How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. –Psalm 84:1-3
There is a longing for the people of God to be in His
presence. In quiet times there is nothing better; my heart is filled after
spending time in prayer or worship. But being in God’s presence isn’t always an
easy thing:
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. –Psalm 84:4-9
The psalm doesn’t sugar-coat. There are times of great
trials in the life of the Christian, whether by circumstances that God uses to
grow us, or through persecution. We only know a sliver of what that can entail,
as we can read accounts of thousands who have given their lives for the cause
of Jesus and know that we are not (currently) faced with that. Even in America,
though, we have seen people lose their businesses because they followed God’s
commands over the world’s demands (and because, I supposed, there aren’t any
other places to order wedding
cakes and flowers).
Coming from a large Christian community and a comparatively
somewhat conservative business school to law school on a liberal campus has
given me a greater appreciation of being in the minority, where following
Christ is not always welcomed. With this in mind, the remainder of the psalm
says this:
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. –Psalm 84:10-12
Why? Because Jesus bore His cross all the way to Calvary,
and then He was nailed to it and lifted up in humiliation and anguish to pay
for my sin and purchase me back from the chains of it. He gave everything,
suffering the worst kind of persecution.
 |
| The Valley of Baca |
When I consider being yelled at by a homosexual classmate because of my
beliefs about homosexuality, or being ridiculed and threatened for advocating
against abortion, or being considered radical for ordering my life around an
ancient Book, it all seems as nothing in light of the crucifixion, and I have a
great peace that comes over me in the face of such situations. God is with me.
Even if it is not reciprocated, I can still show love to these individuals, because
God’s love has taught me how to love—unconditionally.
Psalm 84 says that we will pass through the Valley of Baca,
a desert place. It literally means “Valley of Weeping.” And when we pass
through it, we become well-makers and the rain fills the pools, because no
amount of sorrow is a match for the love of God. Matthew Henry’s Concise
Commentary had this to say:
Those are truly happy, who go forth, and go on in the exercise of religion, in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, from whom all our sufficiency is. The pilgrims to the heavenly city may have to pass through many a valley of weeping, and many a thirsty desert; but wells of salvation shall be opened for them, and consolations sent for their support. Those that press forward in their Christian course, shall find God add grace to their graces.
I don’t want to capitulate and join the ranks encamped in
the tents of wickedness. It might be an easier and more popular lifestyle, but
it is not for a child of God. I would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house. I
would rather have a lowly position in God’s will than a mighty one outside it.
Because following God requires surrender. One of my favorite songs
from my favorite worship band speaks of
this:
I give You
my life;
I give You
my trust,
Jesus.
You are my
God;
You are
enough,
Jesus.
My heart
is Yours,
My heart
is Yours.
 |
| Kristian Stanfill performing "My Heart is Yours" |
Take it
all,
Take it
all,
My life in
Your hands.
I lay down
my life.
I take up
my cross,
Jesus.
You are my
God,
Whatever
the cost,
Jesus.
My heart
is Yours,
My heart
is Yours.
Take it
all,
Take it
all,
My life in
Your hands.
And all to
Jesus I surrender.
All to You
I freely give.
Oh, I will
ever love and trust You;
In Your presence I will live.
Just the music alone would bring tears to your eyes. The
message is one of total surrender to God. When we surrender to something or someone, we can’t
surrender to anything else. That is inherent in surrender. “Whatever the cost,” we choose to follow Him.
Surrender is complete. It requires surrendering our
passions, our talents, our fears, our finances, our relationships, our
ambition, our needs, our desires, our sin, our everything. That may mean
missed opportunities. That may mean derision. That may mean lost relationships.
That may mean for me one day choosing between a certain
position or following Christ. It may mean me losing a job because of what I
believe.
What will the choice be? Are we willing to accept the
consequences of this life-changing decision?
As for me, I abandon my ambition at the foot of the cross.
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