Preaching Outline on Psalms 84:5-7 – “Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, in whose heart the paths are made smooth. Who, passing through the valley of Baca, makes it a spring; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength; each of them appears before God in Zion.“
Psalm 84 is characterized as the song of the steps. The songs of the steps are so called because they were sung by the people of Israel as they went up to Jerusalem. In this psalm we see man’s rescue project and his journey back to the Father’s house.
Baca Valley – has two meanings: “tears” and “balsam trees“.
Thus, the valley of Baca speaks of Jesus’ sacrifice. For Jesus, the valley represented tears, anguish and suffering. For us, this valley (Balsam) represents healing, refreshment and consolation.
One detail: the process of extracting balsam is very similar to that of the rubber tree. The tree is wounded and the sap is harvested to produce the balsam. Jesus was wounded so that we could be cleansed of our sins through his blood.
It’s the second step. When we come to know Jesus, we have had an experience of salvation, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on us as a seal of this salvation. It is the baptism with the Holy Spirit that fills our hearts.
It speaks of the process of man’s sanctification. From this moment on, man rejects his old self, the sins of yesteryear, his reason and will. He begins to live a new life, a new journey. From strength to strength, every day. This strength is not ours, but the Holy Spirit is with us, guiding us, giving us all the direction.
In Zion he appears before God – without sanctification man will not see God. It speaks of the special moment that the church so longs for: the meeting with the Lord, the marriage of the Lamb. The church will be caught up and will be with the Lord in eternity.
We can say that we are blessed, we are very happy. We know that our strength comes from the Lord, who leads us and enables us on this journey. In our hearts are the paths that have been paved: Jesus, the straight, sure road that leads man back to the Father’s house.
Preaching Outline on Psalms 84:5-7 – “Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, in whose heart the paths are made smooth. Who, passing through the valley of Baca, makes it a spring; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength; each of them appears before God in Zion.“