Psalm 84

1How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies! 2My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God. 4Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah. 5Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage. 6Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings. 7They go from strength to strength. Every one of them appears before God in Zion. 8Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah. 9Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed. 10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. 12Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Though David's name be not in the title of this psalm, yet we have reason to think he was the penman of it, because it breathes so much of his excellent spirit and is so much like the sixty-third psalm which was penned by him; it is supposed that David penned this psalm when he was forced by Absalom's rebellion to quit his city, which he lamented his absence from, not so much because it was the royal city as because it was the holy city, witness this psalm, which contains the pious breathings of a gracious soul after God and communion with him. Though it be not entitled, yet it may fitly be looked upon as a psalm or song for the sabbath day, the day of our solemn assemblies. The psalmist here with great devotion expresses his affection, I. To the ordinances of God; his value for them (Psa 84:1), his desire towards them (Psa 84:2, Psa 84:3), his conviction of the happiness of those that did enjoy them (Psa 84:4-7), and his placing his own happiness so very much in the enjoyment of them (Psa 84:10). II. To the God of the ordinances; his desire towards him (Psa 84:8, Psa 84:9), his faith in him (Psa 84:11), and his conviction of the happiness of those that put their confidence in him (Psa 84:12). In singing this psalm we should have the same devout affections working towards God that David had, and then the singing of it will be very pleasant.

To the chief musician upon Gittith. A psalm for the sons of Korah.

Cross-references: Ps 84:1 · Ps 84:2 · Ps 84:3 · Ps 84:4 · Ps 84:10 · Ps 84:8 · Ps 84:9 · Ps 84:11 · Ps 84:12

Introduction