THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE SET ON PILGRIMAGE

Passage: Psalms 84:1-12

Key verse: 5

NIV

Psalm 84[a]
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,(A)
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns,(B) even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.(C)
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,(D)
    Lord Almighty,(E) my King(F) and my God.(G)
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

5 Blessed are those whose strength(H) is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.(I)
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;(J)
    the autumn(K) rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,(L)
    till each appears(M) before God in Zion.(N)

8 Hear my prayer,(O) Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e](P) O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.(Q)

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper(R) in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun(S) and shield;(T)
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold(U)
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed(V) is the one who trusts in you.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 84:1 In Hebrew texts 84:1-12 is numbered 84:2-13.
  2. Psalm 84:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 84:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
  4. Psalm 84:6 Or blessings
  5. Psalm 84:9 Or sovereign
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

My Soul Longs for the Courts of the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to (A)The Gittith.[a] A Psalm of (B)the Sons of Korah.

84 How (C)lovely is your (D)dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul (E)longs, yes, (F)faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to (G)the living God.

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,
    (H)my King and my God.
4 (I)Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
    ever (J)singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    (K)in whose heart are the highways to Zion.[b]
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    (L)the early rain also covers it with (M)pools.
7 They go (N)from strength to strength;
    each one (O)appears before God in Zion.

8 O (P)Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 (Q)Behold our (R)shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day (S)in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be (T)a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is (U)a sun and (V)shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
(W)No good thing does he withhold
    from those who (X)walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
    (Y)blessed is the one who trusts in you!

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 84:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 84:5 Hebrew lacks to Zion
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. My soul yearns for the living God (1-4)

The psalmist's deepest desires are spiritual desires. When worldly desires occupy my heart, my heart and flesh cannot cry out for God. My deepest desire must be to know God and to dwell in his presence. Those who are really blessed are those who dwell with the living God.

2. Set your heart on pilgrimage (5-12)

Life is a pilgrimage toward God's eternal city. When we set our hearts on this pilgrimage, God strengthens and blesses us. As we travel through the desert-like world, we become a blessing to those whom our lives touch. But we must trust God and know that a day with God is better than a thousand days of worldly life. It is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. God does not withhold any good thing from those whose hearts are set on this holy pilgrimage.

Prayer: Lord, purify my desires and give me strength for the holy pilgrimage.

One Word: Set your heart on pilgrimage.