INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 84 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON GITTITH, A PSALM FOR THE SONS OF KORAH. Of "gittith", Psalms 8:1. The Targum renders it here, as there, "to praise upon the harp that was brought from Gath;'' and of the sons of Korah, Psalms 42:1 and the argument of this psalm is thought to be... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW AMIABLE ARE THY TABERNACLES, O LORD OF HOSTS!] Which were erected in the wilderness by Moses at the command of God, and brought into the land of Canaan, where the Lord took up his dwelling: here he was worshipped, and sacrifices offered to him; here he granted his presence, and commanded his ble... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SOUL LONGETH, YEA, EVEN FAINTETH FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD,.... The courts of the tabernacle now at Gibeon, though the ark was in Zion, 2 Chronicles 1:3 as the court of the priests, and the court of the Israelites, in which latter the people in common stood: after these David longed; he longed t... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THE SPARROW HATH FOUND AN HOUSE,.... One or other of the houses of men, where to build its nest; or its nest itself is called an house, as it seems to be explained in the next clause: the word here used signifies any bird; we translate it a "sparrow", and so Kimchi; the Targum renders it the "d... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DWELL IN THY HOUSE,.... The house of God, in his tabernacles and courts; referring to the priests and Levites, who were frequently officiating there, in their turns, night and day; and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Gibeon, where the ark and tabernacle were, who had freque... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THEE, e.] Or, "for thee", as some choose to render the words who have bodily strength from the Lord, for his worship and service, to go up to his house, and serve him: this, with what follows in the two next verses, seem to refer to the males in Israel going u... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO PASSING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF BACA,.... Kimchi interprets it a valley of springs, or fountains, taking the word to be of the same signification as in Job 38:16, and mention being made of a well and pools in it, or of mulberry trees, which grow, as he says, in a place where there is no water, and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH,.... Whose strength is in the Lord, and in whose heart are his ways, and who pass through the valley of Baca, and find a well of supply, and pools of blessings there; they renew their spiritual strength; they grow stronger and stronger every step they take; the way... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, HEAR MY PRAYER,.... the redemption of the captives, says Kimchi; for the building of the house, the temple, according to Jarchi; but rather for the courts of God, an opportunity of attending them, and for the presence of God in them; see Psalms 84:2 in which he might hope to suc... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, O GOD OUR SHIELD,.... Which may be considered either as the character of God, who is addressed, who was David's shield, and the shield of his people, to protect and defend them from their enemies, and is the shield of all the saints; this favour encompasses them as a shield, and his truth is... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A DAY IN THY COURTS IS BETTER THAN A THOUSAND,.... "One day"; so the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; and so the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it; one day in the house of God, in the world to come, so Arama: though rather reference is had to the seventh day sa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD GOD IS A SUN AND SHIELD,.... Christ is "the sun of righteousness", and it is in the house of God that he arises upon his people with healing in his wings, Malachi 4:2 he is like the sun, the great light, the fountain of light, the light of the world, that dispels darkness, makes day, an... [ Continue Reading ]
O LORD OF HOSTS, BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THEE,.... For grace and glory, and every good thing; that trusts in the Lord at all times, and not in the creature, or in an arm of flesh; but in the Lord of hosts and armies, in whom is everlasting strength, and is the sun and shield of his peopl... [ Continue Reading ]