August 12, 2009
what if the road becomes a valley
Psalm 84
Erynn Shipley
Central Truth
We do not know what the Lord has planned for us as we travel down the road that leads to Him. We often have something different in mind than He does. When the harder times come, and they will, are we able to praise Him for them?
Key Verse | Psalm 84:5–6
How blessed are those who find their strength in you,
and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!
As they pass through the Baca Valley,
he provides a spring for them.
The rain even covers it with pools of water.
(Psalm 84:5-6)
Psalm 84
My Soul Longs for the Courts of the LORD
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. 1 84:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
2
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my God.
4
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah
5
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
2
84:5
Hebrew lacks to Zion
6
As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
8
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!
10
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
12
O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 84
Have you felt a tug at your heart to stop and listen? Over the last few years I can remember moments like that very well. God has been speaking to me, and I'm learning to be still and listen.
My husband and I have been traveling down the road of infertility for a couple of years now. There have been many days of frustration and pain. This is not a road we would have chosen. When I find myself in the valley, I often can’t find my way out of it. As I have sought the Lord for strength, He has revealed more of His plan for me during this time. Once again, He spoke directly to me through Psalm 84.
The writer of Psalm 84 packed it with praise for the Lord. In verse 5 the writer longed for the road that led to God, and then we find in verse 6 that the road was probably full of struggles and pain. The writer states that he walked through the Valley of Baca. In looking up what that meant, I learned it was the Valley of Weeping. The writer then goes on to point out in verse 6 that the Lord provided during that time. God was faithful and gave them the means to keeping going. The writer notices the Lord's provision and decides to praise God even though the path leading to His temple seems to be full of trials.
I have to admit, it is very difficult to keep my eyes on the Lord when all I can see is the darkness of the valley at times. I believe the Lord has encouraged me and asked me to praise Him during my own Valley of Baca. He has taught me to look around and acknowledge His goodness and His plan and to be grateful for them. He has asked all of us, as believers, to walk the path that leads to His temple, to trust that He will give us the strength to continue walking, AND to praise Him in the midst of the journey.
Discussion Questions
1. As a believer, do you long for the road that leads to Christ?
2. Would you long for the road knowing it could be your valley of weeping?
3. When walking through a valley, do you look for the quickest way out or praise God for it?
4. How has God shown you His faithfulness and goodness in the valley?