New: 20 May 2025
The Beauty of
God's Presece
Psalm 84
How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD Almighty!
My soul years, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Psalm 84:1-2 NIV
The Beauty of God's Presence
The psalmist knew of the beauty of God's presence—the beauty of holiness (Psalm 96:9; 29:2). The psalmist longed for God's presence (Psalms 42—43; see E34) and pursued God wholeheartedly (Psalm 9; see E35; Psalm 63; E36). The psalmist knew that God's dwelling place was 'lovely' (Psalm 84:1). His soul, heart and even flesh, yearned for God's presence (v 2). There is nothing like the presence of God. While birds have their nests as their dwelling places, the psalmist knew that the best, most wonderful place to abide in is God's presence (v 3). Blessed are those who dwell in the place of God's presence, ever praising God in the beauty of His presence (V 4). There is joy and comfort in worshipping God in His very presence. It is the place of true satisfaction and peace.
Strengthened in God's Presence
The psalmist also knew that there is strength and renewal in God's presence, as we trust in Him and find our strength for life in the Almighty (Psalm 84:5). We are blessed to find our strength in God (v 5); we are blessed when we trust Him (v 12). The psalmist sought God and His strength as he was seeking His face (Psalm 105:4; E26). Many seek God only when they're in trouble; they seek His hand to help them. And certainly, God is an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), yet we shouldn't treat God as a last resort, but as our first refuge. We should seek His face (for who He is), not just His hand (what He can do for us). True strength comes from seeking His face—the one thing the true worshipper seeks (Psalm 27:8; see E4).
There is blessing in finding strength in God and having our hearts fixed on seeking Him in His presence (Psalm 84:5). The worship of ancient Israel was centred in the Temple in Jerusalem. They had to go up to the city of the great King to worship Him. That's why the psalmist notes the 'pilgrimage' (v 5). God is omnipresent (present everywhere), yet there were times and places to meet Him face to face and be in His presence. It is for those who truly walk with God, those whose hearts trust in Him and whose lives are fully dedicated to Him. There was a stark contrast between the rebellious Israelites and people like Moses and others who revered God and valued His presence. The rebellious generation died in the wilderness; yet true worshippers like Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land. Moses saw the place of promise from afar, yet was not allowed to enter because of his outburst of frustration and anger by which he misrepresentation of God. A leader in his position couldn't afford to do that. The higher our position, the higher the standard. Yet Moses had known the beauty and power of God's presence. He had seen His glory. He would not want to go anywhere without God's presence. Moses gained strength in the presence of God. His presence gave him peace, rest and renewal (see Exodus 33). Those who worship God in Spirit and truth can worship Him anywhere at any time as true worshippers, who call on Him with pure hearts (John 4:23-24; see D6). There is beauty and strength in His presence.
The Valley of Weeping
But life has its difficult and painful moments, too. The psalmist knew this. The Valley of Baca (Psalm 84:6) is the valley of weeping. There are times when life hits us hard and pain is difficult to handle. We get treated in unfair and ugly ways. We get hurt and suffer. In such a state of emotion, it is tempting to become resentful and revengeful. But there is a better way to handle life—being strengthened in the beauty of God's presence. The prophetic symbolism in this verse is powerful: the valley of weeping, where we shed tears, can become the 'place of springs,' fountains of life (Psalm 84:6). The painful times in life make us or break us—the choice in ours. We can allow life to knock us down, or we can become better and stronger people and get back up. We can pour out the pain in our hearts before God (Psalm 62:8; see E11) and must cast our burdens on Him (Psalm 55:22). And we should, above all, abide in His presence. There is peace, rest and renewal in His presence (Exodus 33:14). The tears we shed are the seeds to gain new strength from the Fountain of life as we turn the valley of weeping into the place of springs and fountains.
The pain we suffered can become a source of compassion for others who suffer and we are empowered to help them. We understand their suffering, can relate to it and show them the way forward. But bitter people want others to suffer as they are suffering. They find a strange kind of comfort in seeing others suffering. They rejoice in inflicting pain on others and somehow think there is some benefit in it. No, there isn't—it only makes things worse. It's like chasing the poisonous snake that bit you, rather than going to the hospital to get an anti-dote. The true power for life is in forgiveness and the strength that comes from God's presence.
Those who truly find the place of His presence go 'from strength to strength' as they leave the valley of weeping behind them to appear before God on their pilgrimage into His presence (Psalm 84:7). You can be healed and restored in His presence and find the Source of strength and renewal. He is the Source of life (Psalm 36:9; E13). Jesus promised that through the Spirit, the very fountain of life will reside within us (John 7:37-39). Paul prayed that the believers would experience the 'exceeding greatness of His power' (Ephesians 1:15-23) and know the One who is 'able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us' to God's glory (3:14-21). The Spirit empowers us to live life in all its different circumstances and with all its different challenges. Paul could do all things through Christ who strengthened him (Philippians 4:13)—no matter what situations he found himself in (vv 10ff). He lived according to the power of God within him. He lived by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). His internal world was more important than the external world. The key to leaving the pain of the valley of weeping and become stronger is in finding our strength in God and moving on.
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalm 84:10 NIV
Your inner Life
What goes on in you is more important than what goes on around you. Your inner life matters. How you respond to your circumstances will determine who you become and how your future will look it. No one can take your power of response away from you. It is yours. And it will reflect your inner life. Many people are too dependent on what happens to them. When things go wrong, they start blaming others and make excuses for their mistakes, instead of owning up to their actions and taking responsibility for their lives. It is a choice, and the choice is yours. Remember, life is both what happens to you and how you respond to it. The response can be powerful!
God's Spirit dwells inside of us. He is the power by whom we can be strengthened to overcome trouble and thrive even in challenging times. We can become better, and avoid becoming bitter. We overcome evil by doing good, instead of being overcome by evil (Romans 12:21). Your external world (your circumstances) is not as important as your internal world (your condition). Challenges simply reveal what you are made of; how strong and mature you are. That is why Martin Luther King knew that the true measure of man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience, but in times of challenges, hardships and difficulties! The day of adversity reveals our true level of strength—as the wise king said: 'if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small' (Proverbs 24:10).
Yet the righteous may also fall at times—even seven times, and still rise (v 16). Such a person knows what it means to fail and fall, yet found a way to get back up. Whenever you experience a set-back, prepare for your come-back! My father, and his father before that, taught us that it is not a shameful thing to fall; only to stay down. How true! It is also shameful, I might add, to project your failure on others and blame them instead of being honest. Failures can become the most powerful stepping stones for success—if we learn and try again. Yet that person will not rejoice when the enemy falls, for such a proud attitude of resentment is displeasing to God (vv 17-18). When we fail and recover, we should be more humble and help others, not become proud and feel a sense of satisfaction when others suffer. We have first removed the beam from our own eye, and no longer point to the speck in others' eyes, but rather help them in humility and gentleness (see Matthew 7:1-4; cf., 2 Timothy 2:24-26). Your inner life matters for it is the true you! Therefore, guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow all issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Bring forth good treasure stored up in your heart (see Luke 6:43-45).
In order to handle the challenges of life we must have both our attitude and our priorities right. The psalmist didn't seek worldly status or other things in the category of 'the pride of life.' All such striving is vanity. He knew that one day in God's courts—in His very presence—was better than anywhere else in the world, including 'Greek island beaches,' as Eugene Peterson transliterates that verse in The Message Bible (MSG). There are many beautiful places in the world, many wonders of God's creation in all corners of God's green earth. God made a beautiful habitation for humanity He created in His image, yet nothing compares to the very presence of God. The psalmist was happy to be of a lowly status in the world's eyes, but be in God's presence. He would rather abide in God's presence, than have all the riches or privileges in the world, but miss out on what truly matters in eternity. A doorkeeper in God's house where His presence dwells is better than being a chief in the tents of the wicked (Psalm 84:10b). But some people prefer to be 'a ruler in Hell' rather than 'a servant in Heaven.' It's a choice. Worldly status and all things related to 'the pride of life' will fade away and come to nothing, but those who do the will of God will abide forever (see 1 John 2:15-17; cf., Matthew 7:21-23). What good is it to win the whole world yet lose your soul in eternity? The place of having God hear your prayers and protect you like a shied (Psalm 84:8-9) is the safest and best place to be. It does not depend on your external circumstances, but on your inner life being filled with His Spirit and surrounded by His presence. There is beauty and strength in His presence.
God's Faithfulness
The living God, the psalmist longed for (Psalm 84:2), is faithful. He is 'a sun and a shield' (v 11a)—a source of life and a protection from trouble. He is faithful to bestow 'favour and honour' on those who trust Him and will not withhold 'any good thing' from those who walk blamelessly before Him (v 11b). God is faithful and will reward those who seek Him wholeheartedly. He will bless those who trust in Him (v 12). He is the Almighty, the Lord of hosts. We can trust Him. Yes, life has many challenges and we suffer. Yet there is a God of hope and comfort who is with us, whose presence empowers us and whose faithfulness keeps us. Trust in God and seek His face. His presence will strengthen and renew you to stand strong in life's storms and challenges.