life. Focus on God and reaffirm your trust in him as you read this psalm.Turn off the news. Put down your phone. For a few moments put your feet in the shoes of these faithful pilgrims whose goal and longing was to be in God’s presence (v. 2). Together with the song leaders, cry out to our living God. Let yourself be overwhelmed by his loveliness (v. 2). Even the birds find welcome and protection as they make their home close to the Lord (v. 3)! Today, enjoy praising God with others who also yearn ‘for the living God’ (v. 2).
Or maybe you see yourself as a pilgrim—on your way toward God amid difficulties and sadness. As we look to him, we find strength in our weakness (‘Strengthen the feeble hands,’ Isaiah 35:3). God is able to transform our places of adversity (Valley of Baka, v. 6) into places of abundant fruitfulness and blessing (v. 6). Today, be strengthened in your faith, confident of your homecoming in God’s presence (v. 7).
Pause in your worship, remembering your relationship to God (vv. 8, 9). Turn to your longing for God and communion with him which far surpasses anything this world may offer (v. 10). Rejoice in the good things he brings to your life (v. 11). Today, renew your trust in him and receive his blessing (v. 12).
Apply
Praise God!
Closing prayer
I lift up to you, loving Father, those who go to the hard places and share the gospel. Bless them; speak through them so that others will come to know your abundant love, your peace, your joy.
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