The Blessings and Joys of Returning Home

By Rev. Arnold Chow

February 2, 2025

For those who have been traveling abroad or have migrated to faraway places, the journey home is always filled with emotions. Many church members living overseas choose to return to Hong Kong to celebrate the Lunar New Year. As they reunite with brothers and sisters in the church and catch up with one another, they cannot help but feel the joy of seeing each other again, remarking on the marks of time etched upon their faces, and sharing stories of the struggles and blessings they have encountered in distant lands. No matter the topic of conversation, returning NPAC members often express the same sentiments: “God is so good, it’s so good to be home, and it’s so good to see everyone!

This year, I have prepared a translation of Psalm 84 in Chinese titled “Those Who Are Blessed.” I hope it conveys to you and your family the blessings and joys of returning to the house of God. The phrase “on the Gittith” in the title in English has been translated as the equivalent of “to the tune of ‘Blessed’” in my Chinese translation. It is possible that “Gittith” does not refer to a musical instrument but rather to a tune that conveys the theme of blessing. The Bible records that Obed-Edom the Gittite (who is also a Levitical singer) was extraordinarily “blessed” because when the ark of the LORD remained in his house temporarily for three months, the LORD blessed his household and everything he had (2 Samuel 6:11; 1 Chronicles 13:14). With this psalm, I sincerely pray: May you be blessed in the Year of the Snake!

詩篇八十四篇 (Psalm 84)

可拉後裔          一首詩歌
      交給指揮    調用「蒙福」
1    萬軍上主    祢的居所極為美好
2    切慕渴想    上主殿宇
      傾我全人    向神歡呼
3    萬軍上主    我王我神
      祢的祭壇    巢鳥棲息   屋燕菢雛
4    有福的人   居祢聖殿   頌揚不息（細拉）
5    有福斯人   靠祢得力   大道在心
6    雖經旱谷    水泉湧現   福雨遍至
7    同行路上    力上加力
      終詣錫安    神前朝見

8    萬軍主神    垂聽我禱
      雅各的神    聆納我求（細拉）
9    求祢垂顧    我們盾牌   受膏者容
10 住祢院宇    較居他處一日勝千
      寧可停駐    神殿門前
      不願居住    惡人帳幕
11 因上主神    如日光照   如盾護庇
      上主必賜    恩惠榮耀
      未嘗留起    不予美福   正行之人
12 萬軍上主   有福的人   全信靠祢

(please read Psalm 84 in the English Bible for reference)

The psalmist is envious of those who can always enter or even dwell in the temple, for it is truly a great blessing. Living close to the church and serving there full-time allows me to deeply experience these blessings and joys! Although the psalmist could only make “the journey home” during festivals, as he ascended the mountain of God and approached His temple, his heart overflowed with joy, washing away all the tiredness from the journey.

It is worth noting that the psalmist was not alone. Those on “the journey home” were from all directions. While the paths they had taken might be different at first, as they drew nearer to Jerusalem, the psalmist could see more and more joining in the same procession. Having companions along the way brought mutual encouragement, which also helped the psalmist regain strength — that is the essence of “going from strength to strength.” Indeed, this is also the blessing and joy of returning home!

On behalf of the pastoral team, I extend my wishes to everyone in the NPAC family:

May We Cherish God’s Word in Our Hearts
May We Be Wise and Innocent
May We Journey Together in Genuine Fellowship
May We Go from Strength to Strength!

North Point Alliance Church English Ministry

North Point
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