To hear this Morning Devotion, please click here — From strength to strength
After completing my daily reading in the One-Year Bible this morning, I added a new verse to my memorization list.
“They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion” (Psalm 84:7)
Yes, it’s a short verse.
But it’s a verse with long-term implications.
As in “eternal.”
Psalm 84 describes various reflections of a heart committed to God. It’s actually a very compelling chapter that I encourage you to read. You can find it by clicking here.
I found comfort this morning in that some of the verses describe my heart’s attitude toward the Lord.
I also found that I have work to do in other respects so that I might have a heart more pleasing to God and useful in His service.
I’m sure that you will find the same contrasts as you compare your heart toward that described in the passage.
It was verse 7 that seized me, though.
In my mind’s eye, I was transported back to the days of David and Solomon and I pictured a faithful worshiper travelling through barren valley after barren valley in order to worship at the temple on Mount Zion.
I wasn’t sure exactly what “from strength to strength” would have meant to the ancient Israelite of faith. Whatever it would have been in his or her mind, though, it was powerful and enduring.
I thought of how a series of oasis pools could be found at some points of the journey. Those pools would allow the refreshment of strength needed for the next leg through the desert plains, mountains or valleys.
I thought of how a random meeting with a caravan might occur and that would allow the purchase of food and water.
And, intrigued by this verse, I did commentary research and found that sojourners to Jerusalem would sometimes dig deep cisterns in dried streambeds and then cover them with large, flat rocks so that sparsely intermittant rainfall could be accumulated and perhaps provide a vital blessing of water weeks after the last drop of rain fell.
This verse is perhaps describing both a physical strengthening and a spiritual strengthening.
For you can be sure that a tired and thirsty worshiper enroute to the temple would not only be satisfied physically, but also spiritually.
I thought about the peace in the heart of the believer who realized that God had provided for him or her.
I thought about the reason that God provided the physical need — so that the person could provide the heartfelt worship at a place dedicated to pleasing the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of man’s souls.
I thought about how that believer most certainly would have found strength not just in the water refreshing his or her throat, but in the recall of other blessings over the course of his or her life.
Recalled blessings refresh.
And when we recall blessing after blessing, particularly during the barren times in our lives, we go from strength to strength.
God wants us to appear before Him in Zion, both in this life and the next.
If we are going to do so, we need to understand the importance of going from strength to strength.
Please realize that God never intended the Christian life to be always easy.
If that were the case, why would we need faith?
Whenever you’re in a moment of being strengthened by a great blessing or by drinking deeply from the Living Water of scripture, rejoice and remember.
That way, your mind can remain focused on the mountaintop meeting with God even when your earthly self is feeling parched and weak.
As always, I love you
Martin
