People want to know how to be truly happy. Advertisers tell us, politicians tell us – but we need to listen to God. Read Psalm 84!
Scripture:
Ezra, chapter 1; Psalms 84 and 85; Luke, chapter 7
Psalm 84:1-7 (CEB):
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of heavenly forces! My very being longs, even yearns, for the Lord’s courtyards. My heart and my body will rejoice out loud to the living God! Yes, the sparrow too has found a home there; the swallow has found herself a nest where she can lay her young beside your altars, Lord of heavenly forces, my king, my God! Those who live in your house are truly happy; they praise you constantly.
Those who put their strength in you are truly happy; pilgrimage is in their hearts. As they pass through the Baca Valley, they make it a spring of water. Yes, the early rain covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, until they see the supreme God in Zion.
Observations: How to be Truly Happy? Live in God’s House
Whenever I read Psalm 84, my mind goes to the popular worship song, “Better Is One Day.” So as I read this passage today, my mind was “singing” that song. That, in turn, directed my attention to the phrase “truly happy,” which the psalmist uses twice in these seven verses. So what does Psalm 84 tells us about how to be truly happy?
First, verse 4 says that those who live in your house are truly happy. That may seem impractical to us; how can we “live” in God’s house? First, we live in God’s “house” by being part of His kingdom. “You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple” (1 Peter 2:5). God’s people are part of His kingdom; we will live forever in His presence when His kingdom comes in fullness. (See my post, “Who Will Live in the New Jerusalem?”) The psalmist says that even the birds who live in the temple courts are “at home” there. Those who live in your house are truly happy; they praise you constantly.
How to be Truly Happy? Put Your Strength in God
The psalmist also tells us that those who put their strength in you are truly happy. So what does that mean? The literal translation of this phrase is “those whose strength is in you.” I would suggest that the better way to understand this verse is not that we “put” our strength in God, but that we “find” our strength in God. We are not strong on our own; the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Because we find our strength in the Lord, we rejoice as we make our pilgrimage here. As they pass through the Baca Valley, they make it a spring of water. The CEB footnote indicates that the Latin translation renders this “Valley of Tears.” Psalm 23 comes to mind: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me” (Psalm 23:4). Because the Lord is with us – because we find our strength in Him – we know His peace. He is in control; nothing is impossible for God!
Application: How to be Truly Happy? Trust in God!
At the end of Psalm 84, the psalmist again talks about those who are truly happy: “Lord of heavenly forces, those who trust in you are truly happy!” (Psalm 84:12). So much of our fear, anxiety, and discouragement come from trying to do things ourselves. When we finally acknowledge that we cannot do things ourselves, we have a choice: do we give up? Or do we surrender to God’s authority? Scripture reminds us repeatedly to trust in God:
- “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me” (John 14:1)
- “I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world” (John 16:33)
- “I have learned to how to be content in any circumstance…I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11, 13)
“Better is a single day in your courtyards than a thousand days anywhere else!” (Psalm 84:10). How to be truly happy? Walk with God!
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the blessing of living in Your courts. You invite us to come to You. We have forgiveness and life through Your Son Jesus, who promised us peace. In a world that desperately seeks happiness, You remind us that we find it in You. We long for You; thank You for blessing us with Your presence! As we “live in Your house” and “put our strength in You,” give us Your peace. Amen.
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