 Psalm 84
Verses 1-4 How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. The bird also has found a 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. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah. Question: Do you long for the courts of God - the place where He is worshipped? The psalmist remembered the place of worship - i.e. here the temple. He LONGED and YEARNED for God. His heart and flesh sang for joy to the living God! He considered those who were there blessed as they were ever praising God there! Does this describe us as we consider worship - as we consider gathering with God’s people each Sunday. Yes, I know this referred to the Temple and to worship there - but is not worship with the saints the nearest equivalent to it? Do we LONG and YEARN for those times? Do we consider those who are singing and praising God to be so very blessed? I don’t know about you as you read this - but I was rebuked and realized that this did not - and even now does not describe how I approach worship with the saints. But by God’s grace - and some serious repentance it WILL NOT be how I approach this coming Sunday with all of you as we meet to seek God. Verses 5-7 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. Question: How do you walk out of and back into the place of worship? The psalmist speaks of how we walk out of the worship of God - and how we walk through the world as a result of it. What the psalmist is saying here is that as we walk through worship - God makes our hearts strong so He can walk through us into our world as we depart. There are “highways to Zion” in the true worshipper’s heart. The worship of God in the temple led to a heart where there was a highway to God. Zion refers to Jerusalem - the place where they went to corporately worship God - and seek Him - and know Him - and even be made right with Him when they sinned. Here is how practical this gets. The worshipper of God passes through life - here it is called the “valley of Baca.” The word “Baca” means weeping or troublesome place. What is said about it is that the one who worships God - and in whose heart a highway to Zion is laid as a result - they take the valley of trouble and weeping and turn it into a spring where the water wells up and bubbles out of the earth. Does your worship lead you to walk through your week with a highway to God in your heart. Does it lead to a highway where you can see God take even your most troublesome moments - your weeping moments - and turn them to a spring of water? Does your worship lead you to go from “strength to strength” as you walk in the world? The picture here is that of God strengthening you for the week ahead - that you may face difficulty and sorrow - even trials and troubles - but you go from event to event in God’s strengthening. That highway to Zion is there so that you can run to the Lord and receive His strength to handle these things. Is this true of you? The end of this section is that as they go from strength to strength - they eventually appear before God in Zion again. This is a picture of that HIGHWAY again - we are learning to live a life that turns to God! And - even as we walk it - we are led again and again to return to seek God afresh and anew. Is this true of us? When I looked at this - again I was reminded to repent and return to Him. That IS what I want - a worship so focused that I turn to Him for strength to strength as I walk through this world - and that I return to Zion again to worship Him all over again - because He is so good and so faithful. Verses 8-12 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah. Behold our shield, O God, And look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! Question: Do we consider a single day with God better than a thousand anywhere else? The psalmist prays and desires God’s answer. He desires to see God’s face (know His favor). He states that a single day in the courts of God in worship and seeking and hearing Him - is better than a 1000 spent anywhere else. If the place of worship and seeking God with His people is a 1000 times better than anywhere else in the world - how do you think we would think about worship? The psalmist also considers God as the sun which shines on him - the shield which protects him - He recounts God giving him grace and glory. He contemplates the good that God has given him. His eventual thought is that God does not withhold any good thing from the ones who walk with Him uprightly. His finishing statement is that the man who trusts God - is indeed blessed. Do I walk away from worship corporately with the saints - and think - HANDS DOWN THIS IS A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE! I had to face this psalm with a good bit of red-faced embarrassment. But it was not something that happened that was bad - it was wonderful! I was reminded of how it should be - and what it can be if I come and approach worship with the saints before God as an amazing - wonderful - amazing thing. My hope is that with the repentance this psalm has offered me from God - I will respond - and that my view of the worship of God with His people in the church will be greatly elevated. It is my hope I will see it as a thousand times better than anything else imaginable.
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O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You. But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:8-12
LORD, LEAD ME! David’s first request in this next section is for God to lead him. Just as a refresher we need to remember the context of this - Absalom’s rebellion. David cried out to God for His leadership because of his foes. This was Absalom - who was the rebellious son who longed to be king. It was also Ahithophel, David’s former advisor, who joined in the rebellion with Absalom. There was also a host of others who ran to Absalom’s side in this rebellion. David’s foes were numerous - and he desperately needed God’s direction. For him it was a life and death matter. David’s cry was for God to make His way straight or smooth before him. Every decision mattered. It is this way with us too. We have an Absalom too - it is Satan, who also desires to usurp God’s rule and authority. His work is to subtly deceive us into thinking we should join his rebellion. The world is also filled with a myriad of Ahithophel’s, who seek to counsel us contrary to God’s Word. These may be anything from an actual person who wants us to walk in their way rather than God’s way. The spirit of Ahithophel is in our entertainment, our news, our music - it is everywhere. It is the spirit that wants to convince us to live for ourselves - or for the values of the world rather than those rooted in the Word of God. Believe me when I assert that we need to cry out to God daily that He lead us in His righteousness - and make His way straight so we can walk in it. We should note before moving on that David’s request is to be led in God’s righteousness - not his own self-styled direction. HARSH WORDS - FOR WHO - AND WHY? Verse 9 and 10 are a watershed moment in Scripture. They are the verse first time we have an imprecatory portion in the Psalms. If that word is new to you (imprecatory) - it refers to a call or prayer to bring down evil things or curses upon a person or group of people. There are those who are offended with these prayers - seeing them as an embarrassment to the Bible and to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. These prayers are representative of God’s holiness - and His steady position of wrath against all sin. It is what the wicked deserve for rebelling against God. Maybe it would be wise to remember what Absalom did shortly after becoming king. He was counseled by Ahithophel to rape all the remaining wives of David in broad daylight before the people. He also raised an army with the intent of killing David and all those with Him. David’s prayer is not so much a wish on his part - but as a mouthpiece for God - he offered a prophecy for those who continued in this rebellion. Indeed there was nothing true in what these two said. Their inner most beings were given over to destruction - wanting to kill David. Their throats were like an open grave with the smell of death and rotting corpses in it. All the time they were flattering the children of Israel - they were plotting death, destruction, and devastation to the King. But - before we get too self-righteous about things - Paul used these very words to describe our nature and what we are capable of in life. We do have an inner Absalom and Ahithophel in our flesh. Our “inward part” is destruction too because of our sin nature. The word used there speaks of a chasm of wickedness within us - and when we fall into it and live out of it as a source there is no depth to that which we are capable of thinking or doing. We can speak deathly words and even use flattery to accomplish sinful desires. David’s exact request is that they be destroyed - and that God would let them fall by their own wicked counsels. And for those who remember the history of these events, that is exactly what God did. He thwarted the counsel of Ahithophel when he listened instead to David’s friend, Hushai, who was working as a secret agent for David inside Jerusalem. Ahithophel hung himself when his ungodly counsel was rejected - and Absalom was destroyed in battle. But, before we become too critical toward David for this request we should also see that his desire was not for his own honor - but for the honor of God (they have rebelled against You!). Absalom and Ahithophel indeed had heaped up a multitude of sins as they rebelled not just against David - but against God. This reminds us that these imprecatory psalms have as their basis the honor and glory of God - not any personal vendetta of a man or men. PROMISES AND PRAISE David finishes this song with a call to be glad, sing for joy, and be exult over God’s gracious defense and favor. When we trust in the Lord - coming to Him in prayer for our needs and our protection - God delights in bringing that protection into our lives. It is a good thing to trust the Lord and to love His name and honor in life. It may not bring the less bumpy road to us - but even in our trials and troubles we will see Him work mightily and have reason to praise Him much! Three things here are told us concerning how God will work to answer our prayers. First we find refuge in Him. The word refuge means to rest in the shade of a tree. The word was also used as a picture describing how baby birds would find refuge under the wings of their mother. God protects and gives us a refuge in Him in our darkest and most difficult moments. Second, when we embrace God’s righteousness in our troubles - God will bless us. The word blesses in this passage speaks of someone giving a greeting that promises friendliness and camaraderie - and here it says that God is the One greeting us in this way. What a joy to know that He comes to us in such trying times with a friendly greeting that promises blessing, fellowship, deliverance, hope, strength - and everything you can imagine coming from a close friendship with God in those moments! Third, God promises that He will encircle us with His favor (read grace here!) like a huge shield. The shield referred to here was one that was over twice the size as a normal shield. It was used by the warrior to kneel down behind and be covered by its protection. God is that way with us - and how we should love the imagery used here. God is that shield to us - but only as we kneel in prayer and take our refuge in Him. So there we have our primer in prayer from David. It begins with a cry for God’s presence - an audience with Him in prayer. It begins with a heartfelt and sincere desire to connect with Him and wait for His answer and deliverance. It then moves into a time where we request God’s leadership and guidance, knowing that not only our outward enemies are evil - but also our inward tendencies when we look to ourselves rather than Him for that guidance. Finally, we see that it ends with a turn to God’s promises for comfort, encouragement, and endurance. We take our refuge not in our own abilities to deliver ourselves - but in our God and His promise to bless those who turn to Him in righteousness and godly dependence. Oh, to learn these lessons again and again as we pray and seek His face. Indeed we would find our God infinitely able to handle any problem, trial, or trouble we face - and - we would go from concerned cry to praise for protection and provision. And through it all we would learn that intimacy with our Father in heaven is at the core of every answer we receive. Prayer is talking with God.
That is the simplest statement one can make about prayer – but for those who are not familiar with talking to someone Who is Spirit – it can be a little difficult to know how to pray. That is why David’s psalms are so precious to the believer – they give us examples and teaching on actual praying. Psalm 5 is one of the most wonderful examples. It is primer on prayer. It is one of David’s songs that teach us how to approach God, what things to bring up in his presence, and what attitude should be evident in us as we pray. Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. David begins by calling on God to hear his prayer. This may seem strange to us, seeing that we rarely begin our conversations with statements asking others to hear us – consider what we’re saying – and to heed our call for help. Yet with God this is actually a wise practice. Conversation with your average sinful human being (which if you’re not familiar with the biblical worldview – is “every” human being) is based on similarity. We are similar physically, spiritually, and morally. But with God we are speaking with someone Who is holy. We are anything but similar. We are speaking to an infinitely superior being in every way. In fact we can say that He is wholly another category of being with no one else in that same category. So approaching Him asking for His mercy and attention to our prayer is definitely a good thing to do. David speaks of words, groaning, and a cry for help. Considering that David was praying during the time of the incident with Absalom – this is understandable. He was facing a rebellious son – a rival to his throne – and a person who intended on killing him if possible. But this is also a great way to grasp three aspects of our prayers to God. First there are our words themselves. We speak by using words when we talk with God. But there is more to communication than the mere words we use. There is also our “groaning.” The word here is the Hebrew word “hagiyd” which refers to someone sighing or to a meditation in the mind even while the mouth is speaking. It is the though behind the words – it can also refer to the intent behind the prayer. This particular word refers to an intense meditation or sigh in the spirit or heart of the one praying. What are the intent, the motive, and the desire of the one speaking the words? Then finally, David speaks of his “cry for help.” David was crying out of despair and a very real sense of danger – and definitely wanted God to get that idea. David also uses three verbs that are very instructive in this prayer – that indicate just how bold he is being as he calls out to God. First he asks God to “give ear” to his words. This first verb means to “broaden the ear,” This phrase meant to cup one’s hand behind their ear so as to hear well. The second phrase is even bolder as David asks, “heed the sound” which is a great phrase – even though it may seem mildly inappropriate when speaking to God. The phrase is used of a dog or animal that cocks its head and perks up its ears to hear something. David boldly asks God to cup His ear – cock His head – and perk up His ears to hear what he is praying. Though this may sound like a little much – when we are serious about being heard – there will be a passion in us to know that God is listening – hearing our cry to Him. There is also a submission to authority that resounds in this prayer. David calls God his Lord, His King, and His God! What a beautiful picture of submission to God even as David speaks so boldly to Him of a request that God listen. When we talk to God – we are speaking with the Lord of the universe – and the King of all – the One Who is God. Who I am talking to governs how I will speak to Him. We can pray for what we want – but if the One we address is absolutely sovereign over all things – it might be wise for us to come with humility, submission, and honestly – a willingness to alter our plans according to His will. Another thing we see here is that David is approaching God in the morning. Twice we see this in his approach of God. Jon Courson made a wonderful comment about this verse when he said that when he doesn’t meet God early as the day begins – he winds up mourning his day when it comes to a close. We are not speaking of a legalism when we say to come to God early each morning – but – we can say that when an orchestra plays a symphony – it warms up before it plays the piece – not afterwards. Consider the symphony the way you are going to live through today – and the warm-up as your time with God before the day begins. The last thing we see about David’s approach is that he is waiting for God’s instruction with eagerness. He says that he is ordering his prayer to God (a word meaning to set things in a row or organize things) and then watching for God eagerly. He expects God to speak to him about the matter. When prayer becomes a monologue where we speak to God – but God says nothing to us – it will become drudgery to us. Real prayer communicates with God – and that communication is a two way street. Our hearts need to speak to God, yes – but it is just as important that we hear from Him as well. David said that he “eagerly” watched for God to speak. What a wonderful thing it is when God speaks through a passage of Scripture – through a leader – through a brother or sister who loves us – or just through circumstances in our lives. It is why we speak to Him – so that He will speak to us as well. Too often though – people pray with little or not expectation that God is going to speak. They pray out of duty – our out of obligation – or out of some misguided thought that it makes them godly to do so. The reason we pray – is to communicate with God. Therefore why wouldn’t we pray and then watch with anticipation of what He will do or say in answer to what we’ve prayed to Him. Prayer is meant to be an exciting endeavor – not a monologue to the ceiling or some religious object in a room. It is meant to be communication with the Living God Who answers and Who speaks to us in real life situations. It is such a blessing when we move prayer out of the realm of being only a spiritual discipline into being a relationship with God Himself. Yes it requires discipline – but if that is all that is happening – you won’t pray for long. You’ll lose heart. Prayer is meant to be a time of literally talking to God and hearing from Him. That is why David’s example of prayer is so instructive and invaluable. It reminds us that we speak to our very real God – who hears – who speaks – and who invites us into His presence to experience Him in a very real life lived on this earth. If your times of talking to God have degenerated into just “prayer times” where you seek to maintain the façade of religious activity – my request to God is that He reveals Himself to you in a way that draws you into a relationship with Him. I hope that it becomes the time where you experience God’s wisdom – God’s direction – God’s gracious care – God’s comfort – God’s love in a way that wonderfully impacts how you live every day.  There is such comfort in the Christian worldview in the fact that we know a relationship with God. Every worldview has a reason for being held. The Biblical explanation for most other worldviews is simply that they do not want a god in their life unless they can control this god. The idea of a God other than they are - wholly separate and sovereign is terrifying. Yet this is what the Christian view has - a holy God who is sovereign and separate from us - who does not need us - and who is the ultimate authority. The world looks at this and cringes - thinking Him to be an evil despot who will not let them live as they choose in their sin. But for the one who knows Him - it is the ultimate comfort. David expresses this - but does so in verse 3 and 4 in a way that balances Who God is in a very healthy way.
David's boast in this song is that all others should know that God sets apart the godly man for Himself. This does not sound like some far off despot who does not care. By His grace God saves us and sanctifies us so that we are godly. And the godly man - this is the one God wants for Himself. He desires fellowship with such a man - and draws him close. What the world misses so often in their quest for some kind of love is what God made man for in the beginning. How was it in the beginning? Man walked with God in the garden talking with Him and fellowshipping with Him. God gave man dominion over the paradise - even spending a day naming the animals together with him. God taught him lessons about how it was not good for him to be alone. Then God provided a mate for Adam - and brought Eve to him - blowing his mind and filling his heart with love previously only experienced in the Trinity. What a joy - until sin entered the picture. But wonder of wonders, this God Who had to punish them and send them out of the garden, clothed them with skins from animals sacrificed for them. God Himself would later become that sacrifice - even as His Son had been from the foundation of the world the lamb slain for sin. Why? God was going to make man godly again - and set Him apart for Himself redemptively. What an amazing thing - and what a wonderful thing. He sets apart the godly man for Himself. The sons of men may mock, but the godly man knows and walks with God. This relationship happens as God hears when we pray. Oh the joy of these precious words - Jehovah hears when I pray. What a gracious condescension happens every time He bends His ear low to hear the prayers of His people. What an invitation above all other invitation is ours as He calls us to speak to Him. What is the comfort to the believer? What is the joy of the Christian worldview? It is that God calls us to Himself and hears us when we pray. That is true when we simply enjoy sweet fellowship with Him - but it is also true when we are overwhelmed with trouble and cry out to Him. It is true when we praise Him with joy, yet is equally true when our eyes fill with tears of sorrow and pain and our voice is barely heard over our weeping. It is true when we speak with Him confidently, yet is also true when we are confused and don't know our way - calling to Him with our last ounce of hope. Comfort of all comforts that God hears us when we pray - this is the ultimate comfort for the believer. So how is it with us? What do our actions reveal about our worldview. For you see a worldview is not merely a set of ideas shared only in deep philosophical and theological conversations. It is best represented by how we live. Do you find your greatest comfort in God's great love for you? Do you boast of how you speak with Him daily - even every hour - in prayer as you place all before Him? Is it God who walks with you through life - and Who hears you as you talk with Him about anything and everything? Oh the peace we often forfeit - oh what painful toil we bear - all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. It is not just lyrics in a song. It is a worldview - a Psalm 4 worldview that was sung long before any hymnal was every put together. One might even say that it was in the original hymnal - written by David - inspired by God. Dear saints, it is not just a song. It is an invitation . . . because God has made you - godly man and godly woman - for Himself. |
Pastor John LawrencePsalms for Life . . . God moved on several people to write the Psalms. This is a book of songs and poems written by people who were seeking to be devoted to God as they walked though their lives. This is a collection of songs and poems that express the true, wonderful, and often raw emotions that we have as we journey through life with God. I hope you will be blessed and encouraged as you read. But more than that I hope that these expositions and writings will help you to seek Him in the midst of the life you live in this world. It will be at times comforting and encouraging, while at others it will be challenging and awkward. Regardless of where you find yourself on this spectrum as you read, it will be a reminder that God invites us into His presence to truly walk with Him, know Him, and at times, pour out emotions of joy, sorrow, frustration, anger, and everything else you can imagine. He not only invites you to do this - He delights in it too! Hope you enjoy your journey! Archives
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