Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

Most likely the ‘house’ was the massive temple of Solomon where many birds would nest. The tiny sparrow builds their nest on perches that support the branches and twigs while the swallows makes theirs out of wet mud that can stick to sheer walls. God welcomes us into his most holy places where his altars are just as he welcomes the birds that wing through the gates with their artful songs. He cares for them most tenderly; “If you find a bird’s nest on the ground or in a tree and there are young ones or eggs in it with the mother sitting in the nest, do not take the mother with the young. You may take the young, but let the mother go, so you may prosper and enjoy a long life.”(Deut. 22:6) The songbirds are the ‘the descendants of Korah’ of the animal kingdom; nesting in God’s house, opening the gates each dawn with their melodies of praise. We are to imitate their desire to dwell closely and joyfully before God. Jesus uses his tiny friends to remind us of the Father’s love for us: “Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it…So don’t be afraid; you are more valu- able to him than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Mt. 10:29, 31)

Praises erupt from the psalmist’s heart as he addresses the many names and titles of God; “O Yah- weh Almighty, my King and my God.” The more we know him, the happier we become.

II HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO ARE STRONG IN THE LORD - 5-8

“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains!”(5,6) As the descendants of Korah traveled to Jerusalem from their home on the east side of the Jordan they passed through the “Valley of Baca (Weeping)” . The Pulpit Commentary says that in this valley the ‘famous balsam trees wept balms* 2 .’ Jesus set his mind on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to die on the tree of suffering and weeping that is now a pool of refreshing for the whole world. “As the time drew near for his return to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Lk. 9:51) “Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.” (Lk. 13:22) Every believer is promised a cross to carry to make us stronger and happier as we journey toward the heavenly city. We must be determined to turn our valleys into ‘pools of refreshing’ by passing through them. The tears we leave behind accumulate into pools of encouragement for future pilgrims.

“They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem (Zion). (7)

God commanded that all the Israelites appear before him in Jerusalem/Zion at the appointed festi- vals to experience the praise and worship that only the temple musicians could express: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Give the Israelites instructions regarding the Lord’s appointed festivals, the days when all of you will be summoned to worship me.’”(Lev. 23:1, 2) We were made to live and grow stronger in an in- spired environment where the Lord is worshiped.

III HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TRUST IN YOU - 8-12

“O Lord God Almighty, hear my prayer. Listen, O God of Israel (Jacob). Interlude” (8)

Now that Korah’s descendants have arrived in Jerusalem they begin their prayer song to God. The psalmist addresses his triune name: “Yahweh, Elohim, T’saboth” ; Redeemer, Creator and Lord of the Armies of heaven.

“O God, look with favor upon the king, our protector! Have mercy on the one you anointed.” (9)

The prayer for the ‘anointed-king’ of the Old Testament is turned into the prayer of the ‘King-Mes- siah’ in the New Testament. We no longer intercede for our King, he intercedes for us: “Therefore he is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make interces- sion for them.” (Heb. 7:25 NAS)

“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.”(10)

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