THE BLESSED MAN

(Psalm 84)

(Psa 84 KJV) To the chief Musician upon Gittith (Gittite harp), A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How lovely are thy tabernacles or dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD: my heart, the very core of who I am and every fiber of my physical being cries out for the living God. {3} Yes, the sparrow has found an house, 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 they that dwell in your house: they will ever be praising you. Selah. {5} Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; in whose heart are your ways. {6} Who, as they pass through the valley of Baca make it a place of springs; the rain also covers and the pools. {7} They go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.{8} O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. {9} Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of the one you have set appart by anointing. {10} For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand anywhere else. I had rather stand at the thresshold of the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. {11} For the LORD God is a sun (my light) and shield (my protector): the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. {12} O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

This Psalm expresses the yearnings and the prayers of a pilgrim approaching the dwelling place of God in Jerusalem. His entire being yearns for the courts of God; his soul, his heart and his flesh "cry out for the living God.

The plural "tabernacles" is not the plural of amount, but of majesty. It is intended to magnify the greatness of the dwelling place of God. The passion of the Psalmist's heart is fueled by his desire to come into God's presence.

In his observations, he has observed the sparrow and the swallow as they made their home in the dwelling place of God. This is his desire, to dwell in the security of God's presence; to take up residence in the house of God. He envies these winged creatures who daily dwell in God's glorious presence.

With this passionate flame burning in his heart and the clarity of his objective in mind, he now must face the journey to his desired goal, the presence of God.

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I. BLESSED MEN GO THROUGH VALLEYS

Even the most devout saints go through valleys. Valleys are those places where our metal is tested. It's the place where quitters quit and doubters doubt. It's the location where our faith is proven. It's here that "blessed men" are separated from those who are merely religious.

A. THEY PASS THROUGH - The Christian life is an ongoing pilgrimage or journey, of which "Valleys" are part.

B. VALLEYS OF WEEPING - Places where hope is defied and failure looms large. (Example: David at Ziglag--I Samuel 30) The severity of this valley is seen in the fact that it is called the "Valley of Bacca" or "Valley of Weeping." Tears were an integral part of the Psalmist life.

C. VALLEYS OF ACCUSATION - It is here that Satan accuses.

  1. With Past Failure - "You're here because of past sin."
  2. With Injustice - "God's treating you like your enemies ought to be treated. You haven't done anything to deserve this. God is unfair and unjust."

II. BLESSED MEN GO THROUGH

They don't camp out. They don't quit. They don't have pity parties. They get up and they go on. It is here that we learn that their blessedness is not dependent upon the cause or the circumstance, but upon their response.

 

III. BLESSED MEN TRANSFORM THE VALLEY

Blessed men make the valley a fruitful place.

A. THEY MAKE IT A PLACE OF SPRINGS - They go beyond the surface experience and tap into the subterranean springs.

  1. They do not wait for rain, but pray through to rivers of living water.
  2. They know the God of the valley and of the mountains (I Kings 20:28).

B. THEY EXPERIENCE THE OUTPOURED BLESSINGS OF GOD - To the existent springs, God adds His outpoured blessings. He covers the spring fed pools with rain from heaven. This is not a picture of spectacular deliverance, but of added blessings.

 

IV. THE BLESSED MAN'S STRENGTH IS IN GOD - "whose strength is in thee." (v.5)

A. IN GOD'S GRACE - Power is available to failures. "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob [cheat, supplanter...]. (V.8)

B. IN GOD'S GUIDANCE - "For the LORD God is a sun..." (V.11) The sun directs orbits or paths of planets. (See Ps. 37:23)

C. IN GOD'S PROTECTION - "The Lord is a shield." (V.11) He protects me or stands between me and disaster.

D. IN GOD'S GIFTS - "The LORD will give grace and glory." (V.11)

  1. Grace - No matter the cause of the valley, God's unmerited favor removes the guilt and provides the way out.
  2. Glory - The outshining of His life, which is Christ. In the valley, Christ is formed in us.

V. THE BLESSED MAN'S BLESSING (84:7)

A. THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH - Between each new level of strength is a valley. Each valley brings greater and greater strength.

B. THEY APPEAR BEFORE GOD - They will ultimately reach their destination---God Himself. They will make it - "every one of them...appeareth before God."

 

CONCLUSION:

Men in route to the presence of God, must learn to survive the valleys along the way. They are sure to face them, but only those who yearn for God will endure them and turn them into places of refreshing. With the promise of His presence ahead, and the provision of living water in the Valley, we have made it through 1995 and we will make it through 1996.

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