A Well of Joy (Tom Rutter)

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How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
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.
Psalm 84
I found the words of Psalm 84 a real encouragement this week as we continue to journey into another month of lockdown. This ancient song describes pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. Even as they pass through "the valley Baca" - a dry place of bitterness, they make it a land of fresh springs, a well of joy. Something in them is strong enough that no matter what the terrain they pass through their joy remains. They are not coloured by circumstance, they re-colour their world. What will it take for us to keep our joy this week?
Prayer - Lord help us this week to become "a place of springs" that after we have passed through this week ahead we may leave an echo of unbeatable joy in our wake! Amen.
Tom Rutter

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