Psalms 84
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How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
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Commentary
Though this Psalm expresses the feelings of the sons of Korah, David’s feelings are also expressed. “Look upon the face of your anointed,” he cries. He loved to “dwell in the house of the Lord” all the days of his life. Perhaps David had been away from God’s house on a military campaign, but he longs to make the pilgrimage to the Tabernacle. As he passes through the Baca Valley, the place of weeping, he thanks God for refreshing rains. Even as king of Israel, he cries out, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God” than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. His heart overflows with gratitude to God who has blessed him so abundantly.
Lord, we love your Sabbath day with its rich blessings, as we meet together in the house of the Lord to feast on the Sabbath School lesson, the mission stories, the music, the sermon, and the worship with fellow believers. Tune our hearts to be in harmony with You, and we will sing of the blessing of the Sabbath in God’s house.
Beatrice Neall
Long-time Professor of Religion
Union College
