Psalm 84 -Characteristics of a happy person

What does happiness look like?

We know the happiness of a child playing with an empty box for the first time.

Or the parent just watching.

We know the privilege of delight in their love.

We know momentary happiness as we get something that we have wanted for a long time.

But we also know the fleeting nature of happiness.

Falling in and out of love

losing something that we depend on or we have too much hope in.

Trials when we hoped for abundance

When we give ourselves to things that we hoped would bring happiness but brought pain - a bad investment, sin.

The illustrations are endless.

There are a number of times when the Bible speaks of happiness as a lasting experience or posture.

Psalm 1:1–2 CSB

1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.

Matthew 5:4 CSB

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

We are now in a Psalm that Spurgeon called “The pearl of Psalms”. It shows us “Characteristics of a happy person”.

Psalm 84 CSB

For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah. 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of Armies. 2 I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young— near your altars, Lord of Armies, my King and my God. 4 How happy are those who reside in your house, who praise you continually. Selah 5 Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings. 7 They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion. 8 Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer; listen, God of Jacob. Selah 9 Consider our shield, God; look on the face of your anointed one. 10 Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity. 12 Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!

1. Happy are those who are residing in God’s house v4

The happy person enjoys God’s presence!

Context - This would have been the temple, the place that represented the presence of God. The sons of Korah have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and His presence is good! He knew the truth of Psalm 16:11.

Psalm 16:11 CSB

11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.

So they speak with confidence about being in the presence of God and the joy that brought to them. But they are not there now.

We are challenged to love the place where God is.

Theological truth that we need to be reminded of.

God is everywhere - Psalm 139 shows us that God is an ever present God.

God is with us! Prayer is an application of this fact and it’s based on the Word of God.

God is in us - by His Spirit. We carry His presence.

This is specifically apparent in His church!

1 Corinthians 3:16 CSB

16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

There’s something so beautiful about the church of Jesus Christ. The gathered church, where image bearers of God who carry the presence of God because they have Spirit of God, when they gather the presence of God is experienced.

Here’s the challenge we find...

1.1. He’s longing for God

It feels like the sons of Koran know first hand what they are talking about when they said, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord of armies.” They are strong witnesses to this truth. But they can’t be there right now.

So you feel there is a Holy discontent - “I long and year for the courts of the LORD!” A longing for the better place.

Longing for God is the point here.

Not the position of priesthood/power/position or influence - they were Israel’s worship band

Not the place - not the temple that represents God presence

Not the performance of religious duty

Not the praise that is offered up - the sacrifices and the service

Not an experience that he’s longing for - sometimes that’s our problem because it’s easy to want the manifestation of God’s presence more than we want Him.

It can be wanting the gifts more than the giver.

You may look back and there were times when God’s presence felt more apparent than now.

The Sons of Korah want God - “my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.” They are saying that the happiest are those who love and long for God.

Nothing else with satisfy this longing but God Himself.

That is why he is ...

1.2. He’s envying the birds

They get to live close to the altar of God.

He speaks of the Sparrow, a common bird that has no real value. It was the Sparrow that Jesus pointed to and says the Father looks after the sparrow and won’t He look after you?

And then there is the swallow that created a nest for itself.

They were not invited and yet no one chases them out. They are dependent upon the God that they cannot worship. But they are there, near the altar of God.

What do we learn from these birds?

i. Push into your privilege

Take the opportunity to be where God is - don’t wait for it because you already have the invitation.

Matthew 11:28 CSB

28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

ii. Find more than home, find delight

They are blissfully unaware of their proximity to the altar.

iii. Worship God!

This is what the birds can’t consciously do!

1.3. Delight in the presence of God

There were some who served God but had no delight in God. They did what they did from a sense of duty.

Delight yourself in the Lord! Those who live in God’s house praise Him continually.

But we don’t all get to spend out lives just hanging out in God’s presence at church, and even for the Psalmist, this was not something that would be possible this side of heaven. But that creates a heavenly longing in us for His presence.

2. Happy are those whose strength is in Him

The happy person pursues God’s presence!

They are not enjoying the privilege of being in the temple but they will do a pilgrimage there. They know their strength is in the Lord. A pilgrimage is a journey for Spiritual benefit. They are resolute as they set their sights in Jerusalem to go to the temple to encounter God.

You must ask where God is to be found. We live by faith now, holding on to the promises of God, promises of His perpetual presence.

And yet, we can grieve Him through sin, we can quench His Spirit through our disobedience and unbelief. Sin robs us from enjoying His presence. That’s why conviction of sin is good and shows God’s kindness to us! That’s why we need to be born again! We need His cleansing!

2.1. Clear in their pursuit

They will go to where God presence is manifest. They are not settled.

This is where we go back again and again to the cross.

2.2. Finding delight even in the hard places

Our pursuit of God takes us through a variety of landscapes. There may be fertile landscapes where there seems to be abundance, and the mineral rich opportunities that demand work and reap reward, but there are also the places of hardship and times of barrenness. They pass through the valley of Baca - they Valley of tears. This is where blessings seem scarce and hardship and heartbreak seems abundant.

2.2.1. They don’t do the pilgrimage alone

This gives us insight into being the church of Jesus Christ that is we are who God wants us to be,

2.2.2. The place doesn’t define them or hinder them

2.2.3. The journey together changes the way they see the landscape

You are taken through the valley of tears and yet that valley of tears become springs of blessings enjoyed together. You have a goal and you have each other.

2.3. They grow in Him

That’s the beauty of seeing God’s hand in our lives as we face even the valley of tears, God uses it to take us from strength to strength! The nearer they get to the goal the stronger the pull.

If the gathered church is just a duty for you, you will get bored. It will just feel like a interruption to you life. When God is the goal, it’s a delight.

2.4. They stand before Him

I can’t help but reflect on how much this speaks to us as a the people of God in 2025.

Paul said, “I want to know Him…” I once preached and a couple of young guys came to me and said, “We know this. Tell us something new.” It’s not so much about do you know the truth but do you know Him!

3. Happy are those who trust in Him

The happy person rests in God’s promise and presence!

This speaks of contentment. Through life, I will trust. I will apply what I know of God (His presence) and hold on to the promise of God!

We are not trusting when we choose our way. And we then forfeit our happiness. Trust in Him is the characteristic of the happy person who resides and pursues His presence. This is simply how we are to live life.

3.1. Remember the King v9

We live in this world.

3.2. Remember what you were made for v10

I would rather be in His presence. I wonder how many of us feel this. How many of our desire this.

The fact that we don’t long for God as we should shows that we don’t know Him as we could.

3.3. Remember your God v11

He is our life and our security - our protection. He gives and He takes away.

He does not withhold the good from those who walk with integrity i.e. those with an undivided heart. It is a heart that serves One Master. The man with an undivided heart for God has his eyes focused on things unseen.

Psalm 86:11–12 CSB

11 Teach me your way, Lord, and I will live by your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name. 12 I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor your name forever.

3.4. Remember to live v12

He ties it all together.

Psalm 84:12 CSB

Happy is the person who trusts in you, Lord of Armies!

You can’t be enjoying that happiness when you won’t surrender to the King!