Verses 5-7. "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them." Having spoken of the blessedness of those who reside in the house of God, the psalmist now speaks of those who are favoured to visit it at appointed seasons, going upon pilgrimage with their devout brethren.
He is not, however indiscriminate in his eulogy, but speaks only of those who heartily attend to the sacred festivals. The blessedness of sacred worship belongs not to half-hearted, listless worshippers, but to those who throw all their energies into it. Neither prayer nor praise nor the hearing of the Word will be pleasant or profitable to persons who have left their hearts behind them. A company of pilgrims who had left their hearts at home would be no better than a caravan of carcasses, quite unfit to blend with living saints in adoring the living God. "Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools." Traversing joyfully the road to the great assembly, the happy pilgrims found refreshment even in the dreariest part of the road. As men meet around a well and converse cheerfully after their journey, so even in the vale of tears - or any other dreary glen - the pilgrims to the skies find sweet solace in brotherly communion and in anticipation of the general assembly above, with its joys unspeakable. "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." So far from being wearied, they gather strength as they proceed. Each individual becomes happier, each company becomes more numerous, each holy song more sweet and full. We grow as we advance if heaven be our goal. If we spend our strength in God's ways we shall find it increase. "Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God," says the psalmist. This was the end of the pilgrims' march; the centre where all meet; the delight of all hearts. Not merely to be in the assembly, but to appear before God was the object of every devout Israelite.
Would to God it were the sincere desire of all who in these days mingle in our religious gatherings. Unless we realise the presence of God we have done nothing: the mere gathering together is worth nothing.
Verse 9. "Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed." We cannot always say, look on us; but we may always say, look on Him. In deepest sorrow through conscious failure, or in trials and difficulties, we can ever plead with God what Christ is. God is ever well pleased with Him - ever occupied with Him as risen from the dead and exalted to His own right hand in heaven, and He would have us also to be occupied with Him as the heart's exclusive object.
Verse 10. "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand ..." The least good look that a man has from God, and the least good word that a man hears from God, and the least love letter and love token that a man receives from God - these things are exceedingly precious to that man who has God for his portion. The comparison of all things with God's things is like this: One day in thy courts is better than a thousand days elsewhere.
Verse 10. "... I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." Some read it - "I would rather be fixed to a post in the house of my God, than live at liberty in the tents of the wicked;" alluding to the law concerning servants, who as they would not go out free, were to have their ear bored to the doorpost, Exodus 21 verses 5 and 6. David loved his Master, and loved his work so well, that he desired to be tied to this service for ever; to be more free to it and in it, and never to go out free from it; to be in bonds to duty rather than at liberty in sin.
Verse 11. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Note the words - "sun ... shield ... grace ... glory." The "sun," which among all inanimate creatures is the most excellent, notes all manner of excellency, provision, and prosperity; and the "shield," which among all artificial creatures is the chief, notes all manner of protection whatsoever. Under the name of "grace," all spiritual good is wrapped up: and under the name of "glory," all eternal good is wrapped up, and under the last clause - "no good thing will he withhold" - is wrapped up all temporal good. Put all together, and it speaks out God to be an all-sufficient portion for us His people.
This is an immense fountain; the Lord fill all the buckets of our hearts at such a spring and make our souls as large to receive as His hand is liberal to give.