This psalm is written from the viewpoint of a person who is going on a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. People who lived in Jerusalem could see the temple and could go to the temple courts whenever they wanted to.
But those who lived far away from Jerusalem could not do so. They usually came to Jerusalem only for special occasions, such as one of the feasts God told them to observe. The writer of this psalm is going and is longing to be there in the presence of God. God’s presence dwelt between the cherubim in the holiest place of the temple. But, just being near to the temple, knowing God’s presence was there, made worshippers feel close to God.
The heading of this psalm says it is a psalm of the Sons of Korah. This group was a subgroup of the Kohathites, who were one of the groups of Levites that had jobs taking care of the temple. The Sons of Korah were singers who led in worship. So, this psalm may have written by one of these singers who traveled to the temple to fulfill his duties.
Longing for the Temple
84:1-4
The psalmist had an intense desire to be at the temple and in God’s presence. He said the Lord’s dwelling place was lovely. It was not lovely to him because of its physical beauty, but because God dwelt there. The place was special, or dear, to him.
The psalmist referred to God as LORD of hosts (Yahweh sabaoth). He is the Ruler of the forces of heaven, but also of the whole earth. This is what Martin Luther called Jesus in his hymn “A Mighty Fortress”. The New International Versions interprets it as “LORD Almighty”.
This intense longing for the temple courts is so strong it is a physical sensation for him. It is so strong it makes him feel faint at times. But it also makes him sing for joy to God. He sings out loud. The New International Version says he cries out for God. His longing is not for the physical structure, but for the God who dwells there, the living God.
Since even the most common birds, the sparrow and swallow, make nests near the temple altars, how much more blessed are those who can dwell in God’s house, in his presence, and sing is praises. (3-4)
Blessing The Pilgrims
84:5-7
Also blessed are those who travel to Jerusalem. Their strength is in the Lord as they travel and their affection, or heart, is on the roads to Jerusalem (Zion). They look forward to being at the temple so much that even the road there is important to them.
We do not know what the “valley of Baca” is, but it must be a dry place that is difficult to pass through. But these pilgrims are so full of joy that they make it a place of springs and pools. They have the strength of God to pass through this to get to the place where they will stand in the presence of God. It could be that Baca is a metaphor for a time of adversity that the psalmist goes through before he get to experience the joy of being at the house of the Lord.
The pilgrims get stronger as they go. The go from “strength to strength”. (7) All of the finish the journey and appear at the temple before God.
Prayer for Protection of the King
84:8-9
Interposed with the expressions of joy for being at the house of the Lord is this prayer for the king, the anointed one. The psalmist sees the king as their protector, their shield. He is the one whom God appointed to lead Israel and defend it. So the psalmist asks God to look upon him, extend favor to him, because is is also dependent on the Lord.
Here the psalmist not only referred to God as the Lord of Hosts, the almighty one, but as the God of Jacob. (8) God extended his covenant with Abraham to Jacob. (Genesis 35:1-15) He protected him in many trials. He also blessed him with many descendants, as promised, so that they became the nation of Israel. So, the psalmist is invoking the covenant and asking God to protect the king, and therefore Israel, as he promised to in the covenant.
Praise
84:10-11
The psalmist here returns to his joy at being at the temple. He said one day there is better than a thousand days elsewhere. It is so good, he would rather be a lowly doorkeeper at the temple, than dwell with the wicked.
Again, the joy for the temple is expressed as being in the presence of God. The psalmist saw God as sun and shield. He is the sun in the sense that he gives blessings to his people; he shines upon them. He is the shield because he protects them from their wicked enemies.
In fact, God does not withhold any good good thing from those who keep his covenant (walk uprightly). Again we are reminded of the physical blessings of the covenant. When Israel kept the covenant, God promised them rain at the right times, increasing crops, trees that bore much fruit, having more than enough to eat. They would be secure in the land, having peace with no fear. They would have many children. Their enemies would flee before them. God would dwell among them and they would be his people. (Leviticus 26:1-13)
Acknowledging Their Blessing
84:12
The last verse of the psalm is an acknowledgement of the blessings the Lord gives to his people. The psalmist exclaimed “blessed is the one who trusts in you”. Those who put their faith in God will be blessed. They will experience God’s favor.
How does this psalm apply to new covenant believers?
Like the psalmist, we should long to be in the presence of the Lord. Paul felt this so intensely that he said “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (Philippians 1:21-23)
Fortunately for us, we do not have to travel to Jerusalem to be in the presence of the Lord. He indwells us. John 14:23 says “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 says “Do you know know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? “
As believers, we live with the presence of God, who dwells within us. Jesus also promises to be among believers who gather together. Jesus said “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”. (Matthew 18:20)
What could be better than to be in the presence of the almighty God who created and rules the universe? We should want to be in his presence in personal prayer and Bible study. We should rejoice to be in the gathering of believers with Christ among them.
This is a blessing God has given us, a great blessing. We live in the presence of the Lord since he is always with us, and we experience his presence when we gather and worship together. We should long to come to worship at church and not consider it just a duty.
While the Lord does not promise us the same physical blessing in this earthly life that he promised to old covenant believers, he promises us an eternal inheritance of life with him in the new creation, where every blessing will be ours. (1 Peter 1:3-9)
This gives us joy.
No comments:
Post a Comment