A Song for the Journey (3)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 84.9, 10
O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Sing Psalm 84.8-12
(Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Lord of hosts, my prayer receiving, hear me, help me by Your grace!
In Your courts I stand believing; turn to me Your glorious face!
Lord, our sun, our shield, our glory, no good thing will You deny
to those who proclaim Your story, and who on Your grace rely.

Read Psalm 84.9, 10

Preparation
1. What were the psalmists seeking?

2. Why were they seeking it?

Meditation
“In hoc signo vinces.” On the eve of the battle that would determine the fate, not only of Constantine but of the entire Roman Empire, Constantine had what he thought was a vision. In a bright light he saw or heard the words, in Latin, “In this sign, conquer.” At the same time, he saw the cross of Jesus. He instructed his armies to sew or otherwise affix the Christian cross to their shields and breastplates. He then led them forth into victory, gained the crown of empire, and set the stage for the rapid expansion of the Gospel throughout the Roman world.

When the sons of Korah called on the Lord to look upon them, and as He did, to look upon their “shield”, they were calling on Him to see Himself in them – His promises, His covenant, and even perhaps His Spirit (cf. v. 11; Gen. 15.1). Only in Him could they dare to seek the face of God, or to have Him look on theirs. And this is the great comfort that accompanies us in all our journey: Our lives have been hidden with God in Jesus Christ! (Col. 3.3) When God looks upon us, He sees Jesus. As we turn to look upon Him, we see Him through Jesus. In the sign of Jesus, we are more than conquerors (Rom. 8.37). Each day we launch out in our journey in Jesus, for Jesus, and with Jesus – conquering and to conquering for the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Kingdom of God (Rev. 6.1, 2; Rom. 14.17, 18).

Whatever we do, no matter how insignificant it may appear, when we do it in Jesus and for Jesus and with and by Jesus, it becomes the most exhilarating, exciting, fulfilling, and satisfying thing we can do (Col. 3.23, 24). Nothing compares to being in the Presence of the Lord through each step of our journey in life (v. 10), just as nothing will compare with being in His Presence and seeing Him face-to-face forever (1 Jn. 3.1-3).

“In hoc signo vinces.” You may not think your life is all that important or your work very significant. But walk it with Jesus, work it with Jesus, and in the sign of Jesus, in and through you, you will be more than a conqueror for Him and His Kingdom.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts” (Ps. 119.141).
“But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay” (Ps. 70.5).

To know that various other psalmists felt this way is a comfort to our weary hearts. We certainly feel this way a lot of the time. Small, despised, needy, and insignificant.

But to know that the sons of Korah were taking the bull by the horns and suggesting that God look at them is emboldening. “O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed” (Ps. 84.9). Their confidence though, was not in themselves; it was in God alone.

To spur us on in this mindset, Jesus encourages us with these words: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19.26). Anything that we might try to do in our own power is impossible; but anything we attempt with the power of the Holy Spirit is possible. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1.8).

And in this truth we are more than conquerors.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8.38, 39).

Not even our neediness, poverty, or insignificance.

Behold us, LORD, trusting in You.
Behold us, covered in the cleansing blood of Jesus.
Behold us, forgiven and empowered to serve.
Behold us, as conquerors.

Reflection
1. Jesus is leading you forth today, conquering and to conquer. What will that look like?

2. Finish this sentence: Because my life has been hidden in Christ with God…

3. Thank God for the ways He has shielded and protected you in recent days. How do you need Him to shield you today?

In all our addresses to God, we must desire that He would look on Christ, his Anointed One, and accept us for His sake: we must look to Him with faith, and then God will with favor look upon the face of the Anointed: we, without Him, dare not show our faces. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the Psalm 84.1-7

Closing Prayer: Psalm 84.5-7
Set your heart before the Lord to follow and serve Him throughout this day. Call on Him to help you through any hard spots, trials, or temptations. Draw on the strength of His Presence with praise and thanksgiving.

Sing Psalm 84.5-7
(Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Blessed are they whose strength is founded in Your strength, O Lord above.
All whose hearts in You are grounded journey in Your strength and love.
Though they weep with tears of sadness, grace shall all their way sustain.
In Your Presence, filled with gladness, they shall conquer all their pain.

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Free Christmas Gifts
For more insight to the ascension and reign of Jesus, order a free copy of our book, What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? (click here) Order several copies and give them as gifts for Christmas.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.