Psalm 84:5-8 "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (6) Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. (7) They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. (8) O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah."
We all want blessings from God, don't we? Most of us pray daily and in those
prayers, we ask God for His favour upon us in some manner or another. "Help
us to feel better. Help our children in their struggles. Bless our friends who
are troubled and stressed. Help us get this job. Help us make the best of this
job." The list goes on and on each day. It seems each day we hear of more
people who are struggling and in need. Where do we go when we feel a need or
know of someone in need? Do we not say, "I'll pray for you." What are
we confessing at that moment when we say we will pray? We are saying in some
fashion that we are blessed to know that our "strength is in thee."
There are many benefits in knowing where our strength comes from. We will
be reminded later in Psalm 121 that "My help cometh from the LORD, which
made heaven and earth."
Therefore I am blessed even when I am "passing through the valley of
Baca." What does that mean? The valley of Baca was known as a place of
weeping or a place of tears. It represents those times in our lives when we are
troubled about something. We feel stressed sometimes even to the point of
tears. We feel sadness inside. What are we to do? How can we cope with those
times? According to today's verses, we are first to remember that "blessed
is the man whose strength is in thee." The very fact that we KNOW that we
are not alone is a blessing of strength. The fact that we KNOW that our help
comes from the Lord "WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH." Why do I stress
that last phrase? In those times of struggle, remember that our help is the One
who causes the sun to rise every day. Our help spoke this great universe into
existence. Our help is the One who maintains the proper order every single day.
Our help knows the stars by name. Our help knows when the sparrow falls
to the ground. Our help knows every hair on our head. Our help is the One who
chose to love us unconditionally. Our help is the One who promised NEVER to
leave us or to turn away from us. Our help is the One who brought us through
the last struggle and the one before that. When we can think upon these things
(and so much more), then we have boldness when we send up the request, " O
LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah." Thank
you Lord! Thank you!
It Is Well by Horatio Spafford
When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
It is well With my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul