We get ourselves so accustomed to certain things by their constant use that the power of their meaning becomes destroyed. It may be a bad word or a good word, but words that would deeply affect others thus fail to move us. This we find but too true as regards the Scripture truth itself. What an effect such an announcement as that in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) would have upon us—if listened to for the first time and the value of its meaning entered into! Just the same is it with this scripture before us. “How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts” (Psa. 84:11<<To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! (Psalm 84:1)). Would not such a thought as being in God’s court, as men dwelling in God’s own house, greatly delight and surprise us, if heard for the first time and understood its meaning? What an effect such a truth as this would have upon us if fully believed! God going to make us dwell with Himself in His own house!
“How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord” (vs. 2). The heart that has found God longs for a dwelling-place with Him. It was this desire that moved Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration to make a request for three tabernacles; they could not bear the thought of the Lord Jesus going away. He could not remain, but left them and us words of comfort. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)). His people shall dwell with Him. “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (John 17:2424Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)).
The Sparrow’s Place of Rest
The heart that longs for God finds rest in the altar of God. “Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts” (vs. 3). How beautifully this parenthesis shows us the tender care God has over all His creatures! He does not fail to find a house for the most worthless of birds and a nest for the most restless. What confidence this should give us! How we should rest! What repose the soul gets that casts itself upon the watchful tender care of Him who provides so fully for the need of all His creatures! We know what the expression of “nest” conveys, just as well as that of “a house.” It is a place of security — a shelter from storm, a covert in which to hide oneself from every evil, a protection from all that can harm, a place in which to rest.
“Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee” (vs. 4). The visitor does not know all that belongs to the house, but nothing can be kept back from a dweller: He is at home and knows all the privileges and blessings of the house. In time past, God did come into the temple after a Jewish order, but the people were shut out from even this glory — the very opposite to dwelling with God. They did not know the constant blessing of the house.
How is it that we feel ourselves wonderfully more united to a Christian we may have known only for half an hour than to a mere acquaintance we may have known all our lives? Is it not the reality of the truth that God is there? Oh, the joy this knowledge gives the heart! How complete, how perfect, is God’s work! He has fitted us for this house, and we have in Him all we need. Communion with God always gives confidence in His power. This is the key to the psalm before us. If my heart has learned the love God has for me and what His purposes are towards me, I can trust Him to order the way. If my heart is set upon this glorious dwelling-place, I shall not be so much occupied about the ease or comfort of the way, as I shall be to know that it is the way. The glory of the inheritance will be far more to me than the character of the things that are round the pathway to it.
The Valley of Baca
“Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well” (vs. 6). The valley of Baca is a place of sorrow and humiliation, but one of blessing also. For Paul it was the thorn in the flesh—something that was truly humbling and called forth from him a thrice-repeated prayer. But when he heard the Lord say, “My grace is sufficient for thee,” he no longer pleaded for its removal. No; he rather gloried in his infirmity, that the power of Christ might be known. This was the place of blessing to Paul: He found it a well. The valley of Baca was turned into a spot of untold intimacy and nearness to God. With some of us, this valley may be the loss of that nearest our hearts, or the thwarting of the will, but it is a place of blessing. We get far more refreshing from the painful than the pleasant things. This is God’s way of showing us what He is, and so, in passing us through the valley of Baca, He makes it a well.
So we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:1818In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18), “In everything give thanks.” How is this to be done? Did Paul give thanks for the thorn — the very thing he supposed would hinder his usefulness? Not while looking at the thing itself—it was only when his eye was fixed on the heart and the hand that had done it. We must see the love that has ordered it and the hand that has appointed it; then we can give thanks.
“The rain also filleth the pools” (vs. 6). The Lord can make springs in the desert to meet His people’s need or send down rain from heaven to supply their wants. He knows neither difficulties nor impossibilities; to lean upon Him is undisturbed security. He will bring His people safely through every trial, and every fresh victory should increase the strength of their confidence in Him.
God Our Shield
“Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed” (vs. 9). In every sorrow God is our shield. But some may say, My sorrow is brought on by my sin. Sad it should be so! But even then we can say, “Look upon the face of Thine anointed.” God can always look upon His Son with delight; He is ever well pleased in Him, and we can plead what Christ is. There is no position a saint can be in but that he may go to God for help. No; although his very sorrow is the result of his sin, there is no other way of getting rid of it but by going to God and hiding behind His Anointed. Christ is our only shelter. He is a covert in every storm, even that which our own failure has brought upon us.
There is just one other word about the way. Now, what are our ways? What is our walk in the way to the place to which we are going? Are our ways suited to the home for which God has prepared us? Are we so behaving ourselves as to rejoice in the thought that this world is crumbling? Is the hope of the Lord’s coming our daily delight? Does it influence us in the ten thousand details of our everyday life? Or are we so walking hand in hand with the world that the very thought of His coming fills us with shame?
J. N. Darby (adapted)