These are they that dwell in the house of God, singing praise to Him, and drawing strength through communion with Him (vv. 4-5). It was delightful to dwell there. The fellowship was sweet and uplifting, the spiritual blessings received were wonderful. But now you see these worshippers coming out of the place of worship, and coming down into the regions of everyday life which is a place of valleys—valleys of struggle and suffering, of trial and trouble, of tears and sorrow. Passing through these valleys, they make them a place of springs.

This psalm opens with the exclamation, “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!” Amiable indeed is the house of God, and it is lovely to be there. How lovely is the Sunday hour of worship! The prayers—how they lift us up. The singing—how inspiring. The fellowship—how delightful and blessed. The sermon—it feeds the soul and warms the heart. But we are not to keep these blessings to ourselves. In the divine economy we are blessed to bless. “For this is your vocation, to bless and to inherit blessing” (I Pet. 3: 9.) We cease to inherit blessing if we cease from our vocation to bless. It is a blessed experience to dwell in the house of God. But out yonder is the world of human need, and there duty calls us to fulfill our vocation.

It is our vocation and high privilege to make the valley of weeping a place of springs. What kind of springs? A spring of hope—seen in our example of trust and confidence. A spring of comfort—seen in our consolation through divine grace. A spring of inspiration—seen in our conquest, the victory of our faith. A spring of redeeming grace—seen in our lives redeemed and transformed by the grace of God in Christ. By demonstrating the sufficiency of God’s grace, displaying a trustful confidence, fighting and winning battles through the power of our faith, we can turn the valley of weeping into a place of springs.

If we are faithful in fulfilling our vocation, we can cause springs of revived faith, renewed hope and new joy to spring up all along our pathway as we move along our daily rounds, in the home, in the shop, in the office, in the marketplace.