Psalm 84:7 They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. NLT
More and more people these days are living into their nineties. My dad fell just short of it at 89. While living longer, most people approaching their 90's seem rather feeble and frail. That is because man looks upon the outside while God looks at the inside, at the heart. Today's verse comes from one of my favorite Psalms which earlier states "blessed is the man whose heart is set on pilgrimage".
It is a man looking beyond, today, beyond the current circumstances, even the frailty of our physical bodies and lives, to a new brighter day.
On the inside, those with faith may grow stronger. They long for their eternal home. The NKJV in verse 87 says "they will go from strength to strength". A strong faith hear to everlasting strength that won't fade.
These few verses of the psalm have strong similarities to Psalm 23 which is read more often at funerals. They both speak of going through the valley, they both speak of renewed strength, and they speak of refreshment. Life for the Christian is a pilgrimage, with our Lord Jesus leading us in the way.
"Going they increase in strength, until they appear before God in Zion." This last is doubtless the true idea. As they pass along, as they come nearer and nearer to the end of their journey, their strength, their ardor, their firmness of purpose increases. By their conversation; by their songs; by encouraging one another; by seeing one difficulty overcome after another; by the fact kept before their minds, and increasingly apparent, that they are constantly approaching the end of their journey-that the distance to be traveled is constantly diminishing-that the difficulties become less and less, and that they will soon see the towers and walls of the desired city-they are invigorated, cheered, comforted. What a beautiful illustration of the life of Christian pilgrims-of the bands of the redeemed-as they journey on toward the end of their course-the Mount Zion above! – From Barnes' Notes
I want to honor my dad today and tomorrow, and more than that I want to honor our God. Please pray for me, my mom, and family as we walk towards that goal, in the strength of His Spirit.
In Christ,
Mike
Follow the "Verse of the Day" at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Ps 84:5- Happy are those who are strong in the LORD, who set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Ps 23:6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
NLT
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