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O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed – Psalm 84:9

Through the writings of Apostle Paul, we know that faith is a shield. When a shield is big, it causes us to live a life that is free from worrying about the attacks that are coming against us. In ancient times, the ocean was a natural shield against enemies. Today, science fiction movies depict invincible shields that protect whole colonies or settlements from attacks. How big is your shield and how sturdy is it? Is your shield of faith weak and small? Have you spent time growing the size and quality of your faith? God desires for us to have a shield of faith so big and comprehensive that we are neither shaken nor moved by the attacks of the enemy. Such faith pleases Him and gets His attention. In a sense, the psalmist in this verse was asking God to look at his faith and reward him for it. The author of Hebrew reminds us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Choose to work on your faith so that it not only wards off the enemy, work on your faith so that your uncommon faith also gets God’s attention.

My trust and belief in God shield me from experiencing a life of emotional turmoil

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; The rain also covers it with pools – Psalm 84:6

Valley is the word used to describe a depression on the land and Baca means weeping. Therefore, to be in the Valley of Baca is to be in depressed place where there is a lot of weeping. Nobody wants to be depressed, and no one wants to weep. Yet, it is inevitable that we will feel down in the dumps and weep in our lifetime. It is inevitable because we live in a fallen world where bad things happen. Nevertheless, there is good news for those of us whose heart is set towards God. We can experience supernatural power of God as we go through this kind of valley. Though the situation may be bad, our faith in God and our heart attitude keep us flourishing. It is not where we are that makes the difference, it is our heart response to where we are that makes the difference. Choose to focus your attention on God when in the Valley of Baca, and you will flourish as you go through it.

What is happening to me does not have to happen in me. I can experience peace even in a place of chaos and be a source of peace for those experiencing chaos

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage – Psalm 84:5

We can choose to live according to our own strength or we can choose to live according to God’s strength. The dispensation of the law shows us what life looks like when we live according to our own strength – the end of it is living under a curse as we are unable to fulfill the law. The dispensation of grace shows us what life looks like when our strength is in God – the end of it is a living a life that pleases and honors God; a life that blesses us and leaves a blessing in other people’s lives. Our pilgrimage under grace is that of knowing God more intimately. As we shift our focus away from our old way of thinking and live with a repented heart, we can live in submission to Christ. Our submission in turn releases the power of God over our life so that we are blessed. Friend, it is time to set your heart on pilgrimage. Do not settle for being in a relationship with God. Set your heart on knowing Him more.

My pilgrimage is not to a physical place but towards the heart of God

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God – Psalm 84:2

In the time of David, there was a physical temple that carried the presence of the Lord. The physical temple had outer courts and inner courts. So, when priest who wrote the psalm says his soul longs and faints for the court of the Lord, he was stating that he wanted to be close to the presence of the Lord. For more context, there were 24 priestly divisions in Davids time, with each division serving in the temple for a portion of the year. These priests in their allotted time served in the presence of God and could enter the Holy place. As believers who have been redeemed by Christ, we are a member of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Being part of priesthood now, we have the right to enter into the Holy place. But because of the dispensation of grace, the temple is no longer bound by geography, as the Spirit of God now lives within us. Therefore, we do not have to wait our turn to enter the presence of God. We can experience beauty and wonders of living life in the presence of God daily. How wonderful to have unlimited access to what Davidic priests could only have two week out of the year.

A life lived in God’s presence is much better than a life lived outside of His presence

God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods – Psalm 82:1

When read out of context, this verse makes it seems as if there is a pantheon of gods who all answer to the One True God. In fact, there are some teachings, that erroneously teach that God is the strongest of many gods with whom He hangs out, similar to what Greek mythology teaches. We know this is silly as God is not a strong peer but above all, and that all other idols are false gods. When we read the verse within context, we understand that the ones who God is judging are the children of God, who bible refers to as gods (see Psalm 82:6). We are the congregation of the might; we are gods, and He is looking to see if the work of our hands reflects his heart – defending the poor and fatherless, and delivering the afflicted and needy. We are the mighty ones whose strength is found in the Holy Spirit. When our works benefit mankind in some way, God is pleased, and His hand is upon us to help and promote us.

I am mighty and able in God to make a difference in my world

I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High – Psalm 82:6

As children of God, we are gods. Does that shock you? A god is simply an entity or a person who makes decisions (a decision maker or a judge). As His children, we are meant to rule and reign in the area of our gifting (note that we are not meant to rule and reign over people). This implies that we are meant to rule and reign for the benefit of mankind. When we choose to reign in the area of our gifting is when we rise to a place of prominence and influence in people’s lives. By so doing, we indirectly make decisions concerning the well-being and welfare of others as they benefit from our expertise regardless of whether it is as a teacher, doctor, spiritual leader, stay at home mom, or otherwise. You are a god (decision-maker). Do not to waste the gifts that God has given you but to stir it up so that you can rule and reign in life.

I become a decision-maker when I choose to exercise the gift God has given me for the benefit of others

The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever – Psalm 81:15

There are those who pretend to be submitted to the Lord but who are only truly submitted to their own desires. In the time of Jesus, these were the Pharisees! They pretend to be submitted to God, but they were submitted to power and control in reality. Today, these are those who don’t miss a day of church, have scripture all around the house, and have worship music playing in the background, but when you speak with them, their heart, nature, and character do not reflect anything close to that of Jesus. They do not forgive and do not love their neighbor. These are who the Psalmist calls the haters of the Lord. These are the ones who give God a bad name and turn people away from God.  These are those who would slander and kill in the name of Jesus for their own selfish ambitions. May we not be like the Pharisees. May God help us to be truly submitted to him so that our fate is not one of fearful expectation.

God wants me to be truly submitted instead of putting up an act of submission