The Journey

The journey.  Our psalm text today says, “How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually.  Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:4-5).  Verse 5 in the KJV states, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  Matthew Henry commentates, “They are such as have a love for holy ordinances: In whose heart are the ways of them, that is, who, having placed their happiness in God as their end, rejoice in all the ways that lead to him, all those means by which their graces are strengthened and their communion with him kept up. They not only walk in these ways, but they have them in their hearts, they lay them near their hearts; no care or concern, no pleasure or delight, lies nearer than this.”  Where are you going?  Are we seeking the Lord?  Is our current destination set on Him and are we actively pursuing Him?  This is an important question to answer because the journey will have hills and valleys, but even the valleys can be rejoiced in if we know we are drawing nearer.  The next verse of the psalm states, “As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings” (Psalm 84:6).  The Valley of Baca is the valley of tears.  So, the psalmist is saying that on this journey, with the destination set upon God, even the valley of tears is a source of spring water.  One of our sisters in the church who is going through such a time has said that one of her favorite songs is “This Valley is for me”.  The difficulties in a journey are worth it if the destination is worthy of it.  God is worthy!