In which words — (1.) Their progress is described ; (2.) The term and end of their journey.
I. Their progress, ' They go from strength to strength ; ' that is, they are always gathering new strength and courage, notwithstanding their difficulties. It is dvaBtTrXayai'? av^rjriKrj, that is, increasing their power and strength yet more and more ; so far are they from being weary, faint, and discouraged ; as Kom. i. 17, * The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith ; ' that is, our faith still increasing ; and airo 86^r)<; ei9 So^av, * from glory to glory,' 2 Cor. iii. 18 ; that is, our glory increasing more and more. So ' they go from strength to strength ; ' that is, they increase in strength and courage. Some read from company to com[)any, or from troop to troop or squadron to squadron. As the word signifieth strengtli in the general, so sometimes a troop of men. It was their fashion to repair to these feasts in great troops. For David saith, Ps. xlii. 4, ' I had gone with the multitude ; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a
316 SERMON UPON PSALM LXXXIV, 7.
multitude that kept holy day ; ' Luke ii. 44, ' They supposing him to be in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought *liim among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.' The crowd was so great that Christ was lost in the throng. So they go from troop to troop, from one of these companies to another, the later overtaking the foremost, which showeth their alacrity in this journey. But we may keep our reading, e'/c Bvvdfj,e(o<; ek hvva^iv, 'from strength to strength.'
II. The term and end of the journey : ' Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.' At length they come to the tabernacle, the type of Christ's promised incarnation, God's pitching his tent in human flesh ; and so these godly travellers reap the benefit of their long trouble, and enjoy the pleasure of God's public worship. The Sept. read 6<f)d^creTai 6 0eo9 twz' dewv ev ^icbv, the God of gods shall be seen in Zion.
The words are opened. Now the use of them is double, as Zion wa» a figure of the church, or as it is a figure of heaven.
1. As Zion was a figure of the church, so it doth express the zeal of God's children to join themselves to his militant church in this worlds and to make after the ordinances, there to enjoy Christ, notwithstand- ing all difficulties with which such a purpose is encumbered. Those that may have comfortable communion with God in his holy worship must expect troubles ; and yet they many times meet with a spring or a pool by the way, some mitigations of providence, and refreshments in their miseries ; at length they shall obtain their desire.
2. As Zion is a figure of heaven, of Jerusalem that is above, the city that hath foundations ; and so it doth notably express the condition of those that aspire after the triumphant church in heaven ; and all things in this psalm concerning these passengers are sweetly applicable to this. David compareth himself to two sort of Israelites : ver. 4, ' Blessed are they that dwell in thy house ; they shall be still praising thee.' Some saints are at home already, dwelling with God, and praising him is their perpetual exercise. These are in patria, in their country : others m via, in the way ; travellers home.
[1.] Their hearts are in the ways thereof ; their whole time, care, thoughts, and affections are set upon this, how they may get home : Phil. iii. 20, ' Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ ; ' Mat. vi. 20, 21, ' Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal ; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
[2.] These have a wilderness to get through, and a comfortless valley full of discouragements ; for ' through manifold tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God,' Acts xiv. 22. Only now and then God giveth them a little refreshing, a spring by the way, or a pool ; some- times inward, sometimes outward comforts and supports, that they may not be afflicted above measure, and beyond what they are able to bear.
[3.] In this valley of tears, and in the midst of sorrows, they find strength renewed to them, and supports given, so that the further they go the more cheerful they are.
[4.] At length our troublesome pilgrimage in this world is rewarded with the beatifical vision of God in a better world ; and then we shall
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find that all our pains, though never so great, are well bestowed, when the God of gods is seen in Zion.
First, Those whose hearts are set upon the ways of God, and do in the midst of all difficulties hope to come before him in Zion, that is above, it is their privilege and duty to go on from strength to strength.