PSALM 84 THE ARGUMENT. The author of this Psalm seems to have been David, partly because it is ascribed to no other, and partly because it is most agreeable to his style and condition, and the occasion of it, his banishment or absence from the place of God's worship; either, 1. In Saul's time, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
FAINTETH, or, _is consumed_, with grief for want of them, and with vehement desire to enjoy them, and with the deferring and disappointment of his hopes. See PROVERBS 13:12. FOR THE COURTS; to enter into the outward court with the people, and to see what is done by the priests in the inner court, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPARROW HATH FOUND AN HOUSE, i.e. a habitation, to wit, a nest, as it here followeth. EVEN THINE ALTAR; or, _nigh_ (as this Hebrew particle _eth_ is elsewhere used, and as it is rendered by the Septuagint and the Chaldee, JUDGES 4:11) _thine altar_, Heb. _altars_, that of burnt-offerings, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
They that constantly or frequently resort to and abide in thy house; either the priests and Levites, who kept continual watch there; or other devout Jews who were there perpetually, as Anna, LUKE 2:37. For they are continually employed in that blessed and glorious work of praising and serving thee i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THEE; who trusteth in thee as his only strength, and refuge, and portion. Or, _who hath strength in_ (or rather _for_, as the Hebrew prefix _beth_ is frequently used, as hath been noted again and again) _thee_, i.e. who hath (or who useth; for _having_ is sometimes put for _usin... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSING; or, _being used to pass_; for he seems not to speak of one particular act, but of a common course or custom. BACA; a place, so called, which some Jewish and other writers affirm to have been a very dry place, and therefore incommodious for travellers in those hot countries, and in hot seaso... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH; the farther they travel onward in that way, instead of being faint and weary, as travellers in such cases use to be, they grow stronger and stronger, being greatly refreshed with the comfortable end of their journey, expressed in the following words. Or, _They go f... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, who canst easily remove and subdue those enemies of mine who banish and keep me from the place of thy worship, HEAR MY PRAYER, in restoring me to thy house and service; which is my chief desire, PSALMS 84:2,3.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UPON THE FACE; do not turn away thine eyes from him, as men do from those whom they hate or despise, but cast a favourable eye towards him. By _face_ he means either his person, the word face being oft redundant, as it is GENESIS 43:3, or his state and condition. OF THINE ANOINTED: either, 1.... [ Continue Reading ]
A THOUSAND; understand _elsewhere_; which is necessary to complete the sense: or, _in the tents of wickedness_; which may be supplied out of the next clause. Such ellipses are usual in Scripture, as PSALMS 91:7, _at thy side_, i.e. left side; PROVERBS 19:1, &c. DOOR-KEEPER; which was generally held... [ Continue Reading ]
A SUN, to enlighten, and quicken, and direct, and comfort all his people; whereas they that live without God in the world _walk in darkness, and know not whither they go_, as is said, 1 THESSALONIANS 12:35. SHIELD, to save his people from all their enemies, and from those dreadful and deadly miserie... [ Continue Reading ]
Who, though he be deprived of the opportunity of paying that outward worship to thee which is appropriated to thy house, yet giveth thee that inward worship which is more valuable in thy account, and placeth his chief trust, and hope, and happiness in thee alone.... [ Continue Reading ]