On a Pilgrimage – Psalm 84

A text – Psalm 84

84:1  How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

84:2  My soul longs, indeed it faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

84:3  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.

84:4  Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah

84:5  Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

84:6  As they go through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.

84:7  They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

84:8  O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

84:9  Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.

84:10  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 live in the tents of wickedness.

84:11  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.

84:12  O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

A reflection:

I have read that Psalm 84 is a pilgrimage psalm, something pilgrims night have recited as they made their way to Jerusalem. Speaking such a song during a long journey would remind the travelers of the destination, and that the journey would be worth all the effort and danger and difficulties they might face. The old spiritual we all know comes to mind here: I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger, Traveling through this world of woe. There is no sickness, no toil, nor danger, In that bright land to which I go.

This psalm might even have been said or sung by the elders from our gospel text this week, Anna and  Simeon, since they spent their days praising God in the temple, the place the pilgrims were trying to get to. The psalm promises “Happy are those who live in God’s house, Happy are those whose strength is in God, Happy is everyone who trusts in God.” What a wonderful vision of a life lived in relationship with and in the house of a God who loves us.

The next time we go to worship, let’s think of this psalm. Let us be delighted to get there and to sing praise to our God. And let’s also think of what it will be like to go to worship God eternally, with all those God has blessed and welcomed into the great banquet on high. What a festival of worship it will be!  And nothing will be withheld from the human beings welcomed into God’s presence forevermore.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for this pilgrimage psalm. Thank you for reminding us that we are on a journey in this world that will end in your courts and your house. Help us to travel well with one another and bless the places we travel through, so that we will end up happy forever with you. Amen.