Young People's Group

From Strength to Strength

by Mitchell Tan
October 30, 2015

THE BLESSING OF STRENGTH TO DO THE WILL OF GOD

The Lord’s blessings are on those who love Him and His house. The sons of Korah wrote in the text of Psalm 84 of their deep sense of longing and joy in being with God in His tabernacle. They wrote of how they were specially blessed because of their trust in Him. One of the things that the Lord blesses His people with is His strength.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.”
Psalm 84:5

The blessing of great strength is located in the Lord of hosts (Psalm 84:1, 3, 12). He is the commander of the Lord’s heavenly army. One angel of the Lord has the power to destroy one hundred and eighty five thousand soldiers in one night (Isaiah 37:36). That is tremendous power and strength. If one angel has such power, can you imagine the greatness of power that the Lord of hosts wields! This strength can be seen in how the Lord God enables His servants to do His will. The Lord God had clearly prescribed in His commandments that the Israelites were to go to Jerusalem three times a year for three festivals (Exodus 23:14). Their heart will find the strength to go three times each year on pilgrimages to Jerusalem to seek and worship the Lord at His temple.

FINDING THE STRENGTH TO GO THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES

“As they pass through the Valley of Baca …”
Psalm 84:6

In seeking to do the will of God, there will be times when it would be most challenging. The word “Baca” in Hebrew means “weeping”. This is a symbolic idea of going through difficult moments. It is times like this that we must exercise faith.

1. FAITH IN PUTTING IN PERSONAL EFFORT

“… They make it a spring …”
Psalm 84:6

There were times when there was no water to be found along the journey to Jerusalem. The pilgrims will have to exercise faith in putting in personal effort to dig for water. It was very tough and yet they had to press on in exercising faith to dig. When they dig with strength, they would find success.

2. TRUSTING IN GOD TO BLESS

“… The rain also covers it with pools.”
Psalm 84:6

The Lord would also do His part in bringing about rain. There will not just be a spring. There would be pools of water provided by the rain that comes down from heaven, where the Lord of hosts dwells. God will do His part in blessing us with strength when we exercise faith in labouring hard.

GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

“They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.”
Psalm 84:7

Those on pilgrimage to Jerusalem will find strength for each new day. They will go out from strength to strength. There would be the sustaining power of the Lord for each challenge that comes their way. These pilgrims will all appear before the Lord to worship Him. The Lord God would also enable us to fulfil His will. For those who are taking or soon to take major exams, may the Lord grant you His grace and strength. Let’s seek to go from strength to strength according to His grace and glory (Psalm 84:11). Let’s seek to find the strength in the Lord as we endeavour to fulfil His will.

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