Psalms 84:1

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! Psalms 84:1.-Meditation on the blessedness of dwelling in God's house (Psalms 84:1); prayer on the ground that Yahweh giveth grace and glory to them that trust in Him (Psalms 84:8). The sons of Korah sang this psalm, as from the soul of David. Compare title with Psalms 84:9. They reminded him of the foundation of his hope, communion with God remaining to him though now fleeing from Absalom (cf. Psalms 84:1;...

1_How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of Hosts! _David complains of his being deprived of liberty of access to the Church of God, there to make a profession of his faith, to improve in godliness, and to engage in the divine worship. Some would understand by the _tabernacles of God, _the kingdom of heaven, as if David mourned over his continuance in this state of earthly pilgrimage; but they do not sufficiently consider the nature of his present afflicted circumstances — that he was debarred from the sanctuary. He knew that God had not in vain appointed the holy assemblies, and that the godly have need of such helps so long as they are sojourners in this world. He was also deeply sensible of his own infirmity; nor was he ignorant how far short he came of approaching the perfection of angels. He had therefore good ground to lament over his being deprived of those means, the utility...

1-7 The ordinances of God are the believer's solace in this evil world; in them he enjoys the presence of the living God: this causes him to regret his absence from them. They are to his soul as the nest to the bird. Yet they are only an earnest of the happiness of heaven; but how can men desire to enter that holy habitation, who complain of Divine ordinances as wearisome? Those are truly happy, who go forth, and go on in the exercise of religion, in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, from whom all our sufficiency is. The pilgrims to the heavenly city may have to pass through many a valley of weeping, and many a thirsty desert; but wells of salvation shall be opened for them, and consolations sent for their support. Those that press forward in their Christian course, shall find God add grace to their graces. And those who grow in grace, shall be perfect in glory....

PSALM LXXXIV _The psalmist longs for communion with God in the sanctuary_, 1-3. _The blessedness of those who enjoy God's ordinances_, 4-7. _With confidence in God, he prays for restoration to his house_ _and worship_, 8-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXXIV The _title_ here is the same as that of Psalms 81:1, only that was for _Asaph_, this _for the sons of Korah_. This person was one of the chief rebels against Moses and Aaron; there were _three, Korah,_ _Dathan_, and _Abiram_, who made an insurrection; and the earth opened, an

HOW AMIABLE - How much to he loved; how lovely. The word amiable is now used to denote a quality of mind or disposition - as gentle, affectionate, kind. The word used here, however in the original, means rather dear, beloved - as a token of endearment. Compare the notes at the title to Psalms 45. The idea here is, that the place of public worship is dear to the heart, as a beloved freind - a child - a wife - is. There is a strong and tender love for it. ARE THY TABERNACLES - Thy dwelling-places. This word might be applied either to the tabernacle or the temple, or to any place where God was supposed to reside, or where his worship was celebrated. The plural form is used here probably because the tabernacle and the temple were divided into two parts or rooms, and each might be regarded as in a proper sense the dwelling-place of

EXPOSITION This psalm, attributed (see title) to the "sons of Korah," or the Korahite Levites (see 1 Chronicles 26:1; 2 Chronicles 20:19), describes the blessedness of their position as dwellers in the house of God, and keepers of its thresholds. Its date is uncertain, but must fall earlier than the Captivity, since the temple is standing (Psalms 84:1, Psalms 84:10), and there is an anointed king upon the throne (Psalms 84:9). The psalm falls into three equal stanzas or strophes, each of four verses, the ends of th

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 blessing; here it was in David's time; for as yet the temple was not built: it is called "tabernacles", in the plural number, because of its several parts: hence we read of a first and second tabernacle, Hebrews 9:2, there was the holy place, and the holy of holies, besides the court of the people; unless it can be thought to refer to the tabernacle David had built for the ark in Zion, and to the old tabernacle which was at Gibeon, 2 Samuel 6:17 the whole was a representation of the church of God, and the ordinances of

A Psalm for the sons of Korah. You remember how Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were destroyed because of their rebellion against the Lord, and their revolt against his chosen servant, Moses and Aaron, and you, no doubt, recollect how it is recorded that «the children of Korah died not.» Why they were spared, we cannot tell, except that it was an act of sovereign grace; and if so, I can understand why they were afterwards selected to be among the chief singers in the house of the Lord, for who can sing so sweetly to the God of grace as the men who have been saved by his sovereign, distinguishing grace This Psalm is «for (or, of) the sons of Korah.» «Who can praise the blessed God, Like a sinner saved by grace? Angels cannot sing so loud, Though they see him face to face; Sinless angels ne'er can know What a debt saved sinners owe.»...

GITTITH See title note; (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 8:1). _...

PSALM 84-89 Psalms 84 In View of the Sanctuary _ 1. Heart longings (Psalms 84:1)_ 2. In the sanctuary (Psalms 84:8) The two next Psalms are of the sons of Korah, who themselves are monuments of saving grace. (They were saved from the fate of Korah; see Numbers 26:10 .) In these precious outpourings of the heart for the sanctuary of the Lord, we read prophetically the heart longings of the remnant of Israel. They are not yet in possession of the fullest blessings but look forward now to an early realization of all their hopes of being at His altars again. And all they long for will be their happy and l