Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
Psalm 84:5-7 NIV
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred site, seeking to encounter God in a special way. The ancient Jews were expected to make annual journeys to Jerusalem for Passover and other events. But the pilgrimage described here is more significant than those.
This pilgrimage is similar to what is described in the book “Pilgrim’s Progress.” This book allegorically describes a believer’s journey as he travels through life as a pilgrim toward his ultimate destination, the Celestial City. All of us, as believers, are on this pilgrimage. We have left our old lives behind and are traveling as foreigners through this world toward our eternal home.
But what is your life as a pilgrim like? As you travel along the way, do you find your strength in God? Or do you often flounder? Is your heart focused on the destination? Or are you distracted along the way? As you travel through the Valley of Baka, this dark world, is it a better place because you are there?
As the psalmist says, blessed is the one whose strength is in the Lord. Whose heart is set on the pilgrimage and its destination. And whose travel through this life is a blessing to those around them. They will experience God’s power in their lives until they reach the end of their journey and enter the Celestial City.
