This psalm is the words of one longing for what was missing when he was away from Zion and the house of the Lord. It begins in the first four verses with his confession of longing for the house of the Lord. The following three verses speak to the joy and blessing of those who go to Zion, where God dwelt with His people. Four verses are a prayer for the king. It is the Messiah, the True King, who will come to Zion and finally bless His people. He is the Almighty God; they will be glad because they live and walk by faith. What a blessed privilege it is for us to know Him, live Christ, and live and walk by faith today.
For a pilgrim traveling a long way, seeing the temple before him would bring great joy, not just because of the building's beauty but also because of the Divine Person who dwells there. That Person is the Living God. The psalmist could say, “My King and my God.” When we have a personal Lord who loves us and who we love, we want to be in the same place. This pilgrim traveler had nearly reached the goal he sought. When one longs for Him, our whole person is involved – body, our presence; soul, our emotions; and spirit, our heart’s desire.
Peace and communion with the Lord of the house are far more important than rituals and outward forms. The place we need to go for fellowship with our Lord is with Him and with those who gather unto Him in His name alone. There, we can be blessed and be a blessing. Being with His people regularly greatly enhances our longing for personal fellowship with Him. The one who wrote the psalm envied the sparrows because they lived at the temple, despite being small, insignificant, and dirty birds. They are important to God, and so are we. The psalmist also envied the servants of God who lived at the temple. Unlike some people today who watch the clock to get home and do as they please, this person wanted to be there.
There was joy and blessing for those who went to Mt. Zion. The Valley of Baca could be a dry place, but seasonal rains made it a place of refreshment and “springs” of water rather than an arid place of “weeping.” Happiness and spiritual strength are found when God’s people gather at the place of His name, where He meets with them. The road to “Zion” is in our hearts, and we find joy and refreshment there. Even when we think about the house of God, we are lifted in our spirits above all that surrounds us. The psalmist had it right when he wrote, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee.”
Near the psalm's end is a prayer for the king, who is referred to as the “anointed.” There was probably a king in authority when the Psalm was written, but this foreshadows the Messiah, the True King, who will come to Zion. This One who God anoints will rule forever. By interpretation, this refers to the Jews' desire to return to the temple after being in exile. Adversity is often the way to special blessings. In the tensions and pressures of life, we recognize and experience most the faithfulness of God. He is always there for us, but far too often, we live as if He is far away.
God does not permanently withhold what is good nor promises to give us everything we might want. When we obey Him, He does not withhold from us that which is useful in His service. We are blessed by the Almighty God when we live and walk by faith. Like the psalmist, we should not go any further but enter the door of the place of His name. This is where we belong, rather than being permanently among the wicked. We can apply this to ourselves and our assembly gatherings, using it to fuel our longing for heaven. We don’t know what heaven is like, but we know our Lord Jesus is there and that we will be there with Him. God is the source of our spiritual energy and power. He is our life and our light – like the sun, providing life-giving warmth and a shield for our protection. He has, does, and will give grace needed in this life and glory in the next.
PSALM 84 v.1-4. Longing for God’s House. “My soul longeth… fainteth… for Thy dwelling places.” Satisfaction, fellowship there v.5-8. Journey to God’s House. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee.” Happiness, strength, blessing there v.9-12. Joy in Worshipping in God’s House. “A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.” Answered prayer, joy in worship, spiritual power, refuge there.
Strength to strength [Ps.84:5-7]: The pilgrimage to the temple passed through the Valley of Baca, where weeping mulberry trees were found. There is no specific valley known. It refers to times of struggle and tears that people must pass to meet God. Growing strong in God’s presence is often preceded by a journey through barren places in our lives. The person who loves to spend time with God will view their adversity as an opportunity to re-experience God’s faithfulness. If you are walking through the Valley of Baca, be sure your pilgrimage leads towards God, not away from Him.
Grace for grace [Jn. 1:16]: From the fullness of His grace, we receive the grace we need for every situation. Every blessing we need comes from our God’s abundance and fullness.
Faith for faith [Rom.1:17]: Faith is ours from the day of salvation to the end. From the beginning to the end, God declares that we have been made “the righteousness of God in Him.”
Psalm 84:2, 10. “My soul longs, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God… For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, then to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” THY COURTS. There is beauty there where God’s glory shines, The courts of the Lord are where my soul and mind Rises above all the attractions that are so base - Appreciating the Person who dwells in this place; Meeting with His people, those who come to His altar; Bringing of their best that they may offer To Him who receives their offerings of praise And adoration when to Him their voices raise. Looking to the sparrows who live in the eaves, And the swallows finding a place for their young to live - The people of God down in the courts below, Raise their voices of praise that they may show To the Lord Himself who imparts His strength, While they journeyed through “Baca,” where finally at length There comes relief from the Lord of hosts. And also, from God’s people, in that house are close Each company, giving strength they gained from God – Each one appreciating God’s house and the presence of the Lord; The Lord lights the place with the light of His presence, And shields them from life’s heat and worldly oppression; He gives grace when it’s needed to meet every need, And glory reflected when onlookers heed The message both spoken and lived out in life Revealing God’s grace, giving to them light; When the walk is consistent with what one says, God supplies every need, ever willing to bless. So then, in courts of the Lord is the best place to dwell – From here, the life and testimony of God’s glories will tell.
“This day in Thy courts, Father God, has been a good day. There is a sense of why I am in the world here. Being involved to the extent I can in Thy work is a great satisfaction in Thy courts. I will dwell here gratefully, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”