Psalm 84

June, 2021

This painting came out of Wednesday morning prayer following a scripture read by Pastor David on Psalm 84 and continued prayer for an Encounter Night (March 7th).

Psalm 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, 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.

The word Baka is the name for a weeping tree, or in this case it is referencing a valley of weeping or lamentation. However, as people are in the Valley of Baca, they begin bowing down into the sand and worshipping God there. As they put their hands in the sand, God reminded me of the verse from Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:17-18 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were Ito count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand - when I awake, I am still with you.

As the people worshipped God and drew near to Him, they began to filter this sand, His thoughts, through their fingers and it began to turn into the place of springs, a place of refreshing in the Valley of Baka. When we draw near to God in worship, He draws near to Us and shares His thoughts about us. This is refreshing and aplace where we can find rest.

Then there were others who were also walking through the valley. And they began to see the people kneeling in the water. And those that were kneeling began to call to them. "Come, come and worship the Lord and hear His thoughts about you ... hear how He loves you ... how He will never leave you nor forsake you ... how He has a plan and a purpose for your life ... how you are His valued treasure ... and the apple of His eye." And they beckoned the people who began running towards those that were kneeling in the pools.

Psalm 95:6-7 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under his care.

And those that have gone before, those that have found these springs, previous generations, previous intercessors, those who have prayed and worshipped in this valley.... look on with joy to see their children and their children's children making springs in the Valley of Baca through their worship as they go from strength to strength, and glory to glory, awaiting the coming of the autumn rains until each appears before God in Zion.

I pray this painting blesses you as much as it has blessed me in painting it. May the Lord show you more through it than He has shown me and may it always lead you closer to Him.

RM