Tuesday,
March 9, 2021
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. Psalm 84:5-7
Scripture
speaks to us on many levels in the same passage. On one level, the Psalmist speaks of longing for
the temple in Jerusalem; on another, this is a picture of those longing for the
eternal temple in the very presence of God.
The pilgrimage of which the Psalmist speaks is a journey in this land;
for the Psalmist, the valley of weeping is like arriving near Jerusalem through
the western Valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna.
It is the place of the most-despised history of Jerusalem’s past, a garbage
dump of child sacrifice, tombs, and demons.
It is the place Jesus referred to when he warned people of the dangers
of the fires of hell.[1]
By
contrast, the Psalmist said passing through this place that borders Jerusalem,
would unveil the most refreshing waters of beauty imaginable. This is what it is like to have walked the
arduous pilgrimage road to Jerusalem in those days, braving the dangers of
mountains, wild animals, robbers, and thirst, knowing the ground was cursed
with the blood of thousands of criminals, sacrificed children, and garbage lit
on fire, only to arrive at the holiest of cities. To call it refreshing
hardly does this image justice.
A
deeper, more eternal view of this Psalm, casts even the holy city as a place to
leave, in favor of the holy city not made with hands – the New Jerusalem. For any who kneel in honor and reverence of
JHWH, this is the end of our holy journey.
We call it Heaven, God’s haven of rest, the throne room, and a thousand
other euphemisms of joy, peace, strength, and eternal life. We call it “home”.
Shortly
after I got home from church this past Sunday I learned of the passing of a
dear friend. Donna was the one my bride
called “Sissy”. Elizabeth was an only
child so the longing for a sister, and the deep friendship we shared over the
years, was a natural. Along with her
husband, Dan, this couple was, perhaps, the happiest, most joyful pair we
know. You could not spend more than a
few minutes with them before the laughing began.
Having
served together at a church early in our ministry, we knew of some of their
sorrow which was mingled with the joy.
Dan and Donna buried a son, taken too soon.
I think
of my friends this morning because I love them, and because I mourn Donna’s
passing, and share some of Dan’s grief.
We talked with Dan by phone on Sunday, sharing memories and past times
of joy. And we spoke of the reunion of
God’s family that’s coming one day. We
spoke of what the Psalmist calls those
refreshing waters of the holy city.
And I’m envious of Donna’s day today, splashing around in refreshing,
complete, unhindered joy.
I am so
happy for “Sissy” and so broken for my friend.
And that’s the way it is on this life’s road…each mile has its own
sorrows and joys; each pathway holds its dangers and snares.
But….one
day….
For You Today
Have you set your mind on a pilgrimage to God’s
holy city? The Psalmist says
that is where you find joy and refreshing.
That’s a pretty good place to be when
your journey takes you through the valley of weeping; it’s where the masks come
off, and social distancing evaporates!
[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
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