Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

84:5-9 Blessed Are Those Who Journey to Zion. The next section describes those who make the journey to Zion to worship at such a sanctuary; they are blessed. Their strength is in God, to sustain them on the way; the highways are in their hearts, which probably means that they actually want to go (pilgrimage was obligatory [Deut. 16:16], but should never become mechanical or burdensome). The location of the Valley of Baca is unknown; it seems to have been a dry place, but the faithful pilgrims make it a place of springs (which probably means that they delight in this valley as much as if it were well-watered, being so happy to be on the way). These pilgrims go from strength to strength (i.e., they keep on finding new levels of strength for the journey), until each one appears before God in Zion (cf. Deut. 16:16). Prayer for the king (the shield and anointed) closes the section; not only does he protect the pilgrims, but he is called to represent Israel before God, to model faithfulness for the whole people, and thus to keep the whole people securely serving God.