Charles H. Spurgeon

Verses 5-7. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.”

Having spoken of the blessedness of those who reside in the house of God, the psalmist now speaks of those who are favoured to visit it at appointed seasons, going upon pilgrimage with their devout brethren.

He is not, however indiscriminate in his eulogy, but speaks only of those who heartily attend to the sacred festivals. The blessedness of sacred worship belongs not to half-hearted, listless worshippers, but to those who throw all their energies into it. Neither prayer nor praise nor the hearing of the Word will be pleasant or profitable to persons who have left their hearts behind them. A company of pilgrims who had left their hearts at home would be no better than a caravan of carcasses, quite unfit to blend with living saints in adoring the living God. “Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” Traversing joyfully the road to the great assembly, the happy pilgrims found refreshment even in the dreariest part of the road. As men meet around a well and converse cheerfully after their journey, so even in the vale of tears – or any other dreary glen – the pilgrims to the skies find sweet solace in brotherly communion and in anticipation of the general assembly above, with its joys unspeakable. “They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” So far from being wearied, they gather strength as they proceed. Each individual becomes happier, each company becomes more numerous, each holy song more sweet and full. We grow as we advance if heaven be our goal. If we spend our strength in God’s ways we shall find it increase. “Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God,” says the psalmist. This was the end of the pilgrims’ march; the centre where all meet; the delight of all hearts. Not merely to be in the assembly, but to appear before God was the object of every devout Israelite.

Would to God it were the sincere desire of all who in these days mingle in our religious gatherings. Unless we realise the presence of God we have done nothing: the mere gathering together is worth nothing.

Courtesy of the Wicket Gate Magazine