Guest Contributor: Pastor Shalom Gasilao-Barbero
Psalm 84
Psalm 84: 5-8 (NLT)
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
6 When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
B Psalm 84: 5-8 (NIV)
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
And if you take a closer look, there is a Valley of Weeping. Have you ever wept? Weeping is more than crying. It is a signifies loneliness, depression, hardship and no one wants to go through a place of sadness. But if you read these verses, you’ll see that these men go from strength to strength.
3 main points when passing through the Valley:
You draw your strength from the Lord.
Psalm 121: 1-3
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Example:
Story of Moses. He wrote the very first song in the Bible on Exodus 15 – which is a song of deliverance – the very first thing Moses said was “the Lord is my strength”
When David was rescued from the hands of Saul and from the enemies – he wrote 2 Samuel 22 – and he said that the Lord is his strength.
Paul when he asked God to get the thing that torments him or the thorn of his flesh – he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – that God’s grace is sufficient – God’s power works best in weakness – or God’s strength works in weakness.
Remember, it’s not your strength – or any other strength. But it’s the STRENGTH of the Lord.
His strength means = power!
Hebrews 10:23-25
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
This teaches that as people of God – we should not stop meeting together as a church- why? Because thru this meeting – we are encouraged with one another.
Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Set on a pilgrimage. Move forward. Don’t get stuck on the valley
Walking thru the valley can sometimes be tiring and exhausting. But take heart, that is not the end point. We live temporary here on earth – and that’s the good news. We are only passing thru earth and our destination is in heaven.
Revelations 21:3-4 – In the vision of John – it says –
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Philippians 3:13-14
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Do not stay on the past. Forget what lies behind and set your eyes to the prize.
Dig a spring.
Verse 6 – When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs
In the Bible – water can be symbolized as the Holy Spirit
John 7: 37-39
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”[a] 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given,[b] because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.
John 4:14
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
What does this mean? That the Holy Spirit can bring you life – when you feel dry.
Your valley experience can be a time of refreshing spring thru the power of the Holy Spirit. You undergo testing and trials with pure joy in your heart – knowing that the Holy Spirit will give you life.
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