Ps 84 - Longing for God's Presence

Introduction

Human beings are creatures of desire. By design we seek satisfaction from things outside ourselves. We tend to seek it in the temporal things of this world, such money, position or status, power, sexual gratification, academic achievement, or even in good things such as marriage and family. None of these things is necessarily negative. Marriage and family are blessings from the LORD. The problem is all these things at best can only paper over the true restlessness of our souls. The words of Augustine are truly appropriate here: “Thou awakest us to delight in Thy praise; for Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.”[1] Such was the desire of our psalmist here.

Background

We don’t have a specific time period for this psalm and it defies easy classification. It seems to be dealing with those on their way to the temple to be in the presence of Yawheh and worship Him. This was something the average Israelite could do once yearly at best. This is in stark contrasts to our ability to assemble in God’s house several times a week. This would have been a joyous yet solemn for the pilgrim on their way. I fear many today take it for granted for don’t honor it. In this time period, while God is omnipresent, the LORD’s manifest presence was only at this temple. Today we have the presence of God with us always. Perhaps we should learn from the psalmist. We have break this psalm into 4 parts:

The beauty of God’s house (vs. 1 - 4)

The blessings of trusting in the LORD (vs. 5 - 7)

A prayer to protect God’s anointed (vs. 8 - 9)

The blessings of God’s presence (vs. 10 - 12)

Exposition

Verses 1 - 4: The psalmist begins by speaking of the beauty of God’s temple. It is a wonderful thing to be in God’s house, the place where the LORD of the universe and God of Israel has chosen to place His name. The psalm writer has a deep yearning to be in the temple courts. Why? It is a privilege and honor to be where the LORD dwells. Even the thought of it causes to psalmist to joyful singing to bubble over in the psalmist. There is nothing like being able to go to the house of God. Even the birds of the year are able to be there. Matthew Henry offers an insightful take on the psalmist observation: “Observe, David envies the happiness not of those birds that flew over the altars, and had only a transient view of God’s courts, but of those that had nests for themselves there. David will not think it enough to sojourn in God’s house as a way-faring man that turns aside to tarry for a night; but let this be his rest, his home; here he will dwell.” [2] Another commentator states this: “Because sparrows and swallows were so abundant in ancient Israel, they were considered a worthless nuisance. Yet, the psalmist stated, they were welcome in the presence of God. They had found a home—a haven, a shelter, a safe place where they could lay their eggs—in God’s house. Surely, these despised birds are meant to be a symbol of sinners who are welcomed into the presence of the Lord through the blood of the covenant.”[3] The LORD’s wonderful care for His creation drives more praise from the psalmist. It is a blessing to dwell in Yahweh’s house, the house of the psalmist ruler and master. Those who are there can’t help but to praise their creator and LORD.

Verses 5 - 7: Those who trust in the LORD, that is relay on His strength and not there own, are blessed by Him. The ones to seek after and to be with GOD are those blessed by Him. John Calvin put it this way: “that those are happy whose highest ambition it is to have God as the guide of their life, and who therefore desire to draw near to him.”[4] On their way to be with their LORD they encounter trails. They are periods of dryness. As they trust in the LORD, the lack ceases to be an issue and the blessings of the LORD come to meet his people. The pilgrims are strengthened as they seek after their God and will be blessed to stand before Him.

Verses 8 - 9: The psalmist takes a moment at ask the LORD to blessed His anointed king, to look favorably upon Him as he leads the people in righteousness.

Verses 10 - 12: To be in the presence of God from even a short period of time far surpasses anything this world has to offer. To be at the door of the temple, just at the entrance, is far better than fellowship with the wicked. Yahweh GOD is the source of life, both natural and spiritual. He is the keeper and protector of His people, forbidding anything outside of accordance with His will. The LORD bestows His undeserved favor upon His people and blesses them to share in His glory. Those whose way is straight with integrity will lack none of the goodness of God. The man who trust in the LORD is blessed indeed.

Bibliography

1. Augustine, S., Bishop of Hippo. (1996). The Confessions of St. Augustine. (E. B. Pusey, Trans.). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 865). Peabody: Hendrickson

3. Psalms II, (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2015), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Psalm 84".

4. Calvin, J. (1998). Psalms (electronic ed., Ps 84:5). Albany, OR: Ages Software.”