What does "They go from strength to strength" mean in Psalm 84:7? Canonical Context “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion.” The phrase in question stands inside a pilgrimage psalm celebrating the journey to the temple in Jerusalem. The backdrop is literal pilgrimage, figurative spiritual ascent, and ultimate communion with God. Immediate Literary Flow 1. v. 5 – dependence: strength is in God. 2. v. 6 – hardship: Valley of Baca (“weeping”) turned to refreshment. 3. v. 7 – momentum: the pilgrims do not stall; each fresh supply of divine energy propels them forward until they stand in the holy presence. Pilgrimage Imagery and Ancient Practice • Three annual feasts required Israelite males to appear in Zion (Exodus 23:14-17). • Archaeology at Tel Arad and Lachish confirms well-traveled southern routes; way stations found along the ascent to Jerusalem indicate logistical preparation for such journeys (Late Iron II, 8th–7th c. BC). • The Valley of Rephaim’s water channels and Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kings 20:20) illustrate providential springs along difficult terrain, matching the psalm’s picture of God-given pools. Theological Significance 1. Sustaining Grace: God supplies strength at every stage (Isaiah 40:29-31; 2 Corinthians 12:9). 2. Progressive Sanctification: believers are transformed “from glory to glory” (2 Colossians 3:18), an NT echo of “strength to strength.” 3. Assurance of Arrival: the journey ends “before God in Zion,” prefiguring the eschatological gathering (Revelation 7:9-17). Christological Fulfillment • Jesus embodies the true Zion (John 2:19-21) and the Way (John 14:6). • Resurrection power empowers the believer’s pilgrimage (Ephesians 1:19-20). • In Christ the Valley of Weeping becomes living water (John 7:37-39). Practical Application • Spiritual Resilience: hardships become training grounds for deeper reliance. • Corporate Encouragement: pilgrims travel together; fellowship multiplies strength (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Mission Focus: each stage equips for broader witness, mirroring Acts’ geographic expansion “Jerusalem…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Cross-References • Proverbs 4:18 – righteous path shines “brighter until full day.” • Isaiah 52:7 – feet of those who bring good news ascend Zion. • 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “always abounding…knowing your labor is not in vain.” Common Misconceptions Addressed • NOT self-generated grit; source is divine (“in You,” v. 5). • NOT uninterrupted ease; valleys and tears remain (v. 6). • NOT mere physical prosperity; climax is worship before God. Devotional Implications Pause at each answered prayer; it is a divinely installed “spring.” Memorize Psalm 84:7 for times of fatigue, anchoring in the certainty that the next supply is already appointed. Summary Definition “They go from strength to strength” portrays God-reliant pilgrims receiving successive, ever-increasing infusions of divine power that carry them through hardship and transform obstacles into refreshment until they stand, perfected and rejoicing, in His immediate presence. |
    |