In Part One, we learned that Psalm 84, a song about the blessings of being in God’s presence, was written by the sons of Korah. These men were descendants of the same Korah who rebelled against God while the Israelites were in their time of wilderness wandering. These descendants of Korah were gatekeepers at the tabernacle, a relevant fact to keep in mind as we continue studying this psalm verse by verse.
OUTLINE: One way to outline Psalm 84 is as follows:
Verses 1 -4 Adoring God and describing the blessedness of His presence – of being in His tabernacle.
Verses 5-7 Thinking of how God’s presence brings strength.
Verses 8-12 Talking with God – Confidently asking for God’s attention, further adoration of God, reminding oneself of God’s goodness and the blessedness of fully trusting God. And, as a consequence, getting so caught up in adoration as to forget to make the request? I think so.
VERSES 5-7: 5 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.
7 They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion.
The gatekeepers who wrote this psalm were Levites, the tribe God had designated to perform religious duties. These particular Levites were charged with ensuring that everyone who entered was ceremonially clean. Vigilance as well as deep understanding of God’s laws of purity and holiness were required.
As explained on BibleHub.com, the gatekeeper’s role was important symbolically and spiritually.
“The gatekeepers’ role was not only practical but also symbolic. They represented the boundary between the sacred and the profane, serving as guardians of the divine presence. Their work was a constant reminder of the need for purity and reverence in approaching God. The gatekeepers’ vigilance was a physical manifestation of the spiritual vigilance required of all believers in maintaining their relationship with God.
“Moreover, the gatekeepers’ duties can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament concept of spiritual watchfulness. Just as the gatekeepers were tasked with guarding the temple, Christians are called to guard their hearts and minds against spiritual threats. This theme is echoed in passages such as 1 Peter 5:8, which urges believers to be sober-minded and watchful.” Topical Bible: The Duties of the Gatekeepers
Possibly as these gatekeepers stood at the entrance to the Temple, they thought about the spiritual habits of people they observed coming to worship. Perhaps they knew a man who consistently displayed reliance upon God and who also consistently left the Temple with the glow of having found joy in God’s presence. Such a person could be said to have a highway to God’s presence in His heart. Oh Lord! Let that be us!
VERSE 6: Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings. No doubt the sons of Korah knew people who had been through hard times but, through faith and perseverance in God, had been abundantly blessed. The word “Baca” is usually translated as weeping. “The journey of a faithful Christian through times of hardship is a step-by-step expedition “from strength to strength.” (What is the Valley of Baca in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org).
If we whole-heartedly depend upon God, and keep pressing on toward maturity (James 1:4, 1 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Peter 3:18, Romans 12:2), our faith will increase. We will be transformed from “one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, AMPC).
VERSE 7: They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]; each of them appears before God in Zion. Notice that Verse Seven starts with the word “they” so this verse is still referring to those who travel through the Valley of Weeping. Notice that they pass through the valley, which can symbolize hardship. They do not sit down and give up. They press on with God. Like the prophet Habakuk says in what we label Habakuk 3:19 in our modern Bibles, God will be our strength in hard times. Let me stress here: IF we let Him. He will give us the means to move through trials just as He gives mountain goats special feet for mountainous terrain. And we need never stand still in terror. We can move forward confidently in God and make progress upon the very difficulties themselves.
“19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakuk 3:19, AMPC)
Notice the second phrase in Verse Seven: “each of them appears before God in Zion.” The persevering, God-loving people described in this psalm—each one of them–all make it through to the joy of His presence. What blessed comfort that is and what motivation to persevere in our faith!
Photo by Fabrizio Conte on Unsplash
Part Three will start with Psalm 84:8. Until then, get alone with God and pencil and paper. Read all of Psalm 84 slowly and thoughtfully. Ask God what He wants to say to you personally. He is always right there with you, waiting to spend time with you.